Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-09-02
American Association for tho Ad.
vancement Of Science.
FIFTH DAYS SESSION AT SALEM.

FIFTH DAYS SESSION AT SALEM.
After some preliminary business had
been transacted, the question relating to
the place Of holding the next meeting was
brought up. It was finally decided to
have it at Niagara Falls, provided suitable
accommodations can be secured 1T that
place, and in case they cannot, the matter
was left in the hands Of . committee to
ix upon a suitable place. The committee
consists Of Profs. J. 8. Newberry, L. H.
Morgan, and T. Stsrry Hunt
In the evening the various officers Of
the Association met for tho purpose of
nominating officers for the ensuing year.
The usual list Of officers was read.
As soon as this necessary business had
been transacted, the reading of papers was
commenced. Very many were read of q
highly scientific oharacter-too high to be
comprehended BY the ordinary reader
We therefore omit even the titles to these
and give only extracts from such papers
as will interest our readers.
One paper was read BY A. 8. Bickmore,
on "Ainos. or Hairy Mem Of Yssso, Sag
halien and the Kurils I.lands." A map
Of y. X. Asia and N. w. America was ex-
hibited, showing also tho islands whose
Inhabitants were the subject OF the paper.
In commencing, Mr.. Biokmore gave an
account Of the manner In which no tavel-
cd and then description Of village Of
this peculiar people. Tho houses he stat
cd were scattered irresularly, and built
upon bolt Of sand; they woro about 2Oby
12, 4 feet high, and although there were
thirty Of them they were sll identical in
shape, size and arrangement. In entering
these houses you were obliged TO enter
first n straw fence, then . porch, TO the
main room, which was seldom divided,
but il IL was, tho partition used was n
straw mat. There were no floors, and IL
tho asap~s sand WIS ut all covered it war
BY ~ eoaYse straw mat. At ono end q
platform WINS raised and on this they re-
clined 70 sleep. The fire was made in the
center, and from the rafters were suspend
ed the fish which there hung 70 dry, after
which they were stored In Mn eight foot
square building, which accompanied every
house for this purpose. In ono house
which was visited the man WAS making
spears, and the woman war making line
by twisting the bark Of tree into the
proper shape from this bark all the cloth
ing that is worn, II made. Tho younger
children wore no clothing, and from. this
fact it wan inferred that many die from
exposure. When womsA uAsrriss they
tattoo her lips; = favosits way s4s. u
slit them vt the side and then turn them
turn them sp--s>nsthiag m the style y
which moustashs h twisted by W
young men Il this country. On enqais.
ing, it wa hand tAst shis was dine b
cause it wss the 1ssaisss An! accent d
their sslntdtioo was given, they cbsing
seated cross-lesgsd; which was to incline
the body forward, join tho hands, raise
them slowly to the head, and then
bring then down in front Of tho body
a. an extraordinary mark Of respect they
would mako Tow, guttersl sound two
times. They have many goda. bat FIRE il
the principal one. They do not buy thei,
wives. Only one Toast Is observed during
the year, and this is at the opening.
When a vito dies, they bu m the house in
which she lived, bat WHEN . man die
there was no ceremony. They dug Z
hole in the ground, the body covered IN
white, and the head laid towards the east.
There 10 no regular borial grounds, and
the dead are nsver referred to. A wife
could marry but once. q widower ~ many
times 10 necessary. A man could have
but one wife. but }le might also keep con-
cubines. They have NO idea Of . future
stats, and answer any questions on that
subject vaguely. They have NO oral
oharsetsrs to sxDssss ideas, and only tn
old people havs ny method whatever q
communicating tAso 70 psusons 81 ais-
lance the Oh men, By notehing stSeAa.
ran send nsl3oa 70 smother one ct d.
to 4; bat tAis instr.stio. Il ssvse given
M h;..cs,g. They consequently have
Is. except what Il Soond {. TIE
sor;hsS =. IN which they - -
~ tne hairy people o. q. ~ -. h
1sesAgs through the eou>-
esssrvpd 10 b lame, ma only 49,. ~
YshnA~ ~ +ft>. " 80 ~