Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-02
SAVAGEs IN JAPAN.
THE HAIRY Amos AND THEIR REsER.
vATloNs IN THE EMPIRE.

Odd Customs Prncticed by These
Aboriginal People of Japan.
Unique Styles In. Baby Names.
The Anus, generally known to Amer
leans and Europeans as 1.-THE hairy
Amos" are the only aboriginal people
now living in Japan. They are called
"hairy" in contradistinction to the
smooth faced japanese, Koreans and
Chinese. Their present home is in Hok-
kaido, or Yesso, the most northerly part
of the empire, although it Is supposed
that in earlier times they occupied
most of the entire country Ancestors
of the japanese of today found them III
possession and by force Of superior
arms and civilization gradually drove
them to the north, much in the same
way as the savages were driven back
toward the Pacific by the early settlers
in America.
The Anus live today pretty much as
the Indians on their reservations in the
west. They are still for the most part
half savage, and the japanese name
for them, "Yesso," means barbarian.
They are very skillful in hunting and
fishing, which are their chief occupa
tons. They are under the protection
of the imperial government and are
entirely separated from the japanese.
The latest census showed that they
humber very nearly 1900.
Among the many curious customs of
the Anus perhaps the quaintest is their
method of naming their children. They
observe peculiar economy in giving
names. The infant must go without a
name until it shows itself worthy Of
bearing one. If 1T is sickly and not
likely to live, 1t Is not considered worth
while to waste name upon it. AS
each child must by lmmemorial custom
haYe brand new name, used by no
one In the community, names are scarce
and must be guarded. If the child
should be given q name borne by some
one else, the ghost of the former pos
SCISSOR of the name may come back
from the underworld to ayenge the
slight
1t Is customary to take name from
some incident that occurred at the
child's birth or it Is left to the parents
afterward to choose one for 1t. Should
the infant come into the world with u
smiling face 1t might be called Ikishi-
maburu, which means smile, or fond
parents may call it Kamoissage Ia
pulling rope of the gods If they wish
| their child to be in the special care of
the gods.
From the age Of z to 10Ainu children
of either sex have their heads shaved,
but after II they are allowed to have
long hair and wear the same clothes
rs grown persons. They wear no cloth
ing unless the weather is very cold.
The fayorlte and almost exclusive or
nament Is the earring, usually made of
metal. What clothing is worn is made
of straw. They never wear shoes or
other covering for the feet except as
great luxury and mark of distinction
on ceremonious occasions.
The men carry small knives and to-
bacco pouches, and the women carry
small looking glasses and knives. The
knife Is used as symbolic. The maiden
wears 1t with the blade bare, but when
she marries it Is worn In sheath The
women also paint their faces. using a
kind OF Ink for the purpose.
The Anus live mostly by fishing and
hunting. they hunt the bear and deer,
catch salmon and other fish and grow
potatoes and millet Whenever they
can get it they eat rice. which they re-