First, in the river at Yendo they saw some very beautiful
ships sailing against the current, a thing never seen there before,
for the river is small, and navigable only by very small boats. Second,
in the _patio_ [i.e., courtyard] of the palace, one day there was seen
an animal larger than an ox and smaller than an elephant, whose species
none could tell, as they had never seen such an animal before. They
tried to kill it with arquebuses and arrows, but it disappeared. Third,
in a hall of the same palace a large greyhound was found howling
pitifully. This the Japanese took for a bad sign. They asked who
had brought such a dog there, but no one could find out, because
the guards had been at the door all the time. They tried to catch
the animal and put it out, but it became invisible to them. Fourth,
in the quarter [_vario_, for _barrio_] of the Daimones, [71] who are
the nobles who serve at the court, there was heard a great clatter of
arms, just as if a very bloody civil war were going on. They called to
arms in the city, and every one responded. They went to the _vario_,
but found everything perfectly quiet. Fifth, on the top of a hill
near by the city they discovered some flags in the trees. They went
to see what they were, but found nothing. Finally, when the emperor
was about to go to Meaco, a comet like a handled catana [_i.e._,
sword], with a very beautiful cross in its head, appeared above his
fortress of Yendo.
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