Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-07-03
THRaGHRONICLE.
THE ABoRIGINES OF IAPAN.


THE AB0RTGINES OF JAPAN.
In a conversation with an intelli-
gent member of the Japanese Embas-
sy, the following facts were cleaned
concerning the Amos of Japan: Like
the Indians of America the Amos of
Japan are the real aborgines of the
| country, and are regarded and &C.
knowledged as such by the Japanese
themselves. In regard to their past
history, however, very little Of an
authentic character Is known. They
haxs neither the oblique eyes nor
high-cheek bones of the Mongolians,
but In their general appearance bear
striking resemblance to the Euro
peans. fhey are supposed by scien-
the men who have examined them
to be q branch of the Caucasian fam
lily. Their language, which is col
loquiai, differs entirely from that of
the Japanese, and has a variety of d.
aleets. No reliable estimate can be
made of their numbers, but they
must be numerous, as they are scat
tered over a large amount of terrific
~, including the southern portion of
Saghafien, the Kuriie islands, and
YesO, where they live in Villages or
communities OF rudely constructed
butts, subsisting chiefly by hunting
and fishing.
For many interesting facts eoncer.
hing the habits and customs of these
people we are indebtedto Mr.. Charles
De Long, United States Minister at
YeddO, AsWen as to several members
OF the Japanese Embassy. They are
Of medium height and well built,
with keen black eyes and long
straight, black hair, falling Over their
shoulders. The men have full boards
and some are quite remarkable for
the thickness and length of the hairy
growth covering the skin, this being,
in some instances, over an inch in
length, and resembling the furry coat
of the bear They dress according to
the climate, sometimes almost entire
ly nude, but generally they have tu-
mics or sacks made of bear-skins or a
coarse fabric, which they weave from
the hbers of the liner bark of a tree
When Gf the latter material, blue cot
tou, which they obtain in trade from
the Japanese, is used for trimming
and Is woven or plated in, forming a
border Of neat deSign. Blue is pre-
fered, because of its durability, being
q permanent color, and not liable to
fade in washing Buckskin shoes or
sandals are also worn. They are
ve.- fond of trinkets, and wear neck
laces, bracelets earrings and other Or
naments formed of shells, beads and
metals. ~ tfL
The men neither tattoo n0r paint
their faces or bodies, but the women
are tattoed upon the upper lip In the
form OF q mustaehe with Waxed ends,
which would rather tend to give q
piquant expression TO the face were 1t
not that they also blacken to b in
ner curve of the lip, thus utterly de-
stroying the arch effect that would
Otherwise be produced by this novel
method of identifying the human
face divine"
Their dwellings are rude huts
formed Of poles matched with bark
or straw. Although not given to ag-
pursuits, many have the
little patches Immediately surround
ing their dwellings planted with
Vegetables, wheat &c, which are
generally cultivated by the women.
They are kind to their wives and
them well. When travelling
from place to place the husband car
RES the burden unless too heavy, in
8 5 the wife shares it. Their
knowledge of the industrial arts is
verv limited. Among their few rude
manufactures may be mentioned the
fabrication Of baskets, coarse CLOTH
.emp mats and blankets, fishing nets,
carvings in wood similar to those OF
Dur North American Indians bows
arrows and other hunting imple-
ments. Their arrows consist of q
.-oodea shaft pointed with 3 concave
blade, in g cavity OF which Is
inserted q spongy substance saturated
with a deadly poison. Each tribe or
family has its W poison, b secret
for preparing which is carefully pre-
among its members and hand
ed down from generation to genera
tion. In respect to this there Is con-
derable pride among them, each tribe
believing its own poison b most
lefacatiOds. These poison-tipped ar
rows are used in hunting bears and
the larger kind OF game. The bow
and arrow are sometimes used as a
iran. Onhnding the trail OF a bear,
the hunter places his bow with one
end In the ground, in such q position
that the bear, on passing in front Of
II. touches a string or stick, which
acts as a trigger, and Is instantly
pierced by the arrow. The poison
lakes effect almost Immediately, and
he dies in the trail, One OF their
chief sources of subsistence Is nsnlng,
the waters on the shores oil the lslano
Astounding in fine salmon, COD, n
sardines, which they catch in large
quantities. Their seins, when tney
manage with much skill, are made OF
hempen cord, and are very strong.
A curious custom, Whlch, Q lts
humanity, might well be Initiated by
many people who claim to be Tar
more enlightened, may be mentioned
in this connection. An American,
driving late in the afternoon at n OF
the sea-cost villages, observed b
fishermen on their way to the beach
followed by crowds of women and
children and troops of dogs, while
fiocks of crows swarmed in the same
| direction. On inquiriDg the cause OF
! the and motley retinue, he
was informed that these people have
a custom in accordance with which the
| fisherman reserve for themselves on
" the fish inclOsed in the bag Of the
| net, leaving for the poor such as are
caught in the meshes and outer folds.
After these human pensioners and
fisherman have taken all they wish.
the refuse is left for the dogs and
crows, Their surplus fish, as well
as the skins obtained in hunting, are
battered with the japanese for guns,
cooking utensils, and other little
necessaries.
The Amos are brave in encounter
ing Wild animals, but are very timld
in their department toward strangers.
They are gentle and peaceable In
their disposition, have a good rePuta-
tian for honesty, and are held in nigh
esteem by the japanese. They seem
strongly attached to their peculiar
mode OF life, and have thus far resist
ed all efforts to introduce among
them the habits of civilization. Lit
tie is known Of their religions belief,
hut thew saam tn have great reVer-