And these various evidences may be enforced by yet others contained in works on Japan, published since these chapters were commenced. Giving a passing notice to the fact that Captain St. John, speaking of the "goodness and kindness" of the people in the "wild part of Japan," where they had not seen Europeans, says, "I always found, the farther from the open ports I went, the nicer in every way were the people,"[2] I pass on to the testimony of Miss Bird concerning the Ainos. These appear to be an aboriginal race, who, like the Hill tribes of India, have retired before an invading race. According to this lady traveler, "they have no traditions of internecine strife, and the art of war seems to have been lost long ago." They are "truthful," "gentle," "considerate"; and when a house was burned down all the men joined to rebuild it. They are "punctiliously honest" in all their transactions; are very anxious to give; and when induced to sell would accept only a moiety of the amount offered. Describing generally their traits of nature she says, "I hope I shall never forget the music of their low sweet voices, the soft light of their mild brown eyes, and the wonderful sweetness of their smile."[3]
With these superiorities of the social relations in permanently peaceful tribes go superiorities of their domestic relations. As I have before pointed out, while the status of women is habitually very low in tribes given to war and in more advanced militant societies, it is habitually very high in these primitive peaceful societies. The Bodo and the Dhimáls, the Kocch, the Santáls, the Lepchas, are monogamic, as were also the Pueblos; and along with their monogamy habitually goes a superior sexual morality. Of the Lepchas Hooker says, "The females are generally chaste, and the marriage tie is strictly kept."[4] Among the Santals, "unchastity is almost unknown" and "divorce is rare."[5] By the Bodo and the Dhimáls, "polygamy, concubinage, and adultery are not tolerated:" "chastity is prized in man and woman, married and unmarried."[6] Further it is to be noted that, among these peoples, the behavior to women is extremely good. "The Santál treats the female members of his family with respect;"[7] the Bodo and the Dhimáls "treat their wives and daughters with confidence and kindness: they are free from all out-door work whatever."[8] And even among the Todas, low as are the forms of their sexual relations, "the wives are treated by their husbands with marked respect and attention."[9] Moreover, we are told concerning sundry of these unwarlike peoples that the status of children is also high; and there is none of that distinction of treatment between boys and girls which characterizes militant tribes.[10]
- ↑ Earl's Kolff, 164.
- ↑ Captain St. John's "The Wild Coasts of Nipon," 142.
- ↑ Miss Bird's "Unbeaten Tracks in Japan," ii, 103; 74.
- ↑ Hooker's "Himalayan Journal," i, 134.
- ↑ Hunter's "Annals of Rural Bengal," i, 208.
- ↑ Hodgson in "Journal Asiatic Society," xviii, 708.
- ↑ Hunter's "Annals of Rural Bengal," i, 217.
- ↑ Hodgson's "Essays," i, 150.
- ↑ "Journal Ethnological Society," vii, 241.
- ↑ In a "Symposium" published in the "Nineteenth Century" for April and May, 1877, was discussed "the influence upon morality of a decline in religious belief": the ques-
