28 YESSO. 



in the hut, and not by the door. If the latter by 

 chance is used, the other fish still enjoying freedom 

 will, it is believed, disappear. Such is one of their 

 customs, as related to me. 



In Saghalien, on the death of the chief of the tribe, 

 his body is laid on a table, close to the door of his hut, 

 his internal parts are removed, and widow and daughters 

 then continue to wash the body clean daily. This un- 

 savoury operation goes on for a whole year, and if at the 

 end of the year the remains are intact, they are placed 

 in a box and interred. The female relatives of the 

 departed receive constant presents of tobacco, clothes, 

 etc. A sad alternative, however, awaits the widow : if, 

 notwithstanding all her labour, she has been unable to 

 cure or preserve the remains of her lord and master, 

 she is killed and put under ground before her hus- 

 band's body is buried. 



A capacity for sorrow is supposed to be highly 

 developed in the Aino people. On the death of any 

 one, the neighbours always come and condole with the 

 survivors. Death is considered a very disagreeable 

 subject, and seldom, if ever, mentioned or spoken of. 

 When a man dies, his house is burnt. Husbands 

 appear to be kind to their wives, and well they may, 

 for the woman's part or duty is to save her spouse all 



