120 Canadian Record of Science. 



there appears to be a greater diversity of opinion with regard 

 to their hirsuteness, than any other subject concerning 

 them. This has arisen too often from superficial observa- 

 tion ; again from second-hand evidence, and yet again from 

 the expression of an unrestrained enthusiasm. " Covered 

 with hair like animals," is the unqualified description which 

 has more than once been applied to this people ; while 

 Mr. Griffis as boldly asserts to the contrary, that they are 

 " Not more hairy as to their bodies than many Japanese or 

 other peoples who eschew pantaloons and shirts," and that 

 the term " Hairy Kuriles or Ainos, is rather the pet phrase 

 of some closet writers than the expression of a fact." 1 It 

 would appear, however, that Mr. Griffis did not have a suf- 

 ficient number of typical Ainos, upon the examination of 

 whom he could base a reliable opinion, since his studies 

 were confined to the few who were sent to Tokio for educa- 

 tion. From my own personal acquaintance with these same 

 men, it was evident that a study of them could lead to no 

 other conclusion than that reached by Mi*. Griffis, but 

 unfortunately they were few in number and not types. 



"Wood 2 remarks that " Esau himself could not have 

 been more hairy than are these Ainos." Again, Mr. 

 B. S. Lyman, 3 for several years geologist to the Kaita- 

 kushi, and thus possessing unusual opportunities for the 

 study of these people, says "It was surprising to see how 

 many of them were wholly or partially bald, and though 

 they are reckoned by the Japanese as so very hairy, how 

 many were, naturally, comparatively free from hairs on 

 their faces and bodies." Miss Bird 4 correctly observes that 

 " There is frequently a heavy growth of stiff hair on the 

 chest and limbs." Prof. Wm. Wheeler employed a guide 

 during one of his surveys, of whom he afterwards said to 

 me, " The hair on his back and over the entire chest was 

 long and matted, and reminded me strongly of the fur coat- 

 ing of an animal." 



1 Bull. Amer. Geog. Soc, 1878, No. 2. 



2 Trans. Eth. Soc, New Ser., iv. 34, etc. 



3 Kept. Horace, Capron., p. 390. 

 * Unbeaten Tracks, ii. 10. 



