Nishi-Mata’s matter was resolved、西又の一件、落着(文化3年12月)
千葉県流山市にいた名主の日記から、その頃の楽しみを拾い出した連載記事です(日本語は後半に)
| Year-end cleaning at a merchant shop and residencee in Edo |
December
Izaemon of Yokosuka Village received a letter from Ebisu-ya, who
was a merchant of Edo (old name of Tokyo); Nishi-Mata 's mistress was in
service. Izaemon traveled to Edo on the 8th.
Hyōemon, the author of this diary, could not accompany him due
to a stomach disease.
15th, Izaemon, who had returned from Edo the previous
night, came to visit.
The matter concerning Nishi-Mata appears to have been settled on
the following terms:
① Paying 3 ryō (about 300,000 yen),
② Paying a little over 0.38 ryō (about 40,000 yen) to redeem
pawned items,
③ Taking custody of the child.
It was decided that the child would be raised by someone (the
characters are illegible due to insect damage).
The Nishi-Mata affair involved not only the woman but also a
child.
Nishi-Mata was a manly man; he often resolved disturbances among
local luds. However, this particular matter seems to have been resolved through
the assistance of others.
Hyōemon had held repeated consultations with Nishi-Mata himself,
a monk of Hongaku-ji Temple, Izaemon and others. Back in May, it was written on
the diary "refused to handle the matter and returned home." It had
been a trouble, but it now appears to have been settled.
From the 2nd to the 5th, the customary
catching of free-roaming horses from the Kogane Pasture took place. Back in
September, a horse had escaped through the pasture gate, causing a massive
commotion that involved all villagers.
December is also the season for year-end gift-giving.
12th, Hyōemon entrusted Hanzaemon, who was heading
to the lord’s residence for cleaning duties, with items such as buckwheat
flour to deliver to Mr. Kawamura (samurai) and others.
*In Japan, the tradition of a thorough year-end house
cleaning continues even until now.
14th, Hanzaemon returned with reply letters including
Mr. Nakayama Heikichi's one, who had moved from Omoi Village to Edo on the 2nd
of that month.
Firewood was sent as a year-end gift to Gentatsu and Shinuemon in
Nagareyama. I was surprised with bulky firewood serving as a year-end gift.
15th, the servant Mino left the household, and 17th,
Hyōzō departed as well.
December was the time for changing domestic staff, yet Hyōemon
noted in his diary that there were very few servants.
23rd, the account with Heisuke’s shop was settled.
The name of Heisuke’s shop—likely a liquor store that also
served as a pub—had not appeared often in the diary this year; but, it seems Hyōemon
had indeed gone there to drink. That's good!
29th, a half-barrel of sake was delivered from
Heisuke’s shop; the year drew to a close.
| Barrel at the back and a big barrel (upper left) |
12月
横須賀村の伊左衛門に、西又の彼女の奉公先である恵比寿屋から手紙が来て、伊左衛門は8日に出府。
この日記を書いた兵右衛門は腹の病気で同行できず。
15日、前夜に江戸から戻った伊左衛門が来た。
西又が、江戸でつくった彼女の件は、
①金3両差し出し、
②1歩2朱余を質物請け遣り
③小児を引き取る、ことで落着したようだ。
小児は□□□門(□は虫損)で養いおくとのこと。
江戸の女性だけでなく子どもも絡んでいた。
西又は、若者の騒動を仕切るなど男気があるが、本件は皆さんの助けで収まったようだ。兵右衛門も、本人や本覚寺、伊左衛門らと再々の打合せを重ねた。5月には、“せわ(世話)、あい断り、帰宅”
という記載もあって大変手を焼いたが、収まったようだ。
2~5日、恒例の小金牧の野馬捕りが行われた。9月には野馬が木戸から逃げ出して村人総出の大騒ぎになっていた。
12月は、歳暮の時期でもある。
12日、御屋敷に煤掃き人足として行く半左衛門に、川村様らへの蕎麦粉などを託した。半左衛門は返書を持って14日に帰村。当月2日に思井村から江戸に引っ越して行った中山平吉殿の返書も持ち帰った。
流山の玄達と新右衛門には、薪を歳暮として送っている。薪が歳暮になるとは。
15日、使用人の「みの」が引き取られ、17日は兵蔵が引き払っていった。12月は奉公人の交代時期だが、兵右衛門は、“奉公人、甚だ少なし”と書き残している。
23日、“平助店勘定相済み”。今年は、酒屋兼居酒屋と思われる平助店の名前があまりでてこなかったが、しっかり飲みに行っていたようだ。いいことだ。
29日、平助店から酒半樽を取り寄せ、この年も暮れた。
*20日に西又への“助成利下”、29日に“助成足金受取”とある。残念ながら、私には意味がわからない。
Previous post (Peaceful days and fun of a village head in 19th
century, part 23(千葉県流山の名主日記)): Arrival of the new head priest and late autumn events (October
and November 1806)、新方丈の入院、晩秋の行事(文化3年10・11月)
Next post (Peaceful days and funs of a village head in 19th century,
part 25(千葉県流山の名主日記): Frequent gatherings and pilgrimages during the agricultural off-season (January and February, 1807)、集まりと巡礼が多かった農閑期(文化4年1・2月)(coming soon)
The first article in this series (from 1802 to 1848)、シリーズ(1802年から1848年)最初の記事 : Peaceful days and funs of a village
head in 19th century, part 1(千葉県流山の名主日記)
The first article of the diary from 1849 to 1864, fifty-three
articles in total、1849年から1864年の日記(53記事)の最初の記事: Yoshino’s daily life 01, About Yoshino
and background 吉野家とその頃
Comments
Post a Comment