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194 HONDA THE SAMURAL head, the carved heart with blazing fire visible on the outside of the mother's breast, and some minor details were rather un- Japanese. He had not much time to look, for Ban, in fiery rage, rapidly demol- ished it and stamped the pieces into the earth. " How wonderful it seems," said Ban, " that the Jesus superstition, the worship of a criminal God, lingers so long in the honorable country ! Even yet, at Osaka, but more especially around Nagasaki, there are, as I suspect, hundreds of farmers who follow the European superstition." " What ! Why, I thought the corrupt sect was ! The Buddhists in Echizen stamped out long ago have long since, even in my grandfather's day, given up their annual visitation of families to see if any Kirishitans remained. In Tsuruga, where, as I am told, there were more believers in Yasu, it is now only a mere form." " Well, it ought to be kept up yet as it is near Nagasaki, where they still observe the custom of fumi-y (cross-trampling) ." " Fumi-ye* what is that?" asked Honda. " Never had it in Echizen ? Well, a copper plate with a figure of the Kirishitan criminal god Yasu on the cross, the sign of the wicked religion, is set into the ground, and every man, woman, and child in the villages is compelled to walk over and trample upon it. Any one objecting or not vigorously stamping it is arrested and tried for treason." " And this custom is still kept up ? " " Yes. I saw it performed when at Nagasaki two years ago."

"Given our signature that we are not Christians." See page 194.

"Given our signature that we are not Christians." See page 194.

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