Jephson, Richard Mounteney
Elmhirst, Edward Pennell:
Our Life in Japan by R. Mounteney Jephson and Edward Pennell Elmhirst, 9th Regiment. With Illustrations from Photographs by Lord Walter Kerr, Signor Beato, and Native Japanese Drawings, London, Chapman and Hall, 1869, printed by Virtue and Co., 8vo, dark blue cloth with gilt decoration on front board and gilt lettering and decoration on the spine, title page, dedication page, table of contents, list of illustrations, introduction, "Dramatis Personae," i-xvii, frontispiece and 20 additional plates, three of which are hand colored, 428 numbered text pages, 22 numbered and illustrated pages of publisher's advertisements at the rear. The authors spent the months of May through July 1866 in Japan. This is their survey of the country during that period. While the focus on the Japan and the Japanese, they also give accounts of the life of Westerners living in the newly opened treaty ports in the country. This is a very early and detailed account from this turbulent period. The authors witnessed and record the beheading of an assassin of a British officer (Major Baldwin). The authors frequently refer to individuals using shorthand terms and not by name. The "Dramatis Personae" listing is the cross reference between these terms and the actual individual.

The book contains 21 full page plates. The majority of the plates are based upon photographs. Here is a summary of the sources of the images in the book:

From Photographs.

• Signor (Felix) Beato Photographs (Ten): 1) Executioner and Criminal, 2) Head of Matsudaira-One of the Kamakura Assassins. 3) Bettoes or Native Grooms. 4) A Picnic Group (ladies). 5) Japanese Lady in Her Boudoir. 6) Professional Wrestler, 7) Kango or Native Palanquin, 8) Eustic Maid, 9) Japanese Lady and Attendant and 10) A Touch of Paint.

• Lord Walter Kerr Photographs (Five): 1) Temple at Kamakura. 2) Bronze Image of Daiboots, 3) Admiral Kingwith Prince Satsuma and his Prime Minister, 4) Prince Satsuma's Summer Palace at Kagosima and 5) Gardens of the Summer Palace.

• Frederick Sutton Photographs (Two): 1) The Tycoon in his Court Robes, 2) Group of Einos.

From Drawings/Paintings.

• A. F. B. Wright Drawings (Two): 1) Fusi-yama, as seen across Lake Hayoni & 2) Kite-flying Festival at Isibara.

• From "native paintings" (Two): 1) Criminal led to Execution & 2) Japanese Fire Brigade

 
Title Page

All Plates:

Fusi-yama, as seen across Lake Hayoni. From a Drawing by 
  A. F. B. Wright, Esq., 9th Regiment..................................... Frontispiece


                                                                            Facing Page
Criminal led to Execution. Fac-simile of a Japanese Painting on Silk............ 25



Executioner and Criminal. From a Photograph by Signor Beato......................30



Head of Matsudaira, One of the Kamakura Assassins. From a Photograph 
  by Signor Beato................................................................32



Bettoes, or Native Grooms. From a Photograph by Signor Beato.....................46



Temple at Kamakura. From a Photograph by Lord Walter Kerr........................85



Bronze Image of Daiboots. From a Photograph by Lord "Walter Kerr.................89



The Tycoon in his Court Robes. From a Photograph by 
  Frederick Sutton, Esq., R.N....................................................126



A Picnic Group. From a Photograph by Signor Beato...............................132



Japanese Lady in Her Boudoir. From a Photograph by Signor Beato.................133



Kite-flying Festival at Isibara. From a Drawing by A. F. B. Wright,
  Esq., 9th Regiment............................................................185
 
  
  
Professional "Wrestler. From a Photograph by Signor Beato.......................225



Kango, or Native Palanquin. From a Photograph by Signor Beato.                  230



Admiral King, with Prince Satsuma and his Prime Minister. From a
 Photograph by Lord Walter Kerr.................................................280
 


Group of Einos. From a Photograph by Frederick Sutton, Esq., R.N. ..............282



A Eustic Maid. From a Photograph by Signor Beato................................302



Japanese Fire Brigade. Fac-simile of a Native Painting on Silk..................334



Japanese Lady and Attendant, with Pipe and Tinder-box. From a 
  Photograph by Signor Beato....................................................378



Prince Satsuma's Summer Palace at Kagosima. From a Photograph by
  Lord Walter Kerr..............................................................388
 


Gardens of the Summer Palace. From a Photograph by Lord Walter Kerr.............389



A Touch of Paint. From a Photograph by Signor Beato............................ 403

 
Tabe of Contents:

CHAPTER I.
Arrival in Japan, Harbour of Yokohama, Lovely Scenery,The Mountain of Fusi-yama, Slight Introductory Sketch of Man ners, Customs, and Dress of the Japanese....1

CHAPTER II.
The Luxurious Dwellings of the East as experienced by our Heroes, Ex uno disce ornnes, Their Interior Arrangement and General Advantages, A Terrible Mistake, or the Just Punishment of a Wicked Husband, Furniture and Decorations of the Huts, The Kennels, Master and Men, Mr. Aaron at Work, History of the Pac, Japan as a Hunting Country, Its Drops and Crops....9

CHAPTER III.
Reflections at Sea, Invitation to witness an Execution, The Procession, Prison at Ivanagawa, Its Inmates, Japanese Punish- ments and Tortures, The Doomed Man's Breakfast, His Farewell, Official Politeness, The Death-stroke, After- treatment of Head and Body, The Gallows, Execution of Chinese at Canton, Horrible Fate of Mowung, the Rebel Chieftain....22

CHAPTER IV.
Different Views of the Early Rising Movement, Introduction of many Principal Characters, Tony's Escape, Our Morning Work, The usual Company, Belleville and the Aide, The latter's first Purchase, Aaron as a Musician, B. and the Murderer, The Biter Bit, Abdul : his Private Character and Political Opinions, Mulvey and old Ugly, Jolly enjoying a Joke, Japanese Bettoes ....31

CHAPTER V.
Release of the Pack, Blanche's Misdemeanors and consequent Fate, A first Draw, Hitting off the Trail, A View, Settling to it, In or over, Paddy-fields, The Griffins, Forming the Stud, Mr. Micawber as a Purchaser, The Chief's Charger ....48

CHAPTER VI.
A Weekly Holiday, An Early Breakfast, A Picture of Youthful Depravity almost too horrible to contemplate, Our Cheery and Efficient Guide, A Refractory Steed, Coming Events cast their Shadow over one of the Party, Curiosity of the Japanese, Something like a Camellia Tree, A truly Rural Scene, Arrival at Kanasawa, Appalling intelligence, Terrific Combat, Frightful Catastrophe, Al Fresco Juggling Entertainment, Temples of Kamakura, Sacred Ponies, Extraordinary Shrine, Scene of the Murder of Major Baldwin and Lieutenant Bird, 20th Regiment, Daiboots, The Corpulent Priest: his Doubts, his Distrust, his Delight!, A Merry Afternoon in a Tea-house, The Return Home, The Evening Tub, A Conscientious Subaltern....60

CHAPTER VII.
The Hot Weather, Variety of Landscape, The "School",A Specimen Performance, Mr. Aaron's Catastrophe, Tony's Consolation, Mr. Micawber as a Maitre de Cheval, Loss of the Tackle, Mr. Micawber again takes the Lead....96

CHAPTER VIII.
Drawing up the Sweep, The Conditions, The Entries, The Preliminary Spin, Dr. De Pifet, The Start and the Result, Dr. De Pifet and Mr. Micawber preparing for the Race, The Post Entries, The Race, De Pifet's Finish, The Liver Cutter and his Steed, The Slough of Despond, Awful Fate of Flying Isaac, A Second Struggle, Downfall of De Pifet, Mr. Micawber's Domestic ....103

CHAPTER IX.
A Leap in the dark, The Mikado and the Tycoon, A short Description of a Visit to tho Tycoon, His Castle at Osaka: its outward Appearance and inward Arrangement, The Court Dress, The Tycoon himself: Deference paid to his Presence, Destruction of the great Palace of Osaka ....121

CHAPTER X.
Aaron's Sanctum, Announcement of the Drag, The Lydias of Japan, Ladies, Horses, and Horsey Ladies, Japanese Aristocracy, Visit to the Stud, Start for the Meet, Messrs. Rudolph and Lothario, Aaron and his Horn....129

CHAPTER XI
The Meet, and who is there, Bobby has some Difficulty in Mounting, Laying them on, Smooth Going, Pericles, and Solon's Success, Going the Pace, The Fenian in the Paddy-field, Dr. Quock on Foot, The Selling Drop, Jorrocks and Bobby come to Grief, The Brook and its Catastrophes, The Final Drops, The Worry ....141

CHAPTER XII.
The Banquet, Colonel Summers, The Yokohama Market, Mr. Micawber becomes the Subject of Conversation, Dr. Quock as a Satirist, The Captain: his Speech, The Chief's Maxim, Captain Puffles's Departure, Colonel Summers's Song, Ferozeshah, Aaron's Objection, The Fox, Captain Puffles's Return, His Adventure with the Ghost, A Dead Man as a Bedfellow....157

CHAPTER XIII.
A Visit to Curio Street, Games and Amusements, Kite-flying, Battledore and Shuttlecock, Curious Ceremony to commemorate the Birth of a Son, Abdul makes the Acquaintance of a wicked Spirit called Tenjo, and suffers therefrom, A Victim to the Belief in the Transmigration of Souls, Cleanliness, Pseudo-patriotism of the Japanese, Theatricals, Scene in a Theatre, A Cure for Sea-sickness (never before published)....178 CHAPTER XIV.
Doubts and Difficulties, Who is not at the Meet, and who is, Late Introduction of some of our Chief Characters, The Aide, A Whiskered Darling, Hunting the Pig, The Dark Cavern, Misplaced Confidence, The Fenian's Descent, The Finish, Mr. Jorrocks's Opinion, Another Drag Hunt by Moonlight....200

CHAPTER XV.
A Cocktail, The Arena, Japanese Wrestlers, Tho Struggle, Ovation to the Victor, Kangoes, Public Bath-houses, The Wrestlers at the Camp, The Child and the Nippon, Bobby's Success, or the Two Bantams, Wrestling a National Institution, Abdul on the "Revels", Abdul's Pupils, Their Inquiries into the Conformation of our Army....223

CHAPTER XVI.
The Reader becomes acquainted with Captain Puffles; his numerous Sobriquets; his Little Weakness; his Marvellous Stories; their Effect on us in the Days of our verdant Youth; his Great Valour; his Mighty Prowess; his Rival, Mr. Pop, The Challenge!, Death preferable to Dishonour!, Preparations for Ensuing Struggle, Exciting Finish, Disgraceful Proceedings on the Turf....238

CHAPTER XVII.
The Winner declared, The Liver Cutter allows himself to be carried away by his Feelings, The Road Home, Tony renders himself amenable to the Laws for the Prevention of Cruelty to Dumb Animals, Captain Puffles becomes the Football of Fortune, Fresh Difficulties, Dangerous Dilemma, Succour at Hand, Safety, Sweet Repose....265

CHAPTER XVIII.
A Day's Sport in Prince Satsuma's Covers, Prince Tehikysan's Deer Island, Hakodate, The Einos: their Appearance and alleged Origin, Trout Fishing at Hakodate, A Burst with a Buck, Varieties of Shooting near Yokohama, Pheasants, The Copper Cock, Snipe and Wild-fowl Shooting, A Day at the Pheasants, Fluffy and his Fair Charges, A Feminine Squabble, An Early Start, Fluffy's Kennel, Riding to the Ground, C 's Leap in the Dark, The Half-way House, Commencing Business, The Child counts his Chickens before they are hatched, Beating the Ravine, Death of a Copper Cock, Return to the Tea-house, A Lamentable Scene....279

CHAPTER XIX.
Publishing of the Programme, Jolly and Aaron at Home, You visit the Training-ground, A Daybreak Trial, Selling Lotteries; their Effect on Pacing in the East, The Yokohama Race-course, Rudolph again, B. and Bones at work, The Child and his String, Taking off Weight, A Universal Genius, "My horth Pluck," or how a Steeple-chaser ought to be trained, Saepius Tight and his Trainer, The two Greys, or Hayn's Pot, The Top of the Stand, A late Arrival, Tony's Valet, The Aide's Disaster, Public-spirited Smith, Bobby's Reward....304

CHAPTER XX.
Japan makes a Start as a Naval Power, One of the Old Sort, Force of Habit, A Sunday Pleasure Trip and its Consequences, Carelessness of Japanese with regard to Precautions against Fire, The Reader is supposed to be present at a Fire in Yokohama, First Alarm, The Japanese Eire Brigade, The Fire Standard Bearer, Arrival on the Scene of several Celebrities, amongst whom are Captain Puffles and Tony: the former shows much Cool Determination, proves himself Equal to the Occasion, and severely reprimands Tony, who harbours Re vengeful Feelings, He (Captain P.) comes out in a new Light as a Linguist; carrying on a Conversation in French, that might lead you to believe he was a Native (of any Country but France, though), He makes an Appointment, and keeps it, Tony fully revenged....324

CHAPTER XXI.
How will you go to the Races ?, Fashions and the Fair Sex, The Night before the Races, Rudolph's Breakfast, A Melancholy Incident in the life of the Chdd, The Road to the Course, The Paddock, The Griffins' Plate, English Beauty at Yokohama, The Steeple-chase, Preliminary Canters, A Fair Field and no Favour, Mulvey in the Mire, Down the Road, More Haste less Speed, as exemplified by Ugly and the Aide, Jorrocks in Prosperity and Misfortune, The Last Jump, Bobby's Victory, All else that took place....350

CHAPTER XXII.
A late Reform, Who is in Fault ?, Something at last about the Japanese, Dress, Courtesy, and Cleanliness, Language, Lodging, and Living, Our first Japanese Dinner, Prince Satsuma's Banquet, The Bill of Fare, Subsequent Entertainment and Attentions, The Summer Palace and its Gardens, Kagosima, The Prince among his People, Yakonins' Swords, Harakiri; its various Phases and Causes....373

CHAPTER XXIII.
Is simply descriptive of some of the Difficulties connected with the Production of this Great Work....394

CHAPTER XXIV. Old Times, Unpleasant Comparisons, 24th May, 1867, Tunics and Red Tape, The Three "Gallopers", Captain Puffles in his Pull Dress, The Feu de Joie, Mr. Pop's Flight, Pericles Running a Muck, Extraordinary and Appalling Combat, Return of the Wearied, A Word about Shop, The Tiffin, The Aide holds an Imposing Position till found an Imposter, Colloquial French, How to prevent Ill-effects from a Heavy Luncheon, LAND IN SIGHT, Mr. Pop again in Trouble, Horticultural Pursuits, The Ball, A Word of Farewell....404

 
List of Illustrations without Images.

Fusi-yama, as seen across Lake Hayoni. From a Drawing by 
  A. F. B. Wright, Esq., 9th Regiment..................................... Frontispiece

                                                                            Facing Page
Criminal led to Execution. Fac-simile of a Japanese Painting on Silk.............25

Executioner and Criminal. From a Photograph by Signor Beato......................30

Head of Matsudaira, One of the Kamakura Assassins. From a Photograph 
  by Signor Beato................................................................32
  
Bettoes, or Native Grooms. From a Photograph by Signor Beato.................... 46

Temple at Kamakura. From a Photograph by Lord Walter Kerr..... ..................85

Bronze Image of Daiboots. From a Photograph by Lord Walter Kerr..................89

The Tycoon in his Court Robes. From a Photograph by 
  Frederick Sutton, Esq., R.N...................................................126

A Picnic Group. From a Photograph by Signor Beato...............................132

Japanese Lady in Her Boudoir. From a Photograph by Signor Beato.................133

Kite-flying Festival at Isibara. From a Drawing by A. F. B. Wright,
  Esq., 9th Regiment............................................................185
  
Professional Wrestler. From a Photograph by Signor Beato........................225

Kango, or Native Palanquin. From a Photograph by Signor Beato.                  230

Admiral King, with Prince Satsuma and his Prime Minister. From a
 Photograph by Lord Walter Kerr.................................................280

Group of Einos. From a Photograph by Frederick Sutton, Esq., R.N................282

A Eustic Maid. From a Photograph by Signor Beato................................302

Japanese Fire Brigade. Fac-simile of a Native Painting on Silk..................334

Japanese Lady and Attendant, with Pipe and Tinder-box. From a 
  Photograph by Signor Beato....................................................378

Prince Satsuma's Summer Palace at Kagosima. From a Photograph by
  Lord Walter Kerr..............................................................388

Gardens of the Summer Palace. From a Photograph by Lord Walter Kerr.............389

A Touch of Paint. From a Photograph by Signor Beato.............................403