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164 HONDA THE SAMURAI.
those addressed to the hosts of gods, Honda offered
to the deity whose hideous image seems a very night-
mare of scowling horror this petition :
" Mighty ruler of the great ocean, who governest
the ebbing and flowing tide, drive back these bar-
barous aliens from my native land, or drown them by
raising a great storm and foundering their ships.
Give the fishes a feast upon their carcases. Let not
one of them return to tell the story."
Then to the hosts of gods in the Shinto pantheon
he made petition as follows :
" Breath of the gods, sweep away all defilement from
our holy country, the land of the heavenly spirits."
This petition, invoking destruction upon the
Americans, repeated again and again, was added to
his litany to Aina-Te'rasu, the sun-goddess, to Hachi-
man, the god of war, and to the gods who were the
ancestors of the Mikado.
One evening early in July, A. D. 1853, he had offered
his jimpo (divine breath) prayer, as he called it. He
thought he was alone, but on turning round to go
home, he saw the figure of a young woman of about
eighteen at the end of the walk where it joined the
high road.
" Good-evening, Mr. Honda. It is many days since
my eyes have hung upon your honored face."
"
Good-evening, Miss Hoshi (Star). How is your
temper this evening? "
"
My temper let me be frank to say it is like
that of a wrestler flower (violet), for I seek an explanation.
I have heard you praying for the wind to