New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31

Among the curious objects used by the Anu
men are long wooden sticks. ornamented. called
'mustache lifters." These serve a double pur-
pose, being used in religious and ceremonial
worship. They dip one in sake bowl and then
offer drops OF this wine to the gods to whom they
desire to offer prayer In ordinary the sticks
are employed to keep the long beard out OF the
cups. While is drinking. These from
twelve to fourteen inches long. carved In various
designs. and highly priced by their owners
The men have peculiar type OF pipe. The to-
bacco box is often Enthusiastically carved. The
pipe proper is inserted through opening of
decorated stick. which is held In the hand in
vertical position while being smoked. while
the tobacco box is left to dangle down from the
bottom. Often pouches made out OF the
natural paw OF bear
The women the family tailors well
cloth manufacturers. Although there are no dry
goods stores in the land. when a new outfit of
garments is desired tree and unlimited raw ma
to the mountains and get loads OF elm tree
bark from the fibre OF which they weave cloth.
The bark is put in water to soak and get soft,
after which it is taken out and the fibre
ranged into threads and wound upon balls. 1t
is then woven into narrow rolls Of cloth. on q
primitive loom. The garments are rough and
have a faded brown color. 4 few we'll to do
Anus wear Japanese clothing. In winter the
women bear deer and wolf skins over the
bark fibre garments for greater warmth The
women are clever in executing patterns and de-
signs. The embroidery is done with Japanese
colored threads upon the groundwork OF their
own elm bark fabrics. The women take espe-
cial pride in dressing up their husbands in most
spectacular and snowy patterns. and great
rivalry goes all the time in trying to Guido
one another in this respect The wives are con-
tent to make their best appearance by wearing
shOddy metal and brass jewelry. bead necklaces
with huge copper pendants and large earrings.
One OF the most curious and sacred of all the
Ainu belongings is the "inao," wooden prayer
stick. which holds a most important place in
their religion. They believe in a great many
gods and deitles. some good and bad. though
they recognize one powerful being. who Is the
maker and ruler Of all the rest The gods re-
side in and control the various forces of nature
The ''inaos" are pieces of whitfield willow wood
having shavngs left attached to the top. ana
are symbolic offerings in prayers presented to
the distant gods. Some shaved upward and
others backward. They hung up in the
windows and doorways and looked upon as
charms and safeguards from evil They are
placed in the fireplace and in other parts or the
interior. and outside the springs, river
banks and stOrehouses They are made ana
offered up on almost every occasion OF prayer
and placed in the domain where some particular
god is supposed to dwell. When they go hunt
ing one is made to insure success, and wAeh
putting out to sea TO fish they always take
piece Of willow wood and a knife along, and if
storm should come up they at once white OF
few "nao" shavings and throw them overheard
as a petition TO the god for protection and a
safe journey home.
The Ainu bear hunter put TO shame the
best modern sportsman. who considers hundred
yards off, with his Winchester a safe distance
for shot for such an animal The Ainu ne'hod