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。