A. S. Bickmore on the Ainos of Yesso. 357 
voungest on theirright. They could not tell, however, how old 
they were, but said that the Japanese officials kept a record of 
their ages. As soon as they were seated they began their sal- 
utation, which consists in slightly inclining the body forward, 
at the same time raising both hands as high as the eyes, with 
the palms inward and the fingers extended and nearly touching 
each other. The hands then pass down along the beard to the 
| chest. This is repeated three times, and when they wish to 
i show still greater respect they accompany these motions with 
a low guttural muttering. Saki (Japanese rice-whiskey) being 
panese fluently, and Mr. James J. Enslie, the Japanese inter- 
preter at the British Consulate, and himself the author of two 
interesting papers on the Ainos, kindly volunteered to ask them 
a list of questions I had prepared. In this way the following 
information was obtained directly from the Ainos themselves. 
As some of the questions proved quite perplexing, they 
became tired before the list was completed, and I failed there- 
oo ee SE I et ~~ 
make no great rejoicing or = feed ead os is se 
| beginning of the new year, 
