ABSTRACT
Itappearstobeauniversalruletopresentsobatoallthe inmatesofthehousewheneveray'fi:jouseshernewly-made night-clothesforthefirsttime.Thiscustomisbindingonall classesofwomenfromtheproudoirandowntothenagayaJiyro,but,practically,thelowerclasswomenaredebarredfrom makinganexhibitionofnight-clothes(eitherontheirown accountorbytheassistanceofguests)byreasonoftheexpenseinvolved:itmaythereforebesaidthatthisceremony isperformedbywomenbelongingtofirst(o-rnise)andsecondclass(chu-mise)housesexclusively.Originallythisceremony wasonlyperformedwhenthetsumi-yaguwasusedforthe firsttime,butlateritbecamearulethatwhenanynew night-clothesbegantobeused-generallyonNewYear's day-buckwheatmacaroniwastobepresentedtotheinmates ofherhousebythey'fi:jotowhomtheybelonged.This custom,whichstillsurvives,iscalled"shiki-zomenosoba-
120HistoryoftheYoshiwa.raYulcwalcu.
