Thekuruma，orjin-ri-ki-sha，{2}consistsofalightperambulatorbody，anadjustablehoodofoiledpaper，avelvetorclothliningandcushion，awellforparcelsundertheseat，twohighslimwheels，andapairofshaftsconnectedbyabarattheends。Thebodyisusuallylacqueredanddecoratedaccordingtoitsowner’staste。Someshowlittleexceptpolishedbrass，othersarealtogetherinlaidwithshellsknownasVenus’sear，andothersaregaudilypaintedwithcontorteddragons，orgroupsofpeonies，hydrangeas，chrysanthemums，andmythicalpersonages。Theycostfrom2poundsupwards。Theshaftsrestonthegroundatasteepinclineasyougetin——itmustrequiremuchpracticetoenableonetomountwitheaseordignity——therunnerliftsthemup，getsintothem，givesthebodyagoodtiltbackwards，andgoesoffatasmarttrot。Theyaredrawnbyone，two，orthreemen，accordingtothespeeddesiredbytheoccupants。Whenraincomeson，themanputsupthehood，andtiesyouanditcloselyupinacoveringofoiledpaper，inwhichyouareinvisible。Atnight，whetherrunningorstandingstill，theycarryprettily-paintedcircularpaperlanterns18incheslong。Itismostcomicaltoseestout，florid，solid-
lookingmerchants，missionaries，maleandfemale，fashionably-
dressedladies，armedwithcardcases，Chinesecompradores，andJapanesepeasantmenandwomenflyingalongMainStreet，whichislikethedecentrespectableHighStreetofadozenforgottencountrytownsinEngland，inhappyunconsciousnessoftheludicrousnessoftheirappearance；racing，chasing，crossingeachother，theirlean，polite，pleasantrunnersintheirgreathatsshapedlikeinvertedbowls，theirincomprehensiblebluetights，andtheirshortblueover-shirtswithbadgesorcharactersinwhiteuponthem，tearingalong，theiryellowfacesstreamingwithperspiration，laughing，shouting，andavoidingcollisionsbyamereshave。
AfteravisittotheConsulateIenteredakurumaand，withtwoladiesintwomore，wasbowledalongatafuriouspacebyalaughinglittlemannikindownMainStreet——anarrow，solid，well-
pavedstreetwithwell-madesidewalks，kerb-stones，andgutters，withironlamp-posts，gas-lamps，andforeignshopsallalongitslength——tothisquiethotelrecommendedbySirWyvilleThomson，whichoffersarefugefromthenasaltwangofmyfellow-voyagers，whohaveallgonetothecaravanseraisontheBund。ThehostisaFrenchman，buthereliesonaChinaman；theservantsareJapanese“boys“inJapaneseclothes；andthereisaJapanese“groomofthechambers“infaultlessEnglishcostume，whoperfectlyappalsmebytheelaboratepolitenessofhismanner。