THE EXECUTION BY HARIKIRI IN JAPAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 102, 2 May 1870, Page 2

THE EXECUTION BY HARIKIRI IN JAPAN.

o The Secretary to her Majesty's Legation in Japan sends to the Cornkill Magazine a detailed account of the execution by Harikiri f self- immolation by disembowelling) of Taki Zenzaburo, the officer of the Prince of Bizen. He it was who gave the order to fire on the foreign settlement at Hiogo. After describing the preliminary ceremonies, Mr. Whitford proceeds : — After a profound obeisance, Taki Zenzaburo, in a voice w.hich betrayed just so much emotion and hesitation as might be expected from a man who is making a painful confession, but with no sign of fear either in his face or manner, spoke as follows : — " I, and I alone, unwarrantably gave the order to fire upon the foreigners at Koke, and again as they tried to escape. For this crime I disembowel myself, and I beg you now present to do me the honor of witnessing the act." Bowing once raore, the speaker allowed his upper garments to slip down to his girdle, and remained naked to his waist. Carefully, according to the custom, he tucked his sleeves under his knees to prevent himself from falling backwards, for a noble Japanese gentleman shonld die falling forwards. Delibeberately, with a steady hand, he took the dirk that lay before him ; looked at it wistfully, almost affectionately, for a moment he seemed to collect his thoughts for the last time, then, stabbing himself deeply below the waist on the left-hand side, he drew it slowly across to the right side, and turning the dirk in the wouud, gave a slight cut upwards. During this sickening painful operation he never moved a muscle of his face. When he drew out the dirk, he leaned forward and stretched out his neck ; an expression of pain for the first time crossed his face, but he uttered no sound. At that moment the kaishaku, who, still crouching by hia side,. had been keenly watching his every movement,, sprang to his feet, poised his sword for a moment in the air j there was a flash, a heavy, ugly thud, a crashing fall : with one blow the head had been severed from the body. A dead silence followed, broken only by the hideous noise of the blood gushing out of the inert heap before us, which but a moment before had been a brave and chivalrous man. The kaishuku made a. low bow, wiped his sword, and retired from the raised floor j and the stained dirk was solemly borne away, a bloody proof of the execution .

If you would find a great many, faults, be on the look-out; but if you would find them In unlimited quantities, be on the look-in.