AINU HOUSES AND THEIR FURNISHING. 



503 



half a dozen to occupy that miserable little box at night, deprived 

 of all fresh air save the little that might strain through the reeds 

 of the house wall, for " freshness " can not be applied to the air 

 from the interior of the house itself, that must reek with the 

 stench of rancid oil, half-cured fish, smoke, etc., and, as for fleas 

 and insects not usually mentioned in polite society, let us draw 

 the curtain ! 



We have now passed quite round the hut and reached the en- 

 trance on the north side of the wicket fence. In this corner were 

 the spare clothes, rough-weather garments, and private boxes of 

 the master and mistress. 



An iron kettle was hanging from a crane over the fireplace, 

 and strips of sword-fish and salmon-flesh were curing on a frame 

 suspended over the fire, the smoke being increased by burning 

 green wood and leaves. The effect of this pungent, stinging 

 smoke was very trying to eyes and lungs, and compelled me to 

 cut my visit and minute description rather shorter than I would 

 have wished. 



Various fishing and hunting implements and miscellaneoiis 

 odds and ends were placed on the cross-beams, or on shelves 



Fig. 3.— Ainu at Home. (From a Japanese sketch.) 



resting upon them, just as will be seen in farmers' and peasants' 

 houses the world over. Though hunting and fishing are essentially 

 the occupations of the men, and the women's assistance is only 

 called in to perform the drudgery of cleaning, salting, and curing 

 the fish and dressing and cooking the bear's meat, still the women 



