Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-14
The Ahor1uincs orInnnn.


The AbOrtgincs of Japan.
A CURIOUS AND INTERESTING HISTORY.
In a conversation with an intelligent membe
OF the japanese embassy the following fact
were CLEANED concerning the Amos of Japan:
Like the Indians of America, the Amos G
Japan are the real a6Origines of the country
and are regarded and acknowledged as such b,
the Japanese themselves. In regard 10 thel
past history, however, very little of an anthem
tic character is known. They have neither th'
oblique eyes nor high check bones of the Mon
golians, but in their general appearance bear {
striking resemblance to the Europeans. They
| are supposed by scientific men who have exam
| ined them to be a branch OF the Caucasian fam
| ilv Their language, which is only collOqulal
| differs entirely from that of the japanese, and
| has u variety OF dialects. No reliable estimate
| can be made of their numbers, but they must be
| numerous as they are scattered over large
amount of territory, including the southern pOr
| ton OF Saghalien, the Kurile islands, and Yeso
where they live in villages or communities oil
rudcy constructed nuts, Subsisting chiefly by
hunting and fishing.
For many interesting facts concerning the
habits and customs of these people we are in
debted TO Mr.. Charles De Long United States
minister al Yeddo, as well as to several men,
bers Of the japanese embassy.
They are of medium height and well built
hair, falling over their shoulders. The men
have full boards, and some are quite remarkable
for the thic ness and length of the hairy growth
eo'erlh@ Tue shll' tlls oelhg, III some instances,
over an men III lenSth, ana resembling the
hurry coat oI Tue Dear lney dreSs according
10 the climate, sometimes almost entirely nude,
but generally they have TUNES or sacks made
OF bear skins or a coarse fabric, which they
weave from the ibers of the inner bark of a
tree. When of the latter material, blue cot
ION, WDieh ihey OBTAIN IN trade from the ia
paneSG' Is useu 10Y trimming, ana Is woven OF
plated III, iorhlihg a oordef oil neat design.
b!ue Is preferred, because OF us uufaolltyg De-
ll@ permanent cotor, ana NOT haole 10 iaoe III
wasuilE; bucksAh shoeS OF sahdals are also
WoIH' Ihey are very lOhu Oh TlhKets, ana
wear necklaces, bracelets, earrings, ana other
ornaments FORMED OF shellS, oeaus, ana metals
ihe men neither TATTOO nor pant tnelr faces
or DOCleS, Dut the women are tattooed on tnell
upper lpin the form OF a moustache with wax
ENDS, Whlch would rather tend to give a
plquant expression TO the face were II not that
they also ulackeh 10 Inc inner curve OF the mp,
thus utterly destroying the arch eiect thaI
would othefWlse oe pfOdueed DY inns mover
method OF Deautliylhg the human lace dl-
vine.
Ihelr dwellings are rude nuts formed OF poles
and thatched with bark or straw
Although not given 10 agricultural pursuits
many have the little patches Immediately sur
rounding their dwellings, planted with Yegeta-
DleS, wheat, NC, which are generally cultivated
ny the women. Iney are KIND TO their wives
and treat them wei. when travelling from
place TO place the husband carries the burden
unless too heavy, IN which case the wife shares
IT, Iheir knowledge OF the industrial arts is
very limited. Among their few rude manuiac'
lures may be mentioned the fabrication OF bas-
kets, coarse cloth, hemp mats and blankets,
hshlng nets, carvings IN wood similar to those
oil our North American indians, BOWS and ar
| rows and other hunting implements. Their
arrows consist oil a wooden shaft pointed with a
concaVe copper blade, III the cavity OF winch is
inserted spongy substance saturated with a
ueadiy poison. Each tribe or family has Its own
polsoh the secret Tor preparing which IS care
luIy preserved among IFS members and handed
Gown from generation 20 generation. In re-
spect 10 inns tnere IS considerable pride among
them, each lfloe believing lis own poison TO be
inc most eHlcaclous. Inese polsOn-upped ar
rows are uSed IN hunting pears ana the larger
KIND OF game Inc DOW and arrow are some
tunes used as a trap. On hnding the trail OF a
bear the hunter places his DOW With one end in
the ground, IN such position that the bear, on
passing IN front oil II, touches string or stick,
which acts as trigger and is Instantly pierced
by the arrow The poison takes effect almost
immediately, and he dies IN the trail. One of
their chief sources OF subsistence is fishing, the
waters on the shores OF the island Astounding in
tine salmon, cod, and Sardines, which they
they manage with much skill, are made of
hempen cord and are very strong.
curious custom, which, for its humanity,