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supporting the potsherd in which； on rare occasions； they burn a
wick with oil； the component parts of their rude loom； the bark of
which they make their clothes； the reeds of which they make their
mats；and the inventory of the essentials of their life is nearly
complete。 No iron enters into the construction of their houses；
its place being supplied by a remarkably tenacious fibre。
I have before described the preparation of their food； which
usually consists of a stew 〃of abominable things。〃 They eat salt
and fresh fish； dried fish； seaweed； slugs； the various vegetables
which grow in the wilderness of tall weeds which surrounds their
villages； wild roots and berries； fresh and dried venison and bear；
their carnival consisting of fresh bear's flesh and sake； seaweed；
mushrooms； and anything they can get； in fact； which is not
poisonous； mixing everything up together。 They use a wooden spoon
for stirring； and eat with chopsticks。 They have only two regular
meals a day； but eat very heartily。 In addition to the eatables
just mentioned they have a thick soup made from a putty…like clay
which is found in one or two of the valleys。 This is boiled with
the bulb of a wild lily； and； after much of the clay has been
allowed to settle； the liquid； which is very thick； is poured off。
In the north； a valley where this earth is found is called Tsie…
toi…nai； literally 〃eat…earth…valley。〃
The men spend the autumn； winter； and spring in hunting deer and
bears。 Part of their tribute or taxes is paid in skins； and they
subsist on the dried meat。 Up to about this time the Ainos have
obtained these beasts by means of poisoned arrows； arrow…traps； and
pitfalls； but the Japanese Government has prohibited the use of
poison and arrow…traps； and these men say that hunting is becoming
extremely difficult； as the wild animals are driven back farther
and farther into the mountains by the sound of the guns。 However；
they add significantly； 〃the eyes of the Japanese Government are
not in every place！〃
Their bows are only three feet long； and are made of stout saplings
with the bark on； and there is no attempt to render them light or
shapely at the ends。 The wood is singularly inelastic。 The arrows
（of which I have obtained a number） are very peculiar； and are made
in three pieces； the point consisting of a sharpened piece of bone
with an elongated cavity on one side for the reception of the
poison。 This point or head is very slightly fastened by a lashing
of bark to a fusiform piece of bone about four inches long； which
is in its turn lashed to a shaft about fourteen inches long； the
other end of which is sometimes equipped with a triple feather and
sometimes is not。
The poison is placed in the elongated cavity in the head in a very
soft state； and hardens afterwards。 In some of the arrow…heads
fully half a teaspoonful of the paste is inserted。 From the nature
of the very slight lashings which attach the arrow…head to the
shaft； it constantly remains fixed in the slight wound that it
makes； while the shaft falls off。
Pipichari has given me a small quantity of the poisonous paste； and
has also taken me to see the plant from the root of which it is
made； the Aconitum Japonicum； a monkshood； whose tall spikes of
blue flowers are brightening the brushwood in all directions。 The
root is pounded into a pulp； mixed with a reddish earth like an
iron ore pulverised； and again with animal fat； before being placed
in the arrow。 It has been said that the poison is prepared for use
by being buried in the earth； but Benri says that this is needless。
They claim for it that a single wound kills a bear in ten minutes；
but that the flesh is not rendered unfit for eating； though they
take the precaution of cutting away a considerable quantity of it
round the wound。
Dr。 Eldridge； formerly of Hakodate； obtained a small quantity of
the poison； and； after trying some experiments with it； came to the
conclusion that it is less virulent than other poisons employed for
a like purpose； as by the natives of Java； the Bushmen； and certain
tribes of the Amazon and Orinoco。 The Ainos say that if a man is
accidentally wounded by a poisoned arrow the only cure is immediate
excision of the part。
I do not wonder that the Government has prohibited arrow…traps； for
they made locomotion unsafe； and it is still unsafe a little
farther north； where the hunters are more out of observation than
here。 The traps consist of a large bow with a poisoned arrow；
fixed in such a way that when the bear walks over a cord which is
attached to it he is simultaneously transfixed。 I have seen as
many as fifty in one house。 The simple contrivance for inflicting
this silent death is most ingenious。
The women are occupied all day； as I have before said。 They look
cheerful； and even merry when they smile； and are not like the
Japanese； prematurely old； partly perhaps because their houses are
well ventilated； and the use of charcoal is unknown。 I do not
think that they undergo the unmitigated drudgery which falls to the
lot of most savage women； though they work hard。 The men do not
like them to speak to strangers； however； and say that their place
is to work and rear children。 They eat of the same food； and at
the same time as the men； laugh and talk before them； and receive
equal support and respect in old age。 They sell mats and bark…
cloth in the piece； and made up； when they can； and their husbands
do not take their earnings from them。 All Aino women understand
the making of bark…cloth。 The men bring in the bark in strips；
five feet long； having removed the outer coating。 This inner bark
is easily separated into several thin layers； which are split into
very narrow strips by the older women； very neatly knotted； and
wound into balls weighing about a pound each。 No preparation of
either the bark or the thread is required to fit it for weaving；
but I observe that some of the women steep it in a decoction of a
bark which produces a brown dye to deepen the buff tint。
The loom is so simple that I almost fear to represent it as
complicated by description。 It consists of a stout hook fixed in
the floor； to which the threads of the far end of the web are
secured； a cord fastening the near end to the waist of the worker；
who supplies； by dexterous rigidity； the necessary tension； a frame
like a comb resting on the ankles； through which the threads pass；
a hollow roll for keeping the upper and under threads separate； a
spatula…shaped shuttle of engraved wood； and a roller on which the
cloth is rolled as it is made。 The length of the web is fifteen
feet； and the width of the cloth fifteen inches。 It is woven with
great regularity； and the knots in the thread are carefully kept on
the under side。 ｛20｝ It is a very slow and fatiguing process； and
a woman cannot do much more than a foot a day。 The weaver sits on
the floor with the whole arrangement attached to her waist； and the
loom； if such it may be called； on her ankles。 It takes long
practice before she can supply the necessary tension by spinal
rigidity。 As the work proceeds she drags herself almost
impercep