Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 33.djvu/521

Rh not say, and I finally concluded that he could not. All of the men and some of the women wore large brass ear-rings. There was one woman with a roguish, gypsy face, that strongly confirmed Miss Bird's comparison of these people to the inhabitants of southern Spain. Her peculiarity of speech in the matter of final a and e was so marked as to induce a smile, and, as soon as she detected it, she was so much disconcerted that she would say



nothing more. I was sorry for this, as her voice was truly musical, and I know she was sorry also, because, being the mistress of the house, she was itching to have a word in the bargaining that ensued. This house was comparatively clean, and, when mats had been spread for us at the eastern end, we were quite contented to remain for a long time.

At first, the master of the house pretended to be very reluctant to sell any of his possessions, but, after much persuasion, he at last consented to let us have a sword, a bow and arrows, and a lot of small things which we still keep as souvenirs. Then, when the others found that trading for money had commenced, they went off for things, and soon we were overwhelmed with bargains. Evidently the Ainu have advanced in foreign civilization, in one respect at any rate; for, instead of evincing any disinclination to take money for the articles we wanted, they at first asked exorbitant prices, over which we did considerable haggling before