84 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



tuting one of the best reasons for absolute divorce among the 

 Ainu, as among savage and barbarous nations the world over. 



Children are sometimes betrothed by their fathers when quite 

 young, and this is done without the intervention of a middle-man. 

 This is not usually a matter of commerce, but often occurs when 

 two men, during a drinking-bout, conceive a great friendship for 

 each other. It frequently happens, however, that two rich men, 

 desirous of combining the wealth of their respective families, will 

 betroth their children. But betrothal is not absolutely binding 

 upon the young people, for the veto power remains with the chil- 

 dren ; and if, upon reaching marriageable age, either of the prin- 

 cipal parties to the marriage feels any inclination to do so, he or 

 she will annul the betrothal contract, in which event any presents 

 that may have been given must be returned, or their value fully 

 recompensed . to the donors. It is sometimes a difficult matter for 

 the girl to have her own way, for there are conventionalities even 

 in Ainu society ; but the boy simply takes the law into his own 

 hands and consummates wedlock with the object of his affection, 

 and, when her condition betrays the fact, opposition often ceases ! 



At the time of betrothal, if the choice be an independent one 

 on the part of either the groom or bride, it is customary for the 

 fathers to exchange presents, of no great value, to be sure, but 

 sufficient to show their approval of the match. Long engage- 

 ments are not popular, and when once a betrothal has been ef- 

 fected the pair are soon married, if they are of suitable age — that is, 

 about eighteen or twenty for the man, and sixteen or eighteen for 

 the woman. It will be noticed that there is a certain doubt ex- 

 pressed in all matters pertaining to age, time, etc. This is because 

 the people have no record of time, except to mark the recurring 

 seasons, and do not themselves know how old they are. 



When two young people are married, the wedding-feast is usu- 

 ally held at the house of the groom's father. The village chief (or 

 his representative if he can not attend in person) and all the mem- 

 bers of the two families attend, with the immediate relatives and 

 the nearest neighbors. Like all their social and religious meet- 

 ings, the occasion is made an excuse for saA'e-drinking — the men 

 drinking themselves into a state of intoxication. As they are 

 hard-headed fellows, and take their liquor cold (instead of heated, 

 as the Japanese do), the quantity of sake consumed is sometimes 

 enormous. To give some idea of the Ainu excessive fondness for 

 sake, I may mention the fact that many of the northern Ainu often 

 refuse to work for money -wages, and stipulate that they shall re- 

 ceive sake in full payment before they will commence. 



The mistress of the house superintends the preparation of the 

 wedding-feast, and is assisted by all the assembled women in 

 pounding the millet and making wedding-cakes, which are boiled. 



