38 
IN FORBIDDEN SEAS 
Japan being very severe, the advantage of the yurt 
as a winter-dwelling would be apparent, and so the 
example set by those who had been north would be 
followed by others, and thus the pit-dwellings 
spread southwards, later to be discarded, perhaps, 
as their contact with the Japanese enabled them 
to improve their ancient style of above-ground 
hut. 
