The Newark journal., 1921-07-07
ANU PEAR FEASI
Festival That Is Really a Con-
 nlunion Service.
ceromonia. One of Number Of sine lar celebrations That Have eei'- aious Significance Among pe0'
 pies of Lowest Culture.

The most important object ol 's ''s Aiau chase is the bear. Al eei."s season of the gear il iS ihe ai'io'''o'' of the hunters Of every village to cap ture Il wee bear cub. It is taken iioi''s and treated with affection. Ii, as lS often the case. the littie creature iS u" young to have been properly to@th from it's mother. it k urn over 10 the young women of the village, Wiio suckle 1t at their own breasts. spe- cial pen made of logs is erected Tor tue cub. and here 1t is reared the pet oi the entire village, until fairly grown. When the day of the feast comes the invited guests assemble from all guar ters: food and drink in plenty have been prepared The signal given. tae bear is led out from its wooden pen 1t is tethered by rope to post ana everyone leases and irritates the Ill fortunate creature: it is set upon struck. prodded, beaten. When tlie scene has become one of wild excite ment, and the tormented creature snarls and turns and runs Ill every way to escape from his tormentofs. young men come forward with tMo 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 upon the pole in such way that the Ia. fox, Ffhn Gnp0nH pole is now laid across the back of the head, above. 4 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 hu- mans. Leaning over the dying crea- ture, one of the old men strokes both sides of his head and prays. al the same time catching and inhaling the creatures dying breath When The bear has breathed his last gasp-and hp must be killed without the shedding Of blood-the corpse with the head is skinned, and the rest of the body ie AAt-4AiA anu lit itAA NHi tOt &ttA8ta. The skin and head are now carefully Laid ont upon . handsome mat. When the flesh Is cooked 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 DOT ton of the soup; he k reminded of the kindness which the village has shown him; lie is begged to carry their peti- tions and regards ta 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 scene of wild intoxication.
 The bear feast is really an interest Ing communion service. To kill tine 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 il 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 DraYpr and offppfuae r., s.,,,,,,,, from the creatures of their kind bless ings and favor for the people.-Asia Magazine