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 same； and the difference consists in the size and
plenishings。 The dwellings seem ill…fitted for a rigorous climate；
but the same thing may be said of those of the Japanese。 In their
houses； as in their faces； the Ainos are more European than their
conquerors； as they possess doorways； windows； central fireplaces；
like those of the Highlanders of Scotland； and raised sleeping…
places。
The usual appearance is that of a small house built on at the end
of a larger one。 The small house is the vestibule or ante…room；
and is entered by a low doorway screened by a heavy mat of reeds。
It contains the large wooden mortar and pestle with two ends； used
for pounding millet； a wooden receptacle for millet； nets or
hunting gear； and some bundles of reeds for repairing roof or
walls。 This room never contains a window。 From it the large room
is entered by a doorway； over which a heavy reed…mat； bound with
hide； invariably hangs。 This room in Benri's case is 35 feet long
by 25 feet broad； another is 45 feet square； the smallest measures
20 feet by 15。 On entering； one is much impressed by the great
height and steepness of the roof； altogether out of proportion to
the height of the walls。
The frame of the house is of posts； 4 feet 10 inches high； placed 4
feet apart； and sloping slightly inwards。 The height of the walls
is apparently regulated by that of the reeds； of which only one
length is used； and which never exceed 4 feet 10 inches。 The posts
are scooped at the top； and heavy poles； resting on the scoops； are
laid along them to form the top of the wall。 The posts are again
connected twice by slighter poles tied on horizontally。 The wall
is double； the outer part being formed of reeds tied very neatly to
the framework in small； regular bundles； the inner layer or wall
being made of reeds attached singly。 From the top of the pole；
which is secured to the top of the posts； the framework of the roof
rises to a height of twenty…two feet； made； like the rest； of poles
tied to a heavy and roughly…hewn ridge…beam。 At one end under the
ridge…beam there is a large triangular aperture for the exit of
smoke。 Two very stout； roughly…hewn beams cross the width of the
house； resting on the posts of the wall； and on props let into the
floor； and a number of poles are laid at the same height； by means
of which a secondary roof formed of mats can be at once
extemporised； but this is only used for guests。 These poles answer
the same purpose as shelves。 Very great care is bestowed upon the
outside of the roof； which is a marvel of neatness and prettiness；
and has the appearance of a series of frills being thatched in
ridges。 The ridge…pole is very thickly covered； and the thatch
both there and at the corners is elaborately laced with a pattern
in strong peeled twigs。 The poles； which； for much of the room；
run from wall to wall； compel one to stoop； to avoid fracturing
one's skull； and bringing down spears； bows and arrows； arrow…
traps； and other primitive property。 The roof and rafters ar