480 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



ward, as though throwing some sake into the fire. Dipping the stick 



once more, a drop is thrown over 

 the left shoulder. These opera- 

 tions are repeated two, three, or 

 more times. The stick is then 

 replaced on the cup, the whole is 

 again raised, and finally the stick 

 is used to lift the mustache while 

 drinking. 



No words can give a true im- 

 pression of this ceremony. It 

 must be seen in the surroundings 

 of an Aino hut: the shiny, black- 

 ened rafters above; the begrimed, 

 bearded faces and unkempt hair, 

 lighted by the faint gleam of a 

 burning wick in a plate of oil, 

 and the fitful flame of a smoky 

 wood fire. 



At Piratori the ceremony was 

 slightly different. I noticed that 

 the famous old chief Benri, who 

 by the way, it may be remarked, 

 speaks of Miss Bird as the '' wo- 

 man to whom he told so mauy 

 lies,' 1 took the largest share of 

 the sake, for he not only had a 

 large cup, but it was filled quite 

 to the brim ; while his son was 

 served with a cup but partly filled. 

 One of the men went to the east 

 window and there performed his 

 ceremony in silence, waving his 

 stick three or four times to the 

 east. 



The women sat behind the men, 

 and the latter, after having them- 

 selves drunk, passed the cup be- 

 hind them to their wives, without 

 turning. But the women do not 

 get much, for the Ainos consider 

 that sake was only made for the 

 gods and men. 



Mr. Batchelor tells us that in 

 drinking sake " three drops must 

 be given to the fire goddess, three 

 thrown toward the east window, and three toward the northeast corner 



/5073V- 



Pig. 78. 

 Aino Tobacco Pipes. 



