Author: Arnold Landor

Publisher:

Published: 2011-10-31

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 9781466488793

Arnold Henry Savage Landor was a painter, explorer, writer, and anthropologist. "Alone With The Hairy Ainu" is his fascinating historical account of an almost forgotten ethnic minority, the Ainu of Hokkaido, Japan.PrefaceThis book is not meant as a literary work, for I am not and do not pretend to be a literary man. It is but a record-an amplified log-book, as it were-of what befell me during my solitary peregrinations in Hokkaido, and a collection of notes and observations which I hope will prove interesting to anthropologists and ethnologists as well as to the general public.Without any claim to infallibility I have tried to take an open-minded and sensible view of everything I have attempted to describe; in most cases, however, I have given facts without passing an opinion at all, and all I have said I have tried to express as simply and plainly as possible, so as not to give rise to misunderstandings.There are a few points which I want to make quite clear.First, that I went to Hokkaido entirely on my own account and for my own satisfaction. Next, that I accomplished the whole journey (some 4200 miles, out of which 3800 were ridden on horseback and on a rough pack-saddle) perfectly alone. By alone I mean that I had with me no friends, no servants, and no guides. My baggage consisted of next to nothing, so far as articles for my own convenience or comfort were concerned. I carried no provisions and no tent.I am endowed with a very sensitive nature, and I pride myself in possessing the gift of adaptability to an extreme degree, and this may partly explain why and how I could live so long with and like the Ainu, whose habits and customs, as my readers will see, are somewhat different to ours.When I go to a country I do my best to be like one of the natives themselves, and, whether they are savage or not, I endeavour to show respect for them and their ideas, and to conform to their customs for the time being. I make up my mind that what is good for them must be good enough for me, and though I have occasionally had to swear at myself for "doing in Ainuland as the Ainu does," especially as regards the food, I was not much the worse for it in the end. I never use force when I can win with kindness, and in my small experience in Hokkaido and other countries I have always found that real savages in their simplicity are most "gentleman-like" people. With few exceptions they are good-natured, dignified, and sensible, and the chances are that if you are fair to them they will be fair to you. Civilised savages and barbarians I always found untrustworthy and dangerous.Contents:From Hakodate to MuroranFrom Muroran to the Saru RiverUp the Saru RiverAn Ainu FestivalFrom the Saru River to Cape ErimoFrom Cape Erimo to the Tokachi RiverThe Tokachi RegionFrom the Tokachi River to the Kutcharo RiverThe Pit DwellersThe Kutcharo RiverFrom Akkeshi to NemuroThe Kurile IslandsNemuro to MombetsuMombetsu to PoronaiFrom Poronai to Cape SoyaFrom Cape Soya to the Ishikari RiverThe Ishikari RiverNearing CivilisationCompleting the Circuit of HokkaidoAinu HabitationsAinu Music, Poetry, and DancingPsychological ObservationsOdour of the AinuThe Ainu Superstitions, Morals, Laws And PunishmentsMarital Relations, and Causes that Limit PopulationGlossary Of Ainu WordsThis edition of "Alone With The Hairy People" contains supplementary material:* A Brief Biography Of Arnold Landor* A Brief History Of Hokkaido* The Ainu Today