下载辰思小说免费APP
ForcertainlynoEuropeanhadeverpreviouslyfloatedonthedarkandforest-shroudedwaters。Ienjoyedthosehoursthoroughly，forthesilencewasprofound，andthefaintblueoftheautumnsky，andthesoftblueveilwhich“spiritualised“thedistances，weresoexquisitelyliketheIndiansummer。
Theeveningwasspentlikethepreviousone，buttheheartsofthesavagesweresad，fortherewasnomoresakeinBiratori，sotheycouldnot“drinktothegod，“andthefireandthepostwiththeshavingshadtogowithoutlibations。Therewasnomoreoil，soafterthestrangersretiredthehutwasincompletedarkness。
Yesterdaymorningweallbreakfastedsoonafterdaylight，andtheable-bodiedmenwentawaytohunt。Huntingandfishingaretheiroccupations，andfor“indoorrecreation“theycarvetobacco-boxes，knife-sheaths，sake-sticks，andshuttles。Itisquiteunnecessaryforthemtodoanything；theyarequitecontentedtositbythefire，andsmokeoccasionally，andeatandsleep，thisapathybeingvariedbyspasmsofactivitywhenthereisnomoredriedfleshinthekuras，andwhenskinsmustbetakentoSarufutotopayforsake。Thewomenseemnevertohaveanidlemoment。Theyriseearlytosew，weave，andsplitbark，fortheynotonlyclothethemselvesandtheirhusbandsinthisnearlyindestructiblecloth，butweaveitforbarter，andthelowerclassofJapaneseareconstantlytobeseenwearingtheproductofAinoindustry。Theydoallthehardwork，suchasdrawingwater，choppingwood，grindingmillet，andcultivatingthesoil，aftertheirfashion；
but，todothemenjustice，Ioftenseethemtrudgingalongcarryingoneandeventwochildren。Thewomentaketheexclusivechargeofthekuras，whichareneverenteredbymen。
Iwasleftforsomehoursalonewiththewomen，ofwhomtherewereseveninthehut，withafewchildren。Ontheonesideofthefirethechief’smothersatlikeaFate，foreversplittingandknottingbark，andpetrifyingmebyhercold，fatefuleyes。Herthick，greyhairhangsinshocks，thetattooingroundhermouthhasnearlyfaded，andnolongerdisguisesherreallyhandsomefeatures。Sheisdressedinamuchornamentedbark-clothdress，andwearstwosilverbeadstiedroundherneckbyapieceofbluecotton，inadditiontoverylargeearrings。Shehasmuchswayinthehouse，sittingonthemen’ssideofthefire，drinkingplentyofsake，andoccasionallychidinghergrandsonShinondifortellingmetoomuch，sayingthatitwillbringharmtoherpeople。Thoughherexpressionissosevereandforbidding，sheiscertainlyveryhandsome，anditisaEuropean，notanAsiatic，beauty。
Theyoungerwomenwereallatwork；twowereseatedonthefloorweavingwithoutaloom，andtheothersweremakingandmendingthebarkcoatswhicharewornbybothsexes。Noma，thechief’sprincipalwife，satapart，seldomspeaking。Twooftheyoungestwomenareverypretty——asfairasourselves，andtheircomelinessisoftherosy，peasantkind。Itturnsoutthattwoofthem，thoughtheywouldnotdivulgeitbeforemen，speakJapanese，andtheyprattledtoItowithgreatvivacityandmerriment，theancientFatescowlingatthemthewhilefromunderhershaggyeyebrows。I
gotanumberofwordsfromthem，andtheylaughedheartilyatmyerroneouspronunciation。Theyevenaskedmeanumberofquestionsregardingtheirownsexamongourselves，butfewofthesewouldbearrepetition，andtheyansweredanumberofmine。Asthemerrimentincreasedtheoldwomanlookedincreasinglyangryandrestless，andatlastratedthemsharply，asIhaveheardsince，tellingthemthatiftheyspokeanotherwordsheshouldtelltheirhusbandsthattheyhadbeentalkingtostrangers。Afterthisnotanotherwordwasspoken，andNoma，whoisanindustrioushousewife，boiledsomemilletintoamashforamid-daylunch。DuringtheafternoonaveryhandsomeyoungAino，withawashed，richly-
colouredskinandfinecleareyes，cameupfromthecoast，wherehehadbeenworkingatthefishing。HesalutedtheoldwomanandBenri’swifeonentering，andpresentedtheformerwithagourdofsake，bringingagreedylightintoh
