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CHAPTER XXIV.
A GAME OF POLO.
fashion of making bridal tours is not Japan-
-*- ese. Many a lovely spot might serve for such
a purpose in the everywhere beautiful Japan. The
lake and mountains of Hakone'i the peerless scenery,
trees, waterfalls, and tombs of Nikko, where sleeps
the mighty Iye*yasu, the founder of the Tokugawa
line ; Hakuzan in Kaga ; the spas of Atami, all
these are spots which, if in Europe or America,
would be thronged with bridal parties. But our
princely couple
went nowhere.
" At home " for three days is the general rule with
ordinary people. All their friends came to see them,
and presents were showered upon the happy pair.
The great Sho-gun sent Fujimaro a present of a
flawless ball of pure rock-crystal five inches in di-
ameter. The Higo daimio presented him with a
splendid saddle with gilt flaps and a pair
of steel
stirrups inlaid with gold and silver and bronze,
with the crest of the Echizen clan glittering in
silver it. upon From his own father he received a
jet-black horse brought from the province of Nambu,
and an equine descendant of the Arab sire presented
by the viceroy of India to the Japanese embassy to
the pope in 1589.
900