134 THE HAIRY MEN OF YESSO. 



the marvellous energies "whicli'liave been displayed with such in-' 

 domitable perseverance in war, are once more enlisted in the nobler 

 arts of peace ; and are directed, in the spirit with which the plan 

 of organisation of the Smithsonian Institution has been so wisely 

 imbued by its able secretary, for the diffusion of knowledge, and 

 the benefit of mankind. D. W. 



THE HAIRY MEN OF YESSO. 

 Glasgow Citizen, 1th January, 1865, 



An interesting communication was read at last meeting of the Ethnological 

 Society, the writer of which was Mr. W. Martin Wood, and the subject " The 

 Hairy Men of Yesso." The Island of Yesso is the most northern portion of the 

 empire of Japan. These aborigines are named " A'inos," or " Mosinos " — the 

 " all-hairy people " — this last being a Japanese term which marks their chief 

 physical peculiarity. Their number is estimated at about 50,000. Yesso is only 

 separated from Mphon by the narrow Strait of Tsougar ; but the climate of the 

 island is unpropitious and its soil is barren, so that the Japanese have only occu- 

 pied the southern portion. They number about 100,000, and dwell principally in 

 the cities of Matsmai and Hako-dadi. The former city is the residence of the 

 feudatory prince who holds Yesso under fealty to the Tycoon of Jeddo. To this 

 prince of Mats-mia the A'inos send a deputation every spring, who present a 

 tribute of dried fish and furs, and do homage, and repeat a formal convention 

 expressive of submission to the Japanese. Hako-dadi is the largest city of 

 Yeddo, and is the third Japanese port opened to foreign commerce. Its road- 

 stead and harbour are the safest and most commodious of any in the eastern 

 seas. It affords an excellent port for the refitting of merchant vessels, especially 

 for the American whalers, and it also forms a good rendezvous for the naval 

 vessels of the various trading powers. From a temple in the centre of the city 

 float the flags of England and France, and there the consuls of those powers 

 reside. The A'inos live quite in the interior of the island and seldom show them- 

 selves at Hako-dadi or Mats-mai. Of a timid and shrinking attitude, these 

 people seem utterly crushed in spirit by their long subjection and isolation. They 

 are short in stature, of thick-set figure, and clumsy in their movements. Their 

 physical strength is considerable, but, besides that peculiarity, there would seem 

 to be nothing by which an observer can recognise the possibility of the A'inos 

 ever having possessed any martial prowess. The uneouthness and wildness of 

 their aspect is calculated at first to strike a stranger with dismay or repugnance. 

 Esau himself could not have been a more hairy man than are these Aioos. The 

 hair on their heads forms an enormous bunch, and it is thick and matted. Their 

 beards are very thick and long, and the greater part of their face is covered with 

 hair, whieh is generally dark in colour ; but they have prominent foreheads and 

 mild dark eyes, which somewhat relieve the savage aspect of their visage. Their 



