AINO FOLK-TALES.
BY
BASIL HALL CHAMBERLAIN.
WITH INTRODUCTION
BY
EDWARD B. TYLOR, D.C.L., F.R.S.
FOR
THE FOLK-LORE SOCIETY.
1888.
XXII.
1887-1888.
PRESIDENT.
VICE-PRESIDENTS.
W. R. S. RALSTON, M.A.
EDWARD B. TYLOR, LL.D., F.R.S.
DIRECTOR.
COUNCIL.
THE EARL BEAUCHAMP, F.S.A.
EDWARD BRABROOK, F.S.A.
DR. D. G. BRINTON
JAMES BRITTEN, F.L.S.
LOYS BRUEYRE.
MISS C. S. BURNE.
EDWARD CLODD.
PROFESSOR D. COMPARETTI.
G. L. GOMME, F.S.A.
A. GRANGER HUTT, F.S.A.
SIR JOHN LUBBOCK, Bt., F.R.S.
SIR HENRY MAINE, K.C.S.I.
REV. DR. RICHARD MORRIS.
ALFRED NUTT.
EDWARD PEACOCK, F.S.A.
Z. D. PEDROSO.
PROFESSOR A. H. SAYCE, M.A.
CAPTAIN R. C. TEMPLE.
HENRY B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A.
AUDITORS.
JOHN TOLHURST, F.S.A.
LOCAL SECRETARIES.
SOUTH SCOTLAND: WILLIAM GEORGE BLACK.
NORTH SCOTLAND: REV. WALTER GREGOR.
INDIA: CAPTAIN R. C. TEMPLE.
CHINA: J. STEWART LOCKHART.
HONORARY SECRETARIES.
J. J. FOSTER, 36, Alma Square, St. John's Wood, N.W.
INTRODUCTION.
Twelve hundred years ago a Chinese historian stated that "on the[v]eastern frontier of the land of Japan there is a barrier of greatmountains, beyond which is the land of the Hairy Men." Thesewere the Aino, so named from the word in their own languagesignifying "man." Over most of the country of these rude andhelpless indigenes the Japanese have long since spread, only adwindling remnant of them still inhabiting the island of Yezo.Since the early days when a couple of them were sent as curiosities tothe Emperor of China their uncouth looks and habits have madethem objects of interest to more civilised nations. Many Europeanwriters have described them, but hardly any with such opportunitiesas Mr. Basil Hall Chamberlain, Professor of Philology at the TōkyōUniversity, who has taken down from the Ainos the present collectionof their tales, and prefaced it with an account of their waysand state of mind. It would hardly be for me to offer informationon a subject so excellently handled, but the request of the Editor ofthe Folk-Lore Journal that I would write an Introduction enables meto draw attention to the views put forward by Professor Chamberlainin another publication,[A] which,