unbeaten tracks in japan-第51部分

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Ceylon；　and　is　only　paralleled　by　that　of　the　races　of　the
Himalayas；　the　Siamese；　and　the　Chinese　Burmese。　　Mr。　Davies　says；
further；　that　it　exceeds　the　mean　brain　weight　of　Asiatic　races　in
general。　　Yet　with　all　this　the　Ainos　are　a　stupid　people！

Passing　travellers　who　have　seen　a　few　of　the　Aino　women　on　the
road　to　Satsuporo　speak　of　them　as　very　ugly；　but　as　making　amends
for　their　ugliness　by　their　industry　and　conjugal　fidelity。　　Of　the
latter　there　is　no　doubt；　but　I　am　not　disposed　to　admit　the
former。　　The　ugliness　is　certainly　due　to　art　and　dirt。　　The　Aino
women　seldom　exceed　five　feet　and　half　an　inch　in　height；　but　they
are　beautifully　formed；　straight；　lithe；　and　well…developed；　with
small　feet　and　hands；　well…arched　insteps；　rounded　limbs；　well…
developed　busts；　and　a　firm；　elastic　gait。　　Their　heads　and　faces
are　small；　but　the　hair；　which　falls　in　masses　on　each　side　of　the
face　like　that　of　the　men；　is　equally　redundant。　　They　have　superb
teeth；　and　display　them　liberally　in　smiling。　　Their　mouths　are
somewhat　wide；　but　well　formed；　and　they　have　a　ruddy　comeliness
about　them　which　is　pleasing；　in　spite　of　the　disfigurement　of　the
band　which　is　tattooed　both　above　and　below　the　mouth；　and　which；
by　being　united　at　the　corners；　enlarges　its　apparent　size　and
width。　　A　girl　at　Shiraoi；　who；　for　some　reason；　has　not　been
subjected　to　this　process；　is　the　most　beautiful　creature　in
features；　colouring；　and　natural　grace　of　form；　that　I　have　seen
for　a　long　time。　　Their　complexions　are　lighter　than　those　of　the
men。　　There　are　not　many　here　even　as　dark　as　our　European
brunettes。　　A　few　unite　the　eyebrows　by　a　streak　of　tattooing；　so
as　to　produce　a　straight　line。　　Like　the　men；　they　cut　their　hair
short　for　two　or　three　inches　above　the　nape　of　the　neck；　but
instead　of　using　a　fillet　they　take　two　locks　from　the　front　and
tie　them　at　the　back。

They　are　universally　tattooed；　not　only　with　the　broad　band　above
and　below　the　mouth；　but　with　a　band　across　the　knuckles；　succeeded
by　an　elaborate　pattern　on　the　back　of　the　hand；　and　a　series　of
bracelets　extending　to　the　elbow。　　The　process　of　disfigurement
begins　at　the　age　of　five；　when　some　of　the　sufferers　are　yet
unweaned。　　I　saw　the　operation　performed　on　a　dear　little　bright
girl　this　morning。　　A　woman　took　a　large　knife　with　a　sharp　edge；
and　rapidly　cut　several　horizontal　lines　on　the　upper　lip；
following　closely　the　curve　of　the　very　pretty　mouth；　and　before
the　slight　bleeding　had　ceased　carefully　rubbed　in　some　of　the
shiny　soot　which　collects　on　the　mat　above　the　fire。　　In　two　or
three　days　the　scarred　lip　will　be　washed　with　the　decoction　of　the
bark　of　a　tree　to　fix　the　pattern；　and　give　it　that　blue　look　which
makes　many　people　mistake　it　for　a　daub　of　paint。　　A　child　who　had
this　second　process　performed　yesterday　has　her　lip　fearfully
swollen　and　inflamed。　　The　latest　victim　held　her　hands　clasped
tightly　together　while　the　cuts　were　inflicted；　but　never　cried。
The　pattern　on　the　lips　is　deepened　and　widened　every　year　up　to
the　time　of　marriage；　and　the　circles　on　the　arm　are　extended　in　a
similar　way。　　The　men　cannot　give　any　reason　for　the　universality
of　this　custom。　　It　is　an　old　custom；　they　say；　and　part　of　their
religion；　and　no　woman　could　marry　without　it。　　Benri　fancies　that
the　Japanese　custom　of　blackening　the　teeth　is　equivalent　to　it；
but　he　is　mistaken；　as　that　ceremony　usually　succeeds　marriage。
They　begin　to　tattoo　the　arms　when　a　girl　is　five　or　six；　and　work
from　the　elbow　downwards。　　They　expressed　themselves　as　very　much
grieved　and　tormented　by　the　recent　prohibition　of　tattooing。　　They
say　the　gods　will　be　angry；　and　that　the　women　can't　marry　unless
they　are　tattooed；　and　they　implored　both　Mr。　Von　Siebold　and　me　to
intercede　with　the　Japanese　Government　on　their　behalf　in　this
respect。　　They　are　less　apathetic　on　this　than　on　any　subject；　and
repeat　frequently；　〃It's　a　part　of　our　religion。〃

The　children　are　very　pretty　and　attractive；　and　their　faces　give
promise　of　an　intelligence　which　is　lacking　in　those　of　the　adults。
They　are　much　loved；　and　are　caressing　as　well　as　caressed。　　The
infants　of　the　mountain　Ainos　have　seeds　of　millet　put　into　their
mouths　as　soon　as　they　are　born；　and　those　of　the　coast　Ainos　a
morsel　of　salt…fish；　and　whatever　be　the　hour　of　birth；　〃custom〃
requires　that　they　shall　not　be　fed　until　a　night　has　passed。　　They
are　not　weaned　until　they　are　at　least　three　years　old。　　Boys　are
preferred　to　girls；　but　both　are　highly　valued；　and　a　childless
wife　may　be　divorced。

Children　do　not　receive　names　till　they　are　four　or　five　years　old；
and　then　the　father　chooses　a　name　by　which　his　child　is　afterwards
known。　　Young　children　when　they　travel　are　either　carried　on　their
mothers'　backs　in　a　net；　or　in　the　back　of　the　loose　garment；　but
in　both　cases　the　weight　is　mainly　supported　by　a　broad　band　which
passes　round　the　woman's　forehead。　　When　men　carry　them　they　hold
them　in　their　arms。　　The　hair　of　very　young　children　is　shaven；　and
from　about　five　to　fifteen　the　boys　wear　either　a　large　tonsure　or
tufts　above　the　ears；　while　the　girls　are　allowed　to　grow　hair　all
over　their　heads。

Implicit　and　prompt　obedience　is　required　from　infancy；　and　from　a
very　early　age　the　children　are　utilised　by　being　made　to　fetch　and
carry　and　go　on　messages。　　I　have　seen　children　apparently　not　more
than　two　years　old　sent　for　wood；　and　even　at　this　age　they　are　so
thoroughly　trained　in　the　observances　of　etiquette　that　babies　just
able　to　walk　never　toddle　into　or　out　of　this　house　without　formal
salutations　to　each　person　within　it；　the　mother　alone　excepted。
They　don't　wear　any　clothing　till　they　are　seven　or　eight　years
old；　and　are　then　dressed　like　their　elders。　　Their　manners　to
their　parents　are　very　affectionate。　　Even　to…day；　in　the　chief's
awe…inspiring　presence；　one　dear　little　nude　creature；　who　had　been
sitting　quietly　for　two　hours　staring　into　the　fire　with　her　big
brown　eyes；　rushed　to　meet　her　mother　when　she　entered；　and　threw
her　arms　round　her；　to　which　the　woman　responded　by　a　look　of　true
maternal　tenderness　and　a　kiss。　　These　little　creatures；　in　the
absolute　unconsciousness　of　innocence；　with　their　beautiful　faces；
olive…tinted　bodies；all　the　darker；　sad　to　say；　from　dirt；their
perfect　docility；　and　absence　of　prying　curiosity；　are　very
bewitching。　　They　all　wear　silver　or　pewter　ornaments　tied　round
their　necks　by　a　wisp　of　blue　cotton。

Apparently　the　ordinary　infantile　maladies；　such　as　whooping…cough
and　measles；　do　not　afflict　the　Ainos　fatally；　but　the　children
suffer　from　a　cutaneous　affection；　which　wears　off　as　they　reach
the　age　of　ten　or　eleven　years；　as　well　as　from　severe　toothache
with　their　first　teeth。



LETTER　XXXVII（Continued）



Aino　ClothingHoliday　DressDomestic　ArchitectureHousehold
GodsJapanese　CuriosThe　Necessaries　of　LifeClay　SoupArrow
PoisonArrow…TrapsFemale　OccupationsBark　ClothThe　Art　of
Weaving。

Aino　clothing；　for　savages；　is　exceptionally　good。　　In　the　winter
it　consists　of　one；　two；　or　more　coats　of　skins；　with　hoods　of　the
same；　to　which　the　men　add　rude　moccasins　when　they　go　out　hunting。
In　summer　they　wear　kimonos；　or　loose　coats；　made　of　cloth　woven
from　the　split　bark　of　a　forest　tree。　　This　is　a　durable　and
beautiful　fabric　in　various　shades　of　natural　buff；　and　somewhat
resembles　what　is　known　to　fancy　workers　as　〃Panama　canvas。〃　　Under
this　a　skin　or　bark…cloth　vest　may　or　may　not　be　worn。　　The　men
wear　these　coats　reaching　a　little　below　the　knees；　folded　over
from　right　to　left；　and　confined　at　the　waist　by　a　narrow　girdle　of
the　same　cloth；　to　which　is　attached　a　rude；　dagger…shaped　knife；
with　a　carved　and　engraved　wooden　handle　and　sheath。　　Smoking　is　by
no　means　a　general　practice；　consequently　the　pipe　and　tobacco…box
are　not；　as　with　the　Japanese；　a　part　of　ordinary　male　attire。
Tightly…fitting　leggings；　either　of　bark…cloth　or　skin；　are　worn　by
both　sexes；　but　neither　shoes　nor　sandals。　　The　coat　worn　by　the
women　reaches　half…way　between　the　knees　and　ankles；　and　is　quite
loose　and　without　a　girdle。　　It　is　fastened　the　whole　way　up　to　the
collar…bone；　and　not　only　is　the　Aino　woman　completely　covered；　but
she　will　not　change　one　garment　for　another　except　alone　or　in　the
dark。　　Lately　a　Japanese　woman　at　Sarufuto　took　an　Aino　woman　into
her　house；　and　insisted　on　her　taking　a　bath；　which　she　absolutely
refused　to　do　till　the　bath…house　had　been　made　quite　private　by
means　of　screens。　　On　the　Japanese　woman　going　back　a　little　later
to　see　what　had　become　of　her；　she　found　her　sitting　in　the　water
in　her　clothes；　and　on　being　remonstrated　with；　she　said　that　the
gods　would　be　angry　if　they　saw　her　without　clothes！

Many　of　the　garments　for　holiday　occasions　are　exceedingly
handsome；　being　decorated　with　〃geometrical〃　patterns；　in　which　the
〃Greek　fret〃　takes　part；　in　coarse　blue　cotton；　braided　most
dexterously　with　scarlet　and　white　thread。　　Some　of　the　handsomest
take　half　a　year　to　make。　　The　masculine　dress　is　completed　by　an
apron　of　oblong　shape　decorated　in　the　same　elaborate　manner。
These　handsome　savages；　with　their　powerful　physique；　look
remarkably　well　in　their　best　clothes。　　I　have　not　seen　a　boy　or
girl　above　nine　who　is　not　thoroughly　clothed。　　The　〃jewels〃　of　the
women　are　large；　hoop　earrings　of　silver　or　pewter；　with
attachments　of　a　classical　pattern；　and　silver　neck　ornaments；　and
a　few　have　brass　bracelets　soldered　upon　their　arms。　　The　women
have　a　perfect　passion　for　every　hue　of　red；　and　I　have　made
friends　with　them　by　dividing　among　them　a　large　turkey…red　silk
handkerchief；　strips　of　which　are　already　being　utilised　for　the
ornamenting　of　coats。

The　houses　in　the　five　villages　up　here　are　very　good。　　So　they　are
at　Horobets；　but　at　Shiraoi；　where　the　aborigines　suffer　from　the
close　proximity　of　several　grog　shops；　they　are　inferior。　　They
differ　in　many　ways　from　any　that　I　have　before　seen；　approaching
most　nearly　to　the　grass　houses　of　the　natives　of　Hawaii。　　Custom
does　not　appear　to　permit　either　of　variety　or　innovations；　in　all
the　style　is　the　sam