Today making our way past Oyashirazu, Koshirazu, Inumodori and Komagaeshi, amongst the most dangerous spots in Hokkoku and named accordingly, worn out by it, pulled up pillows and bedded down for night, only to catch sounds of voices in front room one room away, sounding like two young women. Old man's voice mingled with theirs as stories told are heard and it seemed they were play-girls from Niigata in Echigo Province. On their way to the Ise Shrines and the man seeing them off as far as the Barrier, heading back next morning with notes of theirs and usual greetings home. "On the strand where white waves crash' we wander, children of the sea, thus fallen, to every chance relation, every day karma, shame...," heard more, drifting off; next day, departing, they came over, tearfully, saying: "We don't know which way we're supposed to go and feel so uncertain and helpless, could we just follow in sight of your footsteps. By the grace of your robes, please grant us the blessing of your mercy and the providence of Buddha." "Unfortunately we often like to take detours. Just follow anyone going your way. Surely the gods will protect you and see you safely through," words left them on leaving, but felt sorry for them for some time after.

in the one house
play-girls also slept
hagi and moonlight

Sora hearing this wrote it down.

(July 14) The Kurobe known for its forty-eight rapids and we did have to cross no end of water-ways to get to bay called Nago. Though not spring and feeling, in fact, of early fall pervasive, waves of wisteria at Tako suggested a visit and asking the way were told: "From here it's five li along the coast, then over the mountain there - not much more than a handful of fisherman's huts, a night's lodging even in the reeds hard to find," enough to scare us off; so on into province of Kaga.

early rice fragrance
pushing thru to right
the "Rough Sea"