Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-06-30
CURIOUS and ANCIENT
CLAN FOUND IN JAPAN
Called the Rip Van Wrinkles
of Japan, But Were All Pow
erful In 18th Century.

Toxic, (by mail)-Japanese enthnol-
ogists a discovered in the mountain
Businesses of the island of Kyushu a
curious and ancient people who have
been designated the Rip Van Wrinkles
of Japan. A similar group has been
found in the mountains of Hida pro-
vince. 1t is said that both are of the
Helix family which descended from a
mikado of the 9th century. They were
all powerful in the 18th century until
Roses by the Minamoto clan.
History holds that the Heiki fugi-
tives who escaped after the 18th CEN
fury battle We're drowned during their
flight. but the recent discovery of the
picturesque clansmen in the wilds OF
kyushu and in the mountains Of Hida
province leads to the belief that many
escaped and settled in remote noun
tain districts.
Shut in by precipitous mountain
peaks, these villagers live an old world
life. just as they must have centuries
ago. One reason for believing they are
the descendants OF the Helix Is that
their style of clothing is the same as
prevailed in Kyoto in the Helix epoch
n their dialect resembles somewhat
the dialect of Kyoto in the olden times.
They sing a song, which translated,
Putting off our headgear of mobiles
and our hunting dress, we proceed in
to the forest and the recesses OF the
mountains as woodcutters, to fell q
tree"
Moreover. the villagers themselves
think they are the descendants of the
Helix. Certainly these people are vast
~ different from the ordinary Japanese
OF today, both in language and In GUS
tom. The families often number from
20 to 80 persons and live together in
separate flats, as it were, in the same
house. but eat at a common table, as q
measure of economy.
The management of the family Is
vested in the head who exercises alb
sOlute authority. He occupies a seat
of honor and wears a ceremonial skirt.
He spends most Of his time in receiY-
ing visitors and attending to social
matters. He is exempted from all
manual labor.
The heir Of the family is all Inn
portant, while the rest of the children
are merely servants. He alone can
take a legitimate wife and in turn have
heirs. The smallness of the clans a
times too close and hardly eugenis.
Nevertheless. the community life Is on
the whole of a high order. Thos who
break rules are banished from the VIII
lage. The houses are 80 feet long and
SO feet wide. They are more like fam
lily hotels n always contain q shrine
where the ancestors are paid homage.
The clansmen use no lamps. for tho
wood they burn in the middle Of the
floor at night furnishes all the light
they need. They live chiefly OH the
grain of a kind Of grass. The head
man sometimes has rice brought In
from the outside world for his own use.
but for the most part ever he has to
live on communal food. Pumpkins,
eggplants, yams and other vegetables
they grow in plenty.
Their dress is a curiosity, but quite
appropriate to hardy mountaineers.
The men carry a piece of bearskin or
wild bear at the loin and a Ratchet in
their belts. The villagers are said to
be very honest, always agreeable
among themselves. and receive
strangers with the greatest hospitality,