Kidzu no Sukune and his colleague moved forward their choice troops and arrived at the Silla frontier. The King of Silla was afraid, and confessed his guilt, so they brought away with them the people of Kungwöl[1] and Sotsuhiko.
A.D. 288. 19th year, Winter, 10th month, 1st day. The Emperor made a progress to the Palace of Yoshino.[2] At this time the Kuzu[3] came to his Court, and presenting to the Emperor newly-brewed sake, made a song, saying:—
When the song was finished, they drummed on their mouths and looked up laughing. At the present time, on the day that the Kuzu[6] present their country's produce to the Emperor, when their song is finished they drum on their mouths and look up laughing. This custom is probably a relic of antiquity. Now the Kuzu are very plain and honest in character. They commonly gather wild berries for food, and they also boil frogs, (X. 13.) which they reckon a great dainty, calling them kebi. Their country lies to the south-east of the capital, on the other side of a mountain. There they dwell by the River Yoshino (amid) steep cliffs and deep ravines. The roads are narrow, with deep hollows. Therefore, although the distance from the capital is not great, their visits to Court had been rare. However, from this time forward they came frequently, bringing the produce of their country to present to the Emperor. This produce consists of such things as chestnuts, mushrooms, and trout.
A.D. 289. 20th year, Autumn, 9th month. Achi no Omi, ancestor of
- ↑ Or Yutsuki.
- ↑ In the south of Yamato.
- ↑ Local chieftains.
- ↑ It is not clear what a cross-mortar was. Vide Ch. K., p. 251.
- ↑ The word translated father is chi, which is also used more generally as a term of respect. Perhaps "Lord" might be better here.
- ↑ Seventeen was their number in later times, according to the Yengi Shiki.
