Inonetowntwoveryshabbypolicemenrusheduponus，seizedthebridleofmyhorse，andkeptmewaitingforalongtimeinthemiddleofacrowd，whiletheytoilsomelyboredthroughthepassport，turningitupanddown，andholdingituptothelight，asthoughthereweresomenefariousmysteryaboutit。MyhorsestumbledsobadlythatIwasobligedtowalktosavemyselffromanotherfall，and，justasmypowerswerefailing，wemetakuruma，whichbygoodmanagement，suchasbeingcarriedoccasionally，broughtmeintoKuroishi，aneattownof5500people，famousforthemakingofclogsandcombs，whereIhaveobtainedaveryneat，airy，upstairsroom，withagoodviewoverthesurroundingcountryandofthedoingsofmyneighboursintheirbackroomsandgardens。
InsteadofgettingontoAomoriIamspendingthreedaysandtwonightshere，and，astheweatherhasimprovedandmyroomisremarkablycheerful，theresthasbeenverypleasant。AsIhavesaidbefore，itisdifficulttogetanyinformationaboutanythingevenafewmilesoff，andevenatthePostOfficetheycannotgiveanyintelligenceastothedateofthesailingsofthemailsteamerbetweenAomori，twentymilesoff，andHakodate。
Thepolicewerenotsatisfiedwithseeingmypassport，butmustalsoseeme，andfourofthempaidmeapolitebutdomiciliaryvisittheeveningofmyarrival。Thateveningthesoundofdrummingwasceaseless，andsoonafterIwasinbedItoannouncedthattherewassomethingreallyworthseeing，soIwentoutinmykimonoandwithoutmyhat，andinthisdisguisealtogetherescapedrecognitionasaforeigner。Kuroishiisunlighted，andIwastumblingandstumblingalonginoverhastewhenastrongarmclearedtheway，andthehouse-masterappearedwithaveryprettylantern，hangingclosetothegroundfromacaneheldinthehand。Thuscamethephrase，“Thywordisalightuntomyfeet。“
Wesoonreachedapointforseeingthefestivalprocessionadvancetowardsus，anditwassobeautifulandpicturesquethatitkeptmeoutforanhour。Itpassesthroughallthestreetsbetween7and10p。m。eachnightduringthefirstweekinAugust，withanark，orcoffer，containingslipsofpaper，onwhichasIunderstand
wishesarewritten，andeachmorningatseventhisiscarriedtotheriverandtheslipsarecastuponthestream。Theprocessionconsistedofthreemonsterdrumsnearlytheheightofaman’sbody，coveredwithhorsehide，andstrappedtothedrummers，endupwards，andthirtysmalldrums，allbeatenrub-a-dub-dubwithoutceasing。