The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-02-24
TRAVELS IN JAPAN.

YOKOHAMA, japan, Dec. 90, 1871.
My last letter closed with mention of
our first meeting with one of the hairy abo-
rhymes OF Japan. At this village we stopp-
were some Aino women in the crowd
assembled in the street, we went out to
see them. We found them very shy and
disposed to run away, but we came upon
them so suddenly that they made virtue
of necessity and remained sitting. They
were good sized, apparently well built and
strong, aud would have been very good
looking but for their tat tooed lips. These
they tattoo in the form of mustache with
ends turned up in artistic style, but,
strangely enough, the lower lip is the one
operated on, and the effect is to make them
lock very ugly. They wore red silk ear
rings, and the men appeared to be very
proud of extravagant ornaments of SINH
lar character.
A1No TOWN AND HABITATIoNs.
During the afternoon of this day we ar
rived at an Aino town on our route. The
houses or huts are built of straw, matched
on pole frames, and are without floors or
mats, with place for a wood fire in the
centre, the smoke being allowed to find its
way out as best it may; conseque ntly every
thing on the inside was smoked and IN
clean. Here we saw rudely-shaped fishing
spears, snow-shoes, bows and arrows, skins
of deers, bears and badgers; portions of
fish-nets some BEANS millet, sea-weed, dc.
Adjoining each of the largest sized houses,
we found straw store-house, built on
posts, its bottom several feet above the
ground, evidently to keep its contents from
contact with dampness, and to secure it
against rates and foxes.
THE AMOS PIGS.
We found number of bears in pole
cages here, who made some alarming de-
monstrations at our approach. Through
our interpreter we learned that the Amos,
upon finding bear tree, observe it until
the she bear has young; when they at once
kill the old one and bring away the cubs,
in some instance SO very young that the
women suckle them. They are then con-
fined in cages and fattened, to be subse-
quently slaughtered when they have be-
come SO old and strong as to be dangerous.
The fact that they mount the bears skulls
on poles in front of their houses, and go
through some certain ceremonials when
they slaughter those they raise, has led to
the belief on the part of the Japanese that
they worship the bear. l do not think
that this is at all true, but believe that
this display is made out of pride, as an
Indian would hang scalps on his wigwam,
merely to prove his prowess.
SUPPOSED RELIGION OF THE Amos.
Through the Governor at Saltsporo, we
endeavored to gain some knowledge about
the religion, habits and history of these
people. He informed US that they wor-
ship the mysterious, that is, whatever they
cannot understand in man or nature, and
that those bear skulls, when bleached in
the sun and weather, are used as mirrors.
An Aino, feeling conscience-stricken on
account of some wrong lie has committed,
observes himself in one of these skulls, and
own likeness, then the wrong he has done,
and, finally, the redress that he should
make, and, governed by that vision, at once
proceeds to make such redress. This infor-
1>a ~,
great caution, for the Japanese do not
respect or care enough about the Amos to
Lave ever exerted themselves to find out
very much about their customs or opinions
and also because the Amos dislike the
Japanese so much that they probably mis-
lead them on many matters.
A1No CHILDREN AND OLD MEN.
All the entire Aino Community, when
they found they were allowed to do so,
came out and observed us. Many of the
men we found to be very hairy on such
portions of their bodies as were exposed. |
The women were very wild an shy, all of
them bearing the regulation tattoo. The |
children were bright-eyed, robust and |
pleasant, acknowledging the simplest gifts
with full and beaming express ions of graf
titude, as if it were indeed wonderful |
thing for ihem to have presents bestowed. |
The children looked very intellectual and |
would compare very favorably with urchins
of the same age anywhere in Europe or
Many old men were here bowed |
with age, and with silvery boards sweeping
their breasts. All received us kindly and
cautiously, accepting our little presents |
with great gusto, and seem ingly DESTROYS
for us to tarry longer. 1t was also evident
that they were delighted to see that we
wore boards, and one of our number, who |
had a very full and very black beard, ap-
parently became an object of their great
est regard.
\ REMARKABLY HAIRY SPECIMEN.
All were dressed with skins or gowns so
as to conceal nearly all of their persons,
but during the day we obtained full view
for a long time of one old fellow in boat |
who was almost naked, and he was indeed |
very h.tly LILO UCdlu ICdCuCu w Ills Wdlbt |
straight and thick; and all over his person,
even on his back, shoulders and thighs,
the hair seemingly as long, thick and
black as that on a buffalo; but of course he
was an exception to the rule.
CURIOUS FACTS.
We saw in different places about their
villages little rows OF stick stuck in the |
ground shaved upward with the shavings
left pendent These we were informed !
were their places of worship. At Salts
poro the Governor, in discussion with us
about these people, told US, that they had |
no histories or even legends; that when |
one of their number died they rolled the
body in mat and buried it lying on its
side, burned the residence of the deceased,
and never afterward alluded in any way to |
that person, it being consi dered dangerous
to the safety alike of the spirit Of the de- I
ceased and to themselves to do SO. He |
stated also that they had no ideas of time,
not even knowing their own ages. That !
the number of Amos on the Island of Yes