Three years in Tibet : with the original Japanese illustrations / by the Shramana Ekai Kawaguchi.

  • Ekai Kawaguchi
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Three years in Tibet : with the original Japanese illustrations / by the Shramana Ekai Kawaguchi. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Mr. Maki’s in Osaka, a certain judge of the Local Court of Wakayama came on purpose to tell me that 1 was bound to end my venture in making myself a laughing- stock of the world by meeting deatli ont of fool-hardi- ness, and that I would do far better by staying at home and engaging in my ecclesiastical work, a work which, he said, I had fall well (jnalified myself to nndertake; to do the latter was es})ecially advisable for me, because the Buddhist circle of Japan Avas in great need of earnest and capable men, and so on. Seeing that I Avas not to be moAX'd in my determi- nation, the judge said : “ Sn])pose yon lose your life in the attemj)t ? you Avill not be able to accomplish any- thing.” “But it is just as uncertain Avhether I die, or 1 survive my venture. If I die, Avell and good; it Avill be like the soldier’s death in a battle-field, and I should be gratified to think that I fell in the cause of my religion,” I ansAvered. Then the judge gaA'e me up for incorrigible and Avent aAvay, after Avishing me fareAvell in a substantial manner. That Avas on the niyht of June 24th, 1897. Early on the folloAving morning 1 left Osaka, and on the next day I embarked on the Idzumi-marn at Kobe, seen off b}' my friends and Avell- Avishers already mentioned. Among them Avas Mr. Noda Giichiro, Avho told me that he Avas very glad as Avell as Axny sorry for this de])arture of mine, and that his Avords could not give adeipiate expression to the feelings uppermost in his heart. I thought these touching Avords expressed the feelings shared by my other friends also. Hats and handkerchiefs greAv smaller and fainter until they Avent out of sight, as the good ship LJznnii steamed AvestAvard. Past W ada promontory, my old acquaintances, the peaks of Kongo, Shigi and Ikonia, in turn, disappeared in the rounding sea. In due time Moji Avas reached and then, out of the Strait of Genkai,