Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1894 — A HAIRY RACE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A HAIRY RACE.

The Ainas Are Perhaps the Most Degraded People Llrln e . The Alnus, who lived on the island of Yazo, Japan, are perhaps the lowest down in the scale of humanity of any race on earth. They are a hairy people, are filthy in their habits, and ignorant and superstitious Their

history for the last 2,500 years is to a certain extent known. They were supposed at one time to have occupied the Japanese archipelago, and to have been driven to Yezo, where they maintained their independence until the ninth century, then becoming subject to Japan. Their fierceness gradually left them, and they are now among the most peaceable and submissive of the earth’s inhabitants. At Yezo their number is estimated to be about 17,000. A century ago the Alnus were living in the age of stone. They are beyond it now only because they have obtained knives from the Japanese. They have no writing, no records of their past, and no aspirations. As is usual among barbarous people, the women do most of the work, the men to a great extent confining themselves to hunting. In moving a load or heavy object the Ainus never push, but always pull toward them. They appear to use the feet and toes very freely to help their bands and fingers, and they readily employ their teeth, preferring to pull with the teeth than with the hand when an unusually heavy haul Is necessary.

AN AINUS-MAX.