Japan and the Japanese

JAMABO. 321
They commonly have a shepherd's rod or hook in their hands.
Their voice, gestures, and apparent behavior, are neither too bold
and daring, nor too much dejected and affected, but free, comely
and seemingly modest. However, not to extol their modesty
beyond what it deserves, it must be observed, that they make nothing
of laying their bosoms quite bare to the view of charitable travellers,
all the while they keep them company, under pretence of its
being customary in the country ; and, for aught I know, they may
be, though never so religiously shaved, full as impudent and lascivious
as any public courtesan.
" Another religious begging order is that of the Jamalo, as
they are commonly called ; that is, the mountain priests, or rather
Jamabuo, mountain soldiers, because at all times they go armed
with swords and scymitars. They do not shave their heads, but fol-
low the rules of the first founder of this order, who mortified his
body by climbing up steep, high mountains ; at least, they conform
themselves thereunto in their dress, apparent behavior, and some
outward ceremonies ; for they are fallen short of his rigorous way
of life. They have a head, or general, of their order, residing at
Miako, to whom they are obliged to bring a certain sum of money
every year, and who has the distribution of dignities and of titles,
whereby they are known among themselves. They commonly live
in the neighborhood of some famous Kami temple, and accost
travellers in the name of that Kami which is worshipped there,
making a short discourse of his holiness and miracles, with a
loud, coarse voice. Meanwhile, to make the noise still louder, they
rattle their long staffs, loaded at the upper end with iron rings, to
take up the charity money which is given them ; and, last of all,
they blow a trumpet made of a large shell. They cany their children
along with them upon the same begging errand, clad like their
fathers, but with their heads shaved. These little bastards are
exceedingly troublesome and importunate with travellers, and com-
monly take care to light on them, as they are going up some hill or
mountain, where, because of the difficult ascent, they cannct well
escape, nor indeed otherwise get rid of them without giving them
something. In some places they and their fathers accost travellers
in company with a troop of Bikuni, and, with their rattling, singing,
trumpeting, chattering and crying, make such a frightful noiso