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havetakeninfinitetroubletolearnfromthemselveswhattheirreligiousnotionsare，andShinonditellsmethattheyhavetoldmealltheyknow，andthewholesumisafewvaguefearsandhopes，andasuspicionthattherearethingsoutsidethemselvesmorepowerfulthanthemselves，whosegoodinfluencesmaybeobtained，orwhoseevilinfluencesmaybeaverted，bylibationsofsake。
Thewordworshipisinitselfmisleading。WhenIuseitofthesesavagesitsimplymeanslibationsofsake，wavingbowlsandwavinghands，withoutanyspiritualactofdeprecationorsupplication。
Insuchasenseandsuchalonetheyworshipthesunandmoon(butnotthestars)，theforest，andthesea。Thewolf，theblacksnake，theowl，andseveralotherbeastsandbirdshavethewordkamoi，god，attachedtothem，asthewolfisthe“howlinggod，“theowl“thebirdofthegods，“ablacksnakethe“ravengod；“butnoneofthesethingsarenow“worshipped，“wolf-worshiphavingquitelatelydiedout。Thunder，“thevoiceofthegods，“inspiressomefear。Thesun，theysay，istheirbestgod，andthefiretheirnextbest，obviouslythedivinitiesfromwhomtheirgreatestbenefitsarereceived。Someideaofgratitudepervadestheirrudenotions，asinthecaseofthe“worship“paidtoYoshitsune，anditappearsinoneoftheruderecitationschantedattheSaturnaliawhichinseveralplacesconcludethehuntingandfishingseasons:-
“Totheseawhichnourishesus，totheforestwhichprotectsus，wepresentourgratefulthanks。Youaretwomothersthatnourishthesamechild；donotbeangryifweleaveonetogototheother。
“TheAinoswillalwaysbetheprideoftheforestandofthesea。“
Thesolitaryactofsacrificewhichtheyperformistheplacingofaworthless，deadbird，somethinglikeasparrow，nearoneoftheirpeeledwands，whereitislefttillitreachesanadvancedstageofputrefaction。“Todrinkforthegod“isthechiefactof“worship，“andthusdrunkennessandreligionareinseparablyconnected，asthemoresaketheAinosdrinkthemoredevouttheyare，andthebetterpleasedarethegods。Itdoesnotappearthatanythingbutsakeisofsufficientvaluetopleasethegods。Thelibationstothefireandthepeeledpostareneveromitted，andarealwaysaccompaniedbytheinwardwavingofthesakebowls。
Thepeculiaritywhichdistinguishesthisrudemythologyisthe“worship“ofthebear，theYezobearbeingoneofthefinestofhisspecies；butitisimpossibletounderstandthefeelingsbywhichitisprompted，fortheyworshipitaftertheirfashion，andsetupitsheadintheirvillages，yettheytrapit，killit，eatit，andsellitsskin。Thereisnodoubtthatthiswildbeastinspiresmoreofthefeelingwhichpromptsworshipthantheinanimateforcesofnature，andtheAinosmaybedistinguishedasbear-worshippers，andtheirgreatestreligiousfestivalorSaturnaliaastheFestivaloftheBear。Gentleandpeaceableastheyare，theyhaveagreatadmirationforfiercenessandcourage；andthebear，whichisthestrongest，fiercest，andmostcourageousanimalknowntothem，hasprobablyinallagesinspiredthemwithveneration。Someoftheirrudechantsareinpraiseofthebear，andtheirhighesteulogyonamanistocomparehimtoabear。ThusShinondisaidofBenri，thechief，“Heisasstrongasabear，“andtheoldFatepraisingPipicharicalledhim“Theyoungbear。“
InallAinovillages，speciallynearthechief’shouse，thereareseveraltallpoleswiththefleshlessskullofabearonthetopofeach，andinmostthereisalsoalargecage，madegrid-ironfashion，ofstouttimbers，andraisedtwoorthreefeetfromtheground。Atthepresenttimesuchcagescontainyoungbutwell-
grownbears，capturedwhenquitesmallintheearlyspr
