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"THE AMERICANS HAVE COME." 179
" Five days or so ; why do you
ask ? "
" Oh, it is already pretty well known here among
some of our young men that the black ships have
passed Idzu, and so must be already in Yedo
Bay."
The doctor left after a few moments' further talk.
Summoning his trusty servant to light his lantern
and accompany him, Mr. Rai moved out beyond the
castle circuit into the wards where lived the common
people. Each ward was marked off by wooden bar-
rier gates, at each of which a watchman was stationed.
In case of a riot or disturbance the gates could be
closed and the trouble easily put down by the police
or military. There were in Fukui 195 of these
ward gates, 216 guard-houses, and 325 guards, or
watchmen. There were 5,500 houses and about
30,000 people in the city. At the great gates the
guards were well provided with a rack of hooked
and barbed instruments for speedily tumbling over
and disarming any ruffian fellow too easily inclined to
draw a sword. Visiting the various guard-houses and
making known the news and precautions to be taken,
Mr. Rai, now changing his officially marked lantern
and modifying his dress so as not to be easily recog-
nized, moved among the streets and over the bridges
and among the groups of people to overhear their
talk. He found that private word quickly sent had
preceded the government news, and the long expec-,
tation had given way to anxiety and fear. Every-
body was discussing the " barbarians " and talking
about the big ships and what would happen if the