234 Traditions of the Ainos. 



The chief evidence that the interior of the earth is filled with 

 water, is in the springs and rivers which flow without ceasing and 

 must have an abundant and common origin within. It has not 

 been possible, however, to obtain a satisfactory explanation, which 

 would reconcile this belief with the equally well-established tra- 

 dition that there is an abundance of fire in the earth, as vol- 

 canoes demonstrate. In fact, no explanation whatever, is offered. 

 It appears, however, that it is the volcanoes themselves which 

 led the Ainos to give the interior of the earth the character of 

 hell, and that both fire and water are in the centre is demonstrated 

 by the hot springs to be found in various parts of Yezo. 



There is one tradition, repeated with but little variation, which 

 whatever its origin may have been, seems to be strongly in 

 agreement with known facts as they appear in evidence of a 

 geological nature. The Ainos' conception of the world seems con- 

 fined to formations of an insular character, and doubtless originally 

 embraced Japan alone, since we find their word Moshiri signify- 

 ing both " world " and "island," and constantly used in this double 

 sense. Upon this special point, moreover, no well-defined tradi- 

 tion seems to be current. There is one, however, to which we have 

 already alluded, which bears directly upon subsequent changes. 



Formerly, the present Island of Yezo was divided into two 

 parts. An arm of the sea from the west penetrated the interior 

 and occupied the territory now known as the Ishicari Valley. 

 This met a similar body of water, which penetrated from the east 

 and occupied what is now the Tokachi Valley — the two meeting at 

 the present divide between Ishicaridaki and Tokachidaki, two of 

 the highest mountains on the island. The fact that fossil marine 

 shells are found in abundance in the upper Ishicari Valley 

 and its tributaries, shows that the ocean did once cover this area ; 

 and whether or not the idea has been borrowed from the various 

 foreign experts who have explored the island under government 

 patronage of late years, the presence of these shells and the 

 resemblance they bear to existing forms, is given by the Ainos 

 as one of the strongest proofs in support of their tradition. 



At the time of this separation, therefore, all the territory at 

 present occupied by the Ishicari Valley and the two mountains 

 south and east, was under water. The northern island was 

 known as Maskishoya Ishicari, and extended from the present 



