University of Virginia Library

THE KARAFUTO AINOS, OF ISCHARI VALLEY OF HOKKAIDO (YEZO).

"Among these people, the original inhabitants and rulers of Japan, the parturient is assisted by an elderly female, who has had several children but is not specially

instructed for her office, nor especially selected for her intelligence. Other females, at times, come to the hut, but take no active part. If the labor is much delayed, and the woman becomes exhausted, her husband is called in to help support her; the priest is sent for, to prepare some white sticks, which are shaved down from one end to form an object not unlike a New England split wood broom, whose fibers have not been bent back to be confined by the cord; these latter are stuck into the ground about the hut, leaving the frayed edges upper-most. If an arm or a leg presents, the fetus, whole or part, is pulled away by sheer force, usually with fatal result, not only to the fetus, but to the mother. Their resorts in difficult cases are very limited, and it is not infrequent for the mother to perish from hemorrhage. The only instrument in use is a thong or cord for traction during impaction or mar-presentation.

"As the Ainos meuki not only spins and weaves the tree-fibers, but aids in hunting, fishing, bearing burdens and drawing loads, she is usually of a strong, vigorous frame, and of excellent development. She possesses a roomy pelvis with well proportioned adjuncts, and rarely suffers from disease, excepting syphilis, parasites, and occasional indigestion from gluttony.

"Position.—The houses in which the people live are very rude; sometimes a cave in the hill-side, with a hole in the roof for smoke; more often, a rude pole structure, thatched on roof and sides with long wild grass. In the center of the one large room is an open fire; at one end of the room may be a narrow board floor; around the sides are collections of straw and old garments, upon which men, women, children and dogs sleep promiscuously. The wealthy ones have a few blankets, an occasional futon, and now and then a tatamé. The majority live in a very wretched manner.

"Scanty preparations are made for approaching labor; shortly before full time the expectant mother gathers a small amount of a peculiar fine white grass, which is carefully

dried, and, on the day of the delivery, spread out on the floor or ground on one side of the fire. During the early part of the labor she attends to simple duties, or reclines at pleasure on the straw or mats. At the onset of active labor pains she approaches the fire, drops on her knees, then separates them, and rests back on her heels, while her toes are extended outwards. The midwife faces her; between them a rope with knots or cross sticks is suspended from the roof. This is seized by the parturient, who pulls lustily upon it. The midwife helps to sustain her in this position. The child is dropped on the straw between the mother's legs, and is not molested until the placenta appears. A noose is put about the cord, when the latter is cut. The midwife takes up the child, and spurts a mouthful of cold water upon its chest; if it screams lustily it is a good child, otherwise, not much is thought of it.

"Placenta.—The patient remains in her position, and the placenta usually appears in a short time; if not, the old woman pulls it out. From this latter procedure, hemorrhages are not infrequent. I have yet to learn that massage or pressure is used at this stage. A tree-fiber girdle is now assumed outside of the usual kimono, or flowing garment.

"The labor generally lasts from eight to forty-eight hours. The child is not washed, but is wrapped up in an old momu (a cloth made of the inner fibers of a yezo tree): it is allowed to suckle from three to five years, and even longer, and is carried about on its nurse's back under the outer garments and next to the skin.

"They have no obstetrical instruments. Abortion is practiced occasionally as well as feticide, which is usually brought about by blows, compression, and external violence. Infanticide is extremely rare, as the mothers have a tradition that the next child will be blind.

"The Ainos live as nearly as possible in a state of nature. They have little or no ceremony at child-birth; before labor, the mother pursues her ordinary avocations as long as she

can; after it is over, she considers it her duty to resume her work as soon as possible. The father and the friends often imbibe of rice saké too freely. I have learned of no religious or superstitious ceremony.''