It was not at all unusual in Japan to see itinerant Pilgrims and Priests often carrying a portable altar. These could be either men or women and it was common at the end of a working life to go on a pilgrimage. Suspended from the front of their sash there would be a small gong to announce their arrival as well as bells they jingled and a short staff they shook in front of them. They relied upon charitable donations and they invariably wore plain inconspicuous clothes.
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An itinerant priest c1867-1868
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| Itinerant priests c1880 |
In
order to travel incognito the Ogre hunters decided to "disguise"
themselves as Buddhist pilgrims. However, whilst they are clearly
masters of all forms of combat they seem to have been somewhat reluctant
to forgo a dashing outfit in the interests of disguise ........
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| Our Samurai and their rather unconvincing "disguise '' |
