THE KURILSKY AINU 
29 
there were usually at each settlement a couple or 
more boats, which appeared to be common prop¬ 
erty. Even amongst these poor people there were 
different grades, certain families taking precedence 
of others. 
The food of these people consisted of the flesh of 
the seal, sea-lion, sea-otter, sea-fowl and their eggs, 
berries, a few roots, and fish. They did not, however, 
appear to be large eaters of the last-named. Food 
was plentiful during the summer, but, being [im¬ 
provident and very lazy, they were often hard pushed 
during the winter and spring, sometimes having to 
subsist on the few limpets and mussels they could 
gather around the rocks on the beach. This usually 
happened when the weather was too cold and 
boisterous to get about, or when they had used up all 
their ammunition. The flesh of the sea-otter, which 
is very rank to a civilized palate, was their favourite 
food. The intestines of the animal, put into a 
saucepan just as they were taken from the carcass, 
without any attempt at cleaning, and stewed, were 
considered a great delicacy. Like all the rest of the 
northern tribes, they were extremely fond of spirits. 
I have, however, met a few who would not drink. 
On Saghalin I have seen a native Ainu woman give 
her baby at the breast neat rum, which the little one 
appeared to enjoy, for it cried for more, and would 
not be quieted until supplied. 
The dresses of these natives were made of bird- 
skins, sewn together with sinews of the sea-lion. 
The feathers were worn inside, next the skin. The 
outside of the dress was usually adorned with the 
yellow plumes and brilliantly coloured beaks of the 
tufted and horned puffin. The edges, and around 
