Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-01-15

On the island OF Yezo In northern
japan. and on certain OF the kurile
islands which extend northwards to-
wards Kamtchatka. there dwells to-
day race of people distinct In type.
They are the Hairy Ainu. and although
numbers OF their settlements have
from time 10 time been visited by
travellers. most OF the inhabitants haTs
been living In semi-civilized state
Very few have seen the true Ainu. as
they are still TO be seen. living In
barbaric style on the widest parts OF
Yezo island. Among various writer's
who have contributed TO the literature
on the subject of the Anus. no one
has given a more graphic description
Of these natives than Mr.. A. III. Saw
age Landor. He had previously com
pleted long and arduous journey
which embraced tour OF The whole
coast Of Yezo and part OF the kurile
islands. during which he spent many
toms Of these quaint people. Although
the present writer has also visited
PARTS OF Yczo. and Travelled along the
whole length 81 the Kurile islands. he
does not attempt. In such an article as
This. 10 do more than touch briefly up.
on one or two customs OF the Ainu. As
their name suggests. they are a race
II exceedingly hairy people. The men
grow great boards OF which they are
excessively proud. and their bodies are
thiokly covered with hair. almost like
members Of the monkey tribe. The
women grow no hair on their faces.
hut seem To find solace for this
imaginary defect In tattooing nous.
taches on their lips. and often print
tive designs on their hands and arms
and also across their foreheads. Young
unmarried women have very little
atiooing on them. but. once a won.
an is married. her husband seems To
AXE a pride In decorating his bride
with representations OF hirsute adorn
meat The mocus operandi is one
which requires considerable fortitude
on the part OF the patient. since the
orudest form OF tattooing is adopted
Thia consists OF making a number OF
incisions In the skin with the point OF
knife. Cuttle.hsh black or smoke
black is then rubbed into the wounds.
and the operation sets up great In.
iammation OF the lips. and Is very
painful
4 characteristic OF the Ainu race Is
the color OF their skin. which is OF a
deep bronze or copper color and in
nowise resembles any other OF the
oriental races. hut is more Ike that
of the American red Indians The
Ainu have no records. written or 9th
erwise. Of their former history. nor Of
how and whence they come to inhabit
the island of Yezo. These matters
seem unknown to them. and even TO
anthropologists. Legends. however,
exist among certain OF the Ainu to
the effect that many years ago yezo
was inhabited by race OF diminltive
people who were conquered, ami ap
parently exterminated. ~ shs Ainu
TtA,e people were called by the Ainu
Koro poK.kurn. or pit-dwellers. owing
to their habit OF living In huts con.
structed over form OF rectangular.
circular. or oval.shaped pit. many
traces OF which are still found In Yezo
and the Kurile islands. A few years
ago the present writer also discovered
on the Sehring sea coast Of Alaska
some very perfect remains OF a pit.
jewellers village. which Is quite unlik.
any settlements made to-day by TIE
Eskimo or Aleut natives Of Alaska.
The Anus claim that az some remote
period they were themselves the In.
habitants of some far northern coun,
try. and as evidence OF THIS they cite
their hairy bodies. They say. why.
II we did not come from a cold coun.
try. should We need so have skins like
a bear" II Is possible that they did
migsate southwards from the shores OF
the Behring sea. either by way OF the
Aleutian islands. or along the coasts OF
Kar.tchatka and the Kuriles.
One good trait In the Ainu character
is their great bravery. and this Is a |
quality held In high esteem among |
them. On the island OF Yezo. and some |
OF the Kuriles. bears are very numer.
Gus. The Ainu men. who are merely |
armed with such primitive weapons as |
bows. arrows and knives. hunt and |
kill n great number OF bears. One
species Of these bears (ursus ferox) IA |
notoriously savage. One OF the most
curious and unnatural customs OF the
Ainu has puzzled me as to its origin.
At certain seasons OF the year the men
organize parties for hunting bears:
old bears are killed. their skins and
akulls being brought home The skulls