THE EXECUTION BY HARIKIRI IN JAPAN.

Southland Times, Issue 1233, 5 April 1870, Page 4

THE EXECUTION BY HARIKIRI IN JAPAN.

The Secretary to her Majesty's Legation in Japan Bends to the Oornhill Magazine a detailed account of the execution by Harikiri (self-immolation by disemit)oWelling), of Taki, Zenzaburo, the officer of the Prince of Bizen. He it was who gave the order to fire on j the foreign settlement at Hiogo. Afterr describing the preliminary ceremonies, Mjt Whitfprd proceeds : — After a profound obeisance, Taki Zenzaburo, in a voice wbieß 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 \—r" t, and I alone, unwarrantably gave the. order to fire upon tlie foreigners | at Eloke,, and. again aa they tried' to : escape. For this crime I disembowel j myself, an^ I beg you now present to do I me the honour of witaessing the act." Bowing once more, the speaker allowed hia upper garments to slip down to his girdle, andrem^ined/naked to the waist, i Carefiiljy^ according to the custom, he.' tucked his deeyes ..under knees to prevejiij. himself frqm^ falling. b,ackwards,; for a^npbje J^panese^ geixtleman should die falling forwa^ds.^ . Peliberajtely, with a steady, Jiand, hetpjok the dirk that , lay before' hpa he looked ktit wistfully, almost affec^o^ately , for a_ - moment ,. he seemed to coliec^his thbugjits for the last time,' and tlien,, stabbing l^imself deeply- ■ belpw | the wajist, on ( tb\e,left-hand side, he, drew it slowtj. across to the right side, and tunujQgjt^iejd^k.in .the wound, ,gaye a slighfeiat flp.^ards.. During this sickeningly painfip operation he never moved a muscle, of. jhis face. he drew ,. put , the dirk he forward and stretched out h,is neck ; an expression of pain for, the crossed , his face, T)ut. he utcer^d. no sound. At that moment the. &a«&?#a/whb, still crouching by; his, side, had bjeen ; keenly watching his every movement, ,Bprang to his feet, poised his sworjd for ajmomen^ in the air ;, there was a flash, a heavy, ugly thud, a crashing fall ; with one blow, the head iiad been severed from the ,body. , A dead, silence followed, broken only by the hideous noise of the bloocj. gushing out of the. iner^ heap before us, which but^ a. moment before had been 3, .brave and chivalrous man. It was horrible. ..The bow, wipe^ f his , sword, and retired from the raised- floor ; and. the stained dirk\ was solemnly borne away, a bloody prpoif of the execution.