appropriated.

There was further a kind of tax called

tayaku. It consisted of compulsory work upon the water-courses or public works of various kinds or the castle. This work was done annually by those tenants who occupied the honden. In very early days it had been assigned to the samurai, but being distasteful to them their farmers were hired to do it in their stead, each man receiving as his wage one shō of rice per day. At first the farmers were very glad of the opportunity to so add to their incomes, but in time the pay became relatively too small for the work done and they wished to withdraw from the bargain, but were not permitted to do so. As I have just remarked, this tayaku was connected with the honden only. Elsewhere the farmers were compelled to do the work on the watercourses without any remuneration whatever.

INHERITANCE.

The general law of inheritance amongst all classes was that of primogeniture, the eldest son of a property holder inheriting all at the father's death. When a man died without an heir his land reverted to the daimyō. As already stated, the eldest son of a gōshi inherited his father's position and property, and the younger sons became heimin. However, if there were no sons, the husband of the eldest daughter could as yōshi (adopted son) inherit both rank and property. When a tenant died, the continued cultivation of the land by his children depended on the circumstances of the case, or on the will of the humigashira if the land belonged to a samurai. However, if the children were able to do the work aud pay the required rent, they generally remained in possession.

Sometimes, when the eldest child was a daughter and the sons turned out badly, the father could by permission of the government adopt a son to become the daughter's

husband and make him the heir of his estate. With regard to adoption, if a father died without having selected a yōshi, no one could be subsequently chosen by the family and possess himself of the privileges of adoption and the estate consequently reverted to the lord; but if a selection had been made before the father's death, it could be formally ratified, provided permission was obtained from the government before the burial took place. After the burial permission was not obtainable. Hence it sometimes happened that a man's dead body was kept for eight or ten days, awaiting the government's permission for the adoption of a yōshi who had been selected but not as yet formally installed.

There were no banks in Tosa, but riyōgaeya (money changers) abounded. Money could be borrowed from individuals, and lands and goods were mortgaged to obtain it. It seems, however, that money was often borrowed on the simple promise to repay, which was considered a sufficient guarantee; for among samurai if a man could not keep such a promise he committed harakiri rather thau bear the disgrace of a broken bond.

Trade between Tosa aud other provinces was very limited in extent, for there was a law prohibiting general exportation, and only a few articles were allowed to be sent abroad; and even in these the trade was permitted only to a chosen few. Similar restrictions conditioned importation. A few tradesmen in Osaka were permitted to send certain articles that were needed in the province, and that was all. Therefore, as was the case throughout Japan in pre-revolution days, the province of Tosa lived its own secluded life and the more readily developed a peculiar and striking individuality,—the traces of which are still so prominent in its social life and its politics.

SUMA MURA FIFTY YEARS AGO.

By Miss HANNAH M. BIRKENHEAD.

[Read 28th April, 1892.]

The Province of Settsu, in which Suma is situated, was under the direct rule of the Shōgun. The chief officers were Shoshidai, Bugyō and Daikwan. These were all Hatamoto when in Yedo. There was one Shoshidai (Kyoto), one Bugyō (Ōsaka), but many Daikwan. One of the last had charge of Hyogo and Suma.

The Daikwan's duties were to gather rice, to settle disputes, to act as spy, and to prevent neighbouring Daimyōs from combining against the Tokugawa. If the Daikwan held his appointment directly from the Shōgun the rice was sent to Yedo; if from Shoshidai, to Kyōto; if from Bugyo, to Ōsaka, or to a store-house at Hyōgo to wait till a sufficient quantity had been gathered before sending away.

Suma was itself a mura, extending from Myohoji River on the east to Sakai River, Harima, on the west; and from Tainahata mura on the north to the sea on the south. It was divided into East and West, and it is thought the original mura was situated in the middle. There was a street of dwellings-a continuation of the Tōkaidō-with scattered farms outside.

LAND-OWNERS.

Fifty years ago there were six great land-owners in Suma. Mayeda Sakujirō and Naoe Tōzaemon in the west, Matsuda Gimbe, Tomokuni Magozaemon, Edamitsu Magozaemon in the east, and Tomokuni Zingozaemon in the north. Mayeda was the richest. He was Shōya or Headman, and was allowed to wear one sword.

was celebrated in verse as follows:

Saite shiworete,

Mata sakuhana wa,

Suma no Mayeda no

Kakitsubata."

His fame

(The flower which, having opened and withered, blooms again is the iris of Mayeda of Suma).

And again :

"Suma no Mayeda no

Kakitsu no naka ui

Ayame saku to wa

Shirananda."

(We did not know the sweet-flag would grow among Mayeda's irises). Mayeda could pass from the eastern to the western boundaries of Suma without leaving his own land. The Empress Jingukogo is said to have passed through Suma on her way to Corea (202 A. D.), and to have visited his ancestor's house. When the battle of Ichi-noand Heike, is

Tani, fought at Suma between Genji represented in drama, this once famous land-owner is always among the characters personated. The irises are still flourishing in the ditch in front of Mayeda's house, but the old home has lost its glory. It is now a small tea-house kept by the latest representative of the once honoured name.

The large land-owners had no special privileges, but they were indirectly influential. They were eligible for the office of headman. This position they sometimes got

by appointment, sometimes by payment. The headman was allowed to build his house in a special style, peculiar to the Shōya. Several of the men who held this position became rich by cutting down and selling trees belonging to the Government, which had been placed under their care, and which the people were not permitted to touch. The Shōya claimed annually six koku of rice from the villagers. There were six or seven Elders (Toshiyori), but they received no remuneration. The Shōya and Elders alone sat in the Village Assembly and voted.

The only inhabitants of the mura not engaged in agriculture were fishermen, and a few kago-kaki (carriers).

Among present land-owners in Suma, Naoe Tōzaemon in the west, and Tomokuni and Edamitsu in the east, claim to have held their ground the longest. Lately, in East Suma, an old tombstone was unearthed, with a date of about 1,200 years ago, and the name Tomokuni Tarōzaemon.

CROPS.

The chief productions were rice, wheat, and vegetables of various kinds. Rice was cultivated from May to August, wheat from August to May, on the same fields—“ta” land. Beans were grown in summer, and daikon, cabbages, and other vegetables in winter-on hatake fields.

The most famous vegetable production of Suma-the meibutsu-was water-melon. It was peculiar in having red seeds, the melon of other places generally having black ones.

POSSESSION OF LAND AND RENT.

Each farmer had land in several parts of the mura, and took new ground as he needed it. In case of shifting, a middleman was employed, and a written account of the.