ABSTRACT
While I was at Edo in 1782, I was told of a circumstance which had recently happened in the palace of the prince of Satsuma.4 To the sheath of the sabre is attached a small knife, the handle of which projects a little in front of the hilt and is commonly embellished with flowers and other ornaments in gold, of superior workmanship. The prince, one night, on retiring to bed, laid aside his sabre. The next morning the knife had disappeared. There was no reason to suspect one person of the theft more than another. Inquiry was secretly made of all the pawnbrokers to ascertain whether the knife had been pledged. Three days afterwards one of these tradesmen brought a knife on which he had advanced money and which was immediately known to be that stolen from the prince. All his servants were summoned to appear before the pawnbroker, who instantly pointed out the man from whom he had received the knife. The culprit frankly confessed his guilt and was commanded to prepare for death. He replied he was quite ready, on which he was lead out into the court and his head cut off, without further ceremony.
