The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-05-25

A correspondent who, in companv with
MP. Delong, the American Minister in ia
pan, has been visiting the iIsIand of Yesso.
gives someinteresting information concern.
ing the Amos, the original inhabitants Of
the Island. The Japanese occupation. it
appears, is still confined 10 Saitoporo and
the mere shores of the island about half
way up on each side from Hakodadi. In
the interior the Aino still remains unsub-
dued in his original savageness. The Aino
women, the correspondent describes NJ verv
shy and disposed to run away, good-uiSed.
apparently well built and strong. and qood
looking but for their tattooed lips. ''These
they tattoo in the form Of muatache, with
ends turned up in artisticstyle; but strange
ly enoagh, the lower lip IN the one oper1ted
on, and the effect in to make them look
very ugly. The men are almost entirely
covered with hair.
They wear skins or gowns which covers
most OF their persons, but one old fellow
was seen in boat almost naked. 'sHn
beard reached to his waist, straight and
thick, and all over his person, even on his
back shoulders and thighs, the hair was
seemingly a long, thick and black n that
on . buffalo" The huts are built OF straw.
thatched on pile frames, and are without
floors or mats, with place for wood FIRE
in the center, the smoke being allowed TO
find out its way a best Il may.
Adjoining one Of the villages the travel
ers saw q number of bears in pole caeea.
Through the interpreter who ACCOMPANIED
them, they learned that the Amos. CON
finding bear-trace, observe until the she
bear has young, when they at once kill the
old one and bring away the cubs, in some
instances 30 very young that the women
suckle them. They are then confined in
cages and fattened, TO he subsequently
slaughtered when they have become 30 old
and strong a. to become dangerous" At
Saltopore the Governor told the travellers
that the Amos worship the mysterious-
whatsoever in man or nature they do not un-
derstand-and that they have neither his
tory or legend. When one of their num-
Der dies they roll the body in q mat, and
bury it lying on its side
They then burn the residence of the de-
ceased, and never afterward allude to him
IN any way, it being considered dangerous
that they have no idea Of time, not even
knowing their own ages. Murder il crime
unknown among them, and the greatest
punishment that can be inflicted on an Aino
ia 10 cut off his hair. The women are re-
mArkably chaste, and adultery is severely
punished. Each man Ia allowed but one
wife, and she is not subject to an undue
amount Of labor.
As guides the Amos were found perfect
ly trustworthy, and they showed them
selves fearless riders, quick-sighted and
heet-footed in the chase, an well assplendid
shots with gun or arrow. At q village ON
the west coast the travellers saw an Aino
dance. The dance consisted of hopping,
bowling, clapping the hands together, and
then striking the breasts and thighs. The
dance was preceded bya liberal distribus
ton Of saki. In drinking, the Amos were
provided with peculiarly shaped sticks !;
these they laid across the bowl, then raised
the whole to their forsheads, bowling their
obhgations. Taking the stick, dipping one
end Of it into the liquor, they next sprink-
led little on the ground, sayin, ''This il
to the earth" then q little more was
thrown upward with the dedicating formu-
la, 'SThis is to the sky !" another kbation
followed with, '"This Is to our rulers, and
fourth ended the ceremony with, ''This
il to ourselves"