The sun., 1905-09-03

thems. NJ. Liable tells OF one named Man
quine, famous rdconteur. He never finished
his stories. At q particular point he always
began to weep. When asked the where-
fore he said that the remainder Of the mar
rative was 40 sad he could not sufficiently
contro! his feelings to finish 1t.
The Amos, the second Of the aboriginal
tribes on the Island Of Sakhalin. are OBJ
jects OF oven greater interest. They oc-
oupy the southern end OF the island.
While they and the Guiliaks have .
good deal In common. the Amos are more
oivilized-e. least portion Of them
owing to intercourse with the Japa-
some Of the villages and given them en-
ployment. Through this association they
have been able to supply themselves with
| modern tools. Moreover, the Japanese
have taught them how to enlarge their
! physical comfort. The Amos are more
| reserved and less confident Of themselves
then the Guiliaks. When a stranger enters
| the hut Of the latter he IL greeted with
laughter and childish antics; when he goes
| into that Of the other he encounters serious,
grave reserve. M. Liable says that the
conversation OF an Aino Is tinged with
melancholy. His stories or legends are
full Of sadness.
To-day In the Japanese island Of Yeso
there are hourishing schools attended by
Amos Among the most intelligent citi-
zens OF Toxic are many who. although they
try to conceal it, are Of Aino descent.
These aborigines have legend which tells
why the Japanese can read and write ana
they cannot. "On certain day Japanese
god came to pay visit to an Aino deity.
The latter asked his confrere to remain
and dine with him. The meal was copious
| one. What better could two gods 90,
when dining together than get drunk
| The Aino deity fell asleep. The Japanese
god took advantage Of the opportunity
and robbed him Of his grammar and written
language That is why the Japanese know
how to read and write and the Amos do
not"
| The Russians have attempted prose-
lyting among the Amos, but with little
success They cannot be weaned from
| the idea that god is other than vindictive
and cruel. They devote themselves to
| the propitation Of malevolent deities'
NJ. Liable gives an example OF this CHAR
acteristic Of the Amos Poutka, one o1
the companions OF the author. was big
AYno. very jovial and obliging. With his
long black beard and ragged clothing he
had the air Of brigand whereas he was
the most gentle Of men. Always In MS
company was a certain Otaka, q most IN
telligent person, who told melancholy
stories and recited Afno legends. he
spoke Russian very well and was fond OF
theological discussion.
| "A Russian popt, he said to the author,
tried to convert me to his religion, but
he was only the priest Of false god. he
depicted his God as beneflcent and good.
always ready to protect man and pardon
him. A God as benevolent az that cannot
exist: it is useless to pray to Him because
he cannot do us any harm. Gods are
wicked and they amuse themselves in see-
ing us suffer Often poor little rat comes
out Of his hole in our village. the dogs run
after him, barking and swapping. They
seize and play with him. He suffers Tor
long time. Now the evil spirits and gods
are like these dogs. This poor little rat is
the unhappy AIno whom they torture for
their pleasure.
Liable asked Otaka il he thought gods
and evil spirits could be placated with
| prayer.
aNo, I do not think no, = he replied. when
the snow falls and the sea is furious the
| AIno lost in the forest or tossed about IN
his boat by the waves weepe and prays.
But the snow continues to fall and the tenn
pest increases in fury. The gods only spare
those who give them food and drink. A
prayer to them signifies nothing. The
Russian pope told me that We had soul
and that that soul whom we died would live
with God. I do not believe that. II the
dead lived in another world they would be
concerned about US. had son who died
young. father who lived to great age
| II to-day they we're with God they would
make me feel it, they would let me know
II: for they loved me too dearly to leave
me inconsolable and weeping for so long
time
aThere Is a proverb In my country, said
Labbe (which pretends that when one is
dead it is for a long time.
.Your proverb lies, replied Otaka; when
one /. dead 1t is for all time
poutka. on the other hand, like most Of
tho Amos, believed in meteInpsychosis;
that when a man died, il he had conducted
himself properly in this world, he would
inhabit the body Of a superior animal, like
a seal. a dog, or even a bear. This conver-
sation Ia given to show how the intelligence
OF aborisines like the Amos can be awakened
hv oontao, with a race like the Japanese.
and how It can be kept dormant, as IN the
case OF the Guiliaks. through exclusive
association with Russian convicts.
The Japanese have relations with only
a limited number OF Amos. Those who
do not come in touch with them are no
further advanced in civilization, 30 DO
sneak. than the Guiliaks. Their customs
and habits are relatively the same. modi-
fed by local conditions. One Of the dis
tineuishing characteristics Of the Amos is
intense love Of children. This refers not
only to their own. but to those OF relatives
and neiehbors. They hasten marriage in
order that this form Of affection o,n be
sat;sf,ed at the earliest moment. A boy
marries at Is and girl at IL. Parents
affianoe their children even when they are
in the cradle. When young Aino wishes
~ marry he goes hunting, passing through
several villages. II in any one Of them he
encounters a young girl who pleases him