ABSTRACT
The Japanese analogue to the auto alluded to by Frois almost certainly is Noh, which was superficially similar to European drama. Noh is distinctive, however, in that it consists of dialogue or prose as well as singing, dancing and instrumental music provided by three drums and a fife in the 'orchestra section' at the rear of the stage. European dance involves many movements by the feet; Japanese dance is more solemn and for the most part is done with the hands. Autos were one-act plays that lasted anywhere from thirty to ninety minutes; generally they have only one setting or scene. Europeans comedies or tragedies feature gentle musical instruments; in Japan they use small kettledrums shaped like goblets, a larger kettledrum played with two sticks, and a bamboo flute. Japanese seamen were not the only ones who 'sang', as both Elizabeth Bird and Eliza Scidmore were struck by the singing of the men who pulled carts.
