The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-03
SAVAGE JAPANESE.
Seventeen Thousand of Them IL
Northern Part of the Empire.

Northern Part of the Empire.
From Japan and America.
The Anus, generally known to
Americans and Europeans as "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 Hakaido, or Yezo. the most north
erly part of the empire, although it is
supposed that in earlier times they
occupied most of the entire country.
Ancestors of the Japanese of to-day
found them in possession, and by force
of superior arms and civilization,
gradually drove them to the north,
much in the same way as the saw
ages were driven back toward the Pa
cific by the early settlers in America.
The Anus live to-day 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, "Yezo," means barba-
rian. They are very skillful in hunting
and fishing, which are their chief oc-
equations. They are under the protec-
ton of the imperial government, and
are entirely separated from the Japa-
nese. The latest census showed that
lney NUMBER very nearly lf,uUU.
Quaint Baby Names.
Among the many curious customs of
the Anus, perhaps the quaintest is
their method of naming their children.
They observe a peculiar economy in
giving names. The infant must go
without a name until it shows itself
worthy of bearing one. If it is sickly
and not likely to live, it is not consid-
cred worth while to waste a name upon
it. AS each child must, by immemo-
rial custom. have a brand new name,
used by no one in the community,
names are scarce and must be guard
ed. If the child should be given a
name borne by some one else, the
ghost of the former possessor of the
name may come back from the under
world to avenge the slight.
1t is customary to take a name from
some incident that occurred at the
child's birth. or it is left to the parents
afterward to choose one for it, Should
the infant come into the world with
a smiling face ii might be called Xxi
shimaburu.' which means a smile. Or
fond parents may call it Kamoissage Ga
pulling rope of the gods) if they wish
their child to be in the special care of
the god.
Airy Costumes.
From the age of seven to ten, Ainu
children of either sex have their heads
shaved. but after eleven they are al
lowed to have long hair and wear the
same clothes as grown persons. They
wear no clothing unless the weather
is very cold.
The favorite and almost exclusive
ornament is the earring. usually made
of metal What clothing is worn is
made of straw. They never wear shoes
or other covering for the feetexcept as
a great luxury and mark of distinc-
ton on ceremonious occasions.
The men carry small knives and to-
bacco pouches and the women carry
small looking glasses and Anives. The
knife is used as symbolic. The maiden
wears it with the blade bare, but when
she marries ii is worn in a 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 regard as the best food, though
they do not raise 1t themselves. Both
sexes smoke tobacco and drink liquor.
Marriage Customs.
The marriage customs differ widely
from those of the Japanese. The ques-
ton is first settled between the youth
and maiden, who then refer the matter
to their parents through a mediator.
who should be a relative of the pros
pectlve bridegroom. The man must
send a present of lacquered ware,
which is regarded by them as one OF
the most precious things i'm the world
This, however. is reclaimed by him II
his wife afterward seeks n divorce.
Anus live in dwellings of about the
same class as those of the American
Indians. The rude hut has two win
dows. one of them for ordinary earthly
uses. the other reserved for the en-
trance of the gods.
Woman is fairly treated and held in
deep respect. The man is not allowed
to enter the house when the woman
is in IL alone and he is not permitted
to walk behind a woman. When
man meets a woman he must salute
first, by smoothing his beard and rub
bling his hands. Then she responds by
touching her moss with a finger of her
left hand.
Festivals and CRstiRations.
During October the Anus hold a re-
ligious fete, which is called the Bear
Festival. because they sacrifice a bear
which has been carefully fostered FOR
three years.
Judicial punishment among the Ainus
consists Of a severe beating with a
stick administered to the culprit. The