Shiratori misasagi[1] were told off as labourers on the public works. Now the Emperor approached the place of the works. Hereupon Meki, one of the guardians of the misasagi, became suddenly changed into a white deer, and ran away. Upon this (XI. 31.) the Emperor commanded, saying:—"This misasagi has always been empty, and therefore I meant to abolish its guardians and for the first time to employ them as labourers. But now that I see this portent, I am filled with profound awe. Let not the guardians of the misasagi be disturbed." So he gave them to the Hashi no Muraji.[2]
A.D. 374. 62nd year, Summer, 5th month. The Governor[3] of the province of Tōtomi presented a memorial, saying:—"There is a great tree which has floated down the Ohowigaha until it was stopped in a bend of the river. It is ten girths[4] in size. It has one stem which divides into two at the extremity." Now Akoko, Atahe of Yamato, was sent to make a boat of it. He conveyed it by way of the Southern Sea, and brought it to the Harbour of Naniha, where it was enrolled among the number of the Imperial vessels.
This year the Imperial Prince Nukada no Ohonakatsu hiko hunted in Tsuke. Now the Imperial Prince, looking down over the moor from a mountain-top, espied something in shape like a hut. So he sent a messenger to look at it. The messenger returned and said:—"It is a muro." Accordingly he sent for Ohoyama-nushi, the Inaki of Tsuke, and inquired of him, saying:—"That thing which is on the moor—what kind of muro is it?" He informed him, saying:—"It is an ice-muro." The Imperial Prince said:—"How is the ice stored? Moreover, for what is it used?" He said:—"The ground is excavated to a depth of over ten feet. The top is then covered with a (XI. 32.) roof of thatch. A thick layer of reed grass is then spread, upon which the ice is laid. The months of summer have passed and yet it has not melted. As to its use—when the hot months
- ↑ The tomb, or rather cenotaph, of Yamato dake.
- ↑ Who were charged with matters connected with the misasagi. See above, p. 181.
- ↑ Provincial governors 國司 are now mentioned for the first time.
- ↑ The character rendered "girth" is 圍, which is a measure of half a cubit according to some, of three feet by others. However, a ten-girth tree is merely a loose expression for a large tree.
