with mats, were a number of Japanese household utensils in lacquer, carved wood, earthenware, and brass. Many of these were very old and excellent specimens of art, and some bore the crests of Daimiyo (feudal lords of Japan), showing that they had very likely been received as presents from their former owners.[1]
There were food-boxes, clothing-boxes, and clothes-frames (clothes-horses), bowls for food and saké, rests for swords, urns or tea-chests, about two feet high on four small legs, tubs for sake of the same height; all ranged in order, rarely used, and not to be bought unless for fabulous prices. Hanging from a beam in front of the corner, transformed into an open cupboard, were four swords, a matchlock, a bow with accompanying quiver full of arrows, and a pair of winter half-boots, made of salmon-skin. The swords were similar to the Japanese in most particulars, though not quite so long, nor so well made, and certainly not as well cared for as a Japanese sword would be; the handles were of wood, rudely carved and ornamented with little studs of brass or tin, secured by short nails, and tiny bells; the guards were just the same as those of Japanese swords; the scabbards were of wood, in two pieces neatly joined. The swords are worn on the left side, well up under the arm, and hang by a broad strap which passes over the right shoulder.
Passing along the north wall of the house, we came to the sleeping-box, as I must call it, for it can not be designated a room. It was tucked well under the eaves, was about ten feet long by eight wide, and raised eighteen inches above the floor of the house. One end of it formed the side of the curio corner just described. On the floor was spread a piece of matting, and the futons, or heavily wadded cotton quilts, on which and under which the family sleep at night, were neatly folded and laid in a pile on one side; the pillows in this house were of the Japanese pattern, little stands that support the neck, and which look to be wretchedly uncomfortable, but which are not so very bad when one gets accustomed to them. At night, or whenever any one is sleeping, a mat curtain is hung up in front of the sleeping-quarters, thus sealing up the inmates almost hermetically. I can not imagine any greater misery than to be compelled to be one of
- ↑ Miss Bird says: "Some of these things were doubtless gifts to their fathers when they went to pay tribute to the representative of the Shôgun and the Prince of Matsumae, soon after the conquest of Yezo. Others were probably gifts of samurai, who took refuge here during the rebellion, and some must have been obtained by barter. They are the one possession which they will not barter for saké, and are only parted with in payment of fines at the command of a chief, or as the dower of a girl." At the close of the rebellion of 1868, one last stand was made by the Tokugawa adherents in Yezo. The Ainu were non-combatants, and doubtless had many opportunities of befriending the unfortunate ones, who showed their appreciation of Ainu kindness and hospitality by leaving some of their belongings.
