THE AINOS OF YEZO, JAPAN. 491 



stirred up this war without reason, you will be punished by the gods; you will be 

 annihilated. Listen to what I have to say. Besides, although I am a wounded man, 

 I will overthrow your town. Listen to what I say." And wheu I had said so much, 

 I drew my sword and flashed it about. I struck at him with such blows that the 

 wind whistled. We ascended to the ceiliug fighting, and here I chased him from oue 

 end of the house to the other. Whilst this was going on, a very great multitude of 

 men congregated upon the threshold. They were as thick as swarms of flies; so I 

 cut them dowu like men mow grass. 



Whilst this was going on the little woman said: " Oh, my brothers, why did ye 

 commit such a fault as to attack the Poiyaurube without cause? Was it that ye 

 desired to slay those who had no desire to die that ye fell upon them f Henceforth 

 I shall cast in my lot with the Poiyaumbe. Listen to my words." 



When the little woman had thus spoken, she drew a dagger from her bosom and 

 cut dowu the men at the door like grass; we fought side by side. Fighting so, we 

 drove them out of the house, and wheu we looked at them, there were but a few left, 

 but behind them stood the little Samatnye man ; yes, he was there. Iu a very short 

 time those few persons were all killed. After this I went after the Samatnye mau 

 with hasty strides, and drew my sword above him. I struck at him with heavy 

 blows. The Samatuye womau also stood by my side and hit at her brother with her 

 dagger. 



In a short time he received two or three cuts and was slain. After this the little 

 womau wept very much, and spake, saying: "As for me, I am undone. I did not 

 desire to draw my dagger against a man without friends. As the little hawks flock 

 together where there is food, so have I an earnest desire to be with thee, oh Poiya- 

 umbe. Listen to what I say." 



AN AINO RIP VAN WINKLE. 



In conclusion comes the story of Rip Van Winkle, told in so many 

 forms by so many peoples. It should he compared with the legend 

 of the fisber boy Urashima and his Pandora's box, wbich Professor 

 Chamberlain has so well rendered iu verse from the Japanese. The 

 translation of this Aiuo version is also by the same pen. 



A certain Aino went out in a boat to catch fish iu the sea. While he was there a great 

 wind arose, so that he drifted about for six nights. Just as he was like to die, land 

 came in sight. Being borne on to the beach by the waves, he quietly stepped ashore, 

 where he found a pleasaut rivulet. Having walked up the bank of this rivulet for 

 some distance, he descried a populous town, iu whose neighberhood were crowds 

 of people, both men and women. Proceeding to the town itself, he found an old 

 man of divine aspect, who said to him : " Stay with us a night and we will send yon 

 home to your own country to morrow. Do you consent ? " 



So the Aino spent the night with the old chief, who uext morning addressed him 

 as follows : " Some of my people, both men and women, are going to your country 

 for pivrpose of trade. So, if you will put yourself under their guidance, you 

 will be able to go home. When they take you with them iu the boat you must lie 

 down and not look about you, but completely hide your head. That is the condition 

 of your return. If you look, my people will be augry. Mind you, do not look." 

 Thus spoke the old chief. Well, there was a whole fleet of boats, inside which 

 crowds of people, both men and women, took passage. There were as many as five 

 score boats, which all started off together. The Aiuo lay down inside one of them 

 and hid his head, while the others made the boats go to the music of a pretty song, 

 which he much enjoyed. After a while they reached the land. Wheu they had 

 done so the Aino, peeping a little, saw that there was a river, and that they were 

 drawing water with dippers from the mouth of the river and sipping it. They said 



