Here the broad roads dwindled to narrow lanes lined with quaint wooden shops, apparently half paper-glazed windows. Broad banners bearing the peculiar native characters fluttered in the breeze. Here and there could be seen the efforts of an enterprising Japanese merchant to attract trade by means of enormous signs done in comical English.
The 'rikishas whirled past crowded sake, or wine shops, with red-painted tubs full of queer liquor; past crockery stores with stock displayed on the floors; past tea houses from which came the everlasting strains of the samisen and koto; on, on, at full speed until at last a broad open way was gained which led to the heights.
Espying a native newsboy trotting by with his tinkling bell attached to his belt, Nattie called him, and purchased a copy of the English paper, the Japan Mail.
"I'll see what Brinkley has to say about the trade," he smiled. "To-day's work has interested me in the prices of tea, and machinery, and cotton goods, and all of that class of truck. Hello! raw silk has gone up several cents. Rice is stationary, and tea is a trifle cheaper."
"That's good," called out Grant from the other 'rikisha. "I can see my way to a good cargo for San Francisco if this deal with Mori comes to pass. Any mention made of purchases?"
"Black & Company are down for a full cargo of woollen and cotton goods, and the Berlin Importing Company advertise a thousand barrels of flour by next steamer."
"We can beat them on prices. They have to buy through a middle man, and we have a contract straight with Minneapolis. I'll see what——"
"Jove! here's something that touches me more than musty contracts," interrupted Nattie, eagerly scanning the paper. "The Committee on Sports of the Strangers' Club intend to hold a grand celebration on the seventh of July to celebrate the anniversary of Commodore Perry's arrival in the Bay of Yeddo, and the first wedge in the opening of Japan to the commerce of the foreign world. Subscriptions are asked."
"We will give five hundred dollars," promptly replied Grant. "In a case like this we must not be backward."
"That's good policy. You hold up the honor of our house at that end, and I'll see that we don't suffer in the field."