102 
IN EOBBIDDEN SEAS 
the island. On going out that morning, we found the 
ice had set in on the coast, the sea being covered as 
far as could be seen from the hill. We sent out an 
Ainu to find and bring in our rifle and the other 
goods left in the tree on the edge of the plain, but 
he returned without them. The steward and an 
Ainu next day went out, and brought in the rifle 
and rice. The Ainu, knowing the country, followed 
a much easier route than ours, but it took them 
from early morning until half-past two to get to the 
place and back again. 
Wood-cutting in the hills was now in full swing, 
the cut-up wood being brought down into the 
village on sledges. These sledges were made of five 
pieces of wood—namely, two runners turned up at 
one end, two cross-pieces, and a shaft fastened to 
the cross-pieces, and projecting several feet beyond 
the runners. Both the Ainu men and women worked 
hard, commencing very early, and keeping at it all 
day. The sleighing was done chiefly by the Ainu 
women and girls, and it afforded us lots of fun 
helping (?) them. Where there was a fair slope, the 
sleigh with its load, including those in charge all 
piled on to it, was allowed to slide without any 
control, and it slid at a great pace until it fetched 
up at the bottom of the incline. Sometimes the 
whole thing would capsize, and wood and riders be 
upset in the snow, causing great fun to the Ainu 
girls, who were a merry, happy lot, notwithstanding 
the hard work and small pay. 
The village bell, if I may so call it, sounds before 
daylight, rousing everyone to breakfast, so that they 
can be at work as soon as day dawns. About ten 
o’clock it sounds again, and another meal is taken, 
