Sarusawa Pond
Sarusawa Pond, or Sarusawa Ike (猿沢池) in Japanese, is the pond located in front of the famous Kōfuku-ji (興福寺) in Nara.
Life of Oyasama
As was Her custom, Oyasama went directly to Yoshizen for a bath and Her midday meal, after which She received Her followers and treated them to sake and food. Then She started out for the Residence in Chobei Murata's rickshaw. The rickshaws following in procession, carrying those who came to accompany Oyasama home, numbered in the hundreds. At every point on Her route, people were massed at the roadsides to greet Her. In the vicinity of Sarusawa Pond especially, many people were massed; they clapped their hands and bowed in concert as She passed.
The police who had been dispatched to control the crowd, dashed about with drawn sabers, warning the crowds that they were not allowed to pay obeisance to a human being as if she were a god. But their efforts were in vain, for as soon as the officers moved away, the people resumed their clapping and bowing, muttering among themselves that whoever had been saved by Oyasama from a hopeless illness could not help but worship Her, even in the face of imprisonment.
