| OCR Text |
Show 4 possible interest a foreigner could have in the out-of-the-way village o Takefu, After Mr. Yamada had explained my presence, and the authoritie were convinced that I was only a harmless craftsman who had journeye half way around the world to sce mulberry fibres converted into sheet of paper, they did not confront us further until nightfal Through the kind offices of Dr. Seki we were introduced to Mr. Fujik who operates a machine paper mill not far from Takefu village, and thi gentleman arranged for our conveyance to the handmade paper mills i the district, inasmuch as the mill owners had been notified long sinc regarding our coming. Before going to the outlying places, however, w were invited (o inspect Mr. Fujiki's machine mill, where, after many introductions, we were served tea, a courtesy which grew to be very familiar for in the paper mills of Japan it is always the custom to serve tea to th gucsts both before and after the inspection. It i usually partaken in a smal room fitted for the purpose. The tea us are small and without handles, but with tiny lids to keep the refreshmen hot during the long periods of drinking which includes much polite bowin and animated conversation. In the mill, as we walked sloviy past Mr wjiki' pulp beaters and papermaking machine, the workers, huddled ove lhur rflmm,mum kneel and touch their heads to the damp floor in respec Mr. Yamada, to say nothing of the inquisitive papermake rmm bcyund the sea. At the time of our visit the machine was running lhin, transparent paper which we were informed was to be used for th rapping of incense for religious offer To reach the various handmade pdpcr mills of Echizen from Takefi it is necessary to go by automobile and by foot through miles of narrow winding lanes, as both the large and small mills were built clustered togethe in little isolated groups, hundreds of years before any thought was give to transportation other than by man or beast. In travelling through on particular part of Echizen we came upon a long, narrow road that ou Digitalimag © 2004 Marriott Libary, University of tah. Alrights reserved |
