The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-05-29
A|NU BEAR FEAST
Festival That Is Really a Com
muniOn Service.
Ceremonial One of Number of SINH
lar Celebrations That Have ReIi-
gious Significance Among Peo-
Piles of Lowest Culture.

The most important object of the
Ainu chase is the bear. At certain
season of the year it is the ambition
OF the hunters of every village to cap
ture wee bear cub. 1t Is taken home
and treated with affection. If, as is
often the case, the little creature Is too
young to have been properly taken
from it's mother, it is turned over to
the young women of the village, who
Suckle it at their own breasts. spe-
cial pen made of logs is erected for the
cub, and here it is reared, the pet Of
the entire village, until fairly grown.
When the day of the feast comes the
invited guests assemble from all quar-
ters; food and drink in plenty have
been prepared. The signal given, the
bear is led out from it's wooden pen;
1t is tethered by rope to post and
fortunate creature; it is set upon,
struck, prodded, beaten. When the
scene has become one of wild excite
ment, and the tormented creature
snarls and turns and runs in every
way to escape from his tormentOrs,
young men come forward with two
poles, one of which is placed upon the
ground. They then throw themselves
upon the stunned creature, and, seiz-
ing him by the legs, place his head
lower jaw rests on it. The second
pole is now laid across the back Of the
head, above. A group of the young
men now throw themselves with all
their might upon the upper pole. The
head of the animal caught between the
two poles is subjected to the pressure
of the whole mass of struggling hui
mans. Leaning over the dying crea-
ture, one of the old men strokes both
sides Of his head and prays, at the
same time catching and inhaling the
creatures dying breath. When the
bear has breathed his last gasp-and
he must be killed without the shedding
of blood-the corpse with the head is
skinned and the rest Of the body is
taken inside and prepared for cooking.
laid out upon a handsome mat. When
the flesh is cooked q bowl of soup is
first brought out This is offered with
prayer to the skin and head of the
animal. He is begged to take a pOr-
ton of the soup he is reminded of the
kindness which the village has shown
him; he is begged to carry their petit
tions and regards to his parents and
to send favor and prosperity to them
In return for their respect, attention
and kind treatment. Pieces of the
flesh of the animal are then brought
out and offered to him. After these
acts of prayer, thanksgiving and wor-
ship, the people themselves begin to
feast. Abundance of millet beer has
been provided in addition to the food,
and the celebration ends in a scene Of
wild intoxication.
The bear feast is really an interest
ing communion service. To kill the
god, to eat his flesh and drink his blood
Is commonplace in many religions Of
lower culture. The bear feast is the
most startling ceremonial of the Ainu,
but it is only one Of considerable
number Of similar celebrations. Thus
they capture and rear hawks and other
birds of prey, eagle-owls, rocks and
foxes. All are treated with kind
ness. All ultimately are sacrificed
with prayer and offerings, to secure
from the creatures Of their kind bless
ings and favor for the people.-Asia
Magazine.