Then came the search for spirit to preserve it in, for I wanted to have the ants and all _in situ_; but one could not expect to find spirit in such a village, and it was no shock to find there was none. Then I bethought me of _saké_, the poet-famed drink, the wine of the marriage cups and the friendly festival, and I sent a maid for a jorum of _saké_; the wine is reported to be very highly alcoholic, I know two spoonfuls sent me to sleep after weeks of sleeplessness, and in the _saké_ I plunged my specimens and hoped for the best.
=September 3.=--I moved to a Japanese hotel down on the shore, far more comfortable for bathing--and with much cosier sleeping arrangements. It is curious, but I am miserable in a bed now unless it is soft and _safe_ feeling. If it is hard and rises up in the middle I dream of precipices all night, for all this year I have slept on the floor, which seems so nice and _safe_, and really the obvious thing to do when you have _tatami_ floors.
This hotel has a garden with pine trees, and a swing and cross bars, so I can exercise myself to my heart’s content, while it is quite isolated, the last house in the village and far from its neighbours. A delightful spot, to which I shall hope to return. The maid, O Sayo San, is the politest I ever met; and of all wonderful things, they refused _Chadai_ money the first night when I offered it in an envelope in the ultra best Japanese way on my arrival.
=September 4.=--It is rather too bad, but the weather has turned miserably cold, both here and in Tokio, and I should have been at work in comfort, while bathing is not the pleasure it would have been the week before in the broiling sun. But there are several nice people down here, Tokio friends.
=September 5.=--I got the loan of the “Bromide” book from Mrs. C----, how good it is. Have all you who read this read the little book called “_Are you a Bromide?_” If not, do so; for I fear if you haven’t, much of the humour of life is a sealed book to you. It has added greatly to my enjoyment, and it can be read in half an hour.
Coming home I looked into the grove of the village temple, a pretty little place on a small hill, and was at first much puzzled by an apparition.