PREFACE
CHILDREN delight in stories. They are interested in
little folks of other lands. Teachers of to-day are
alive to this fact.
Many devices are used in the schoolroom. Dolls are
dressed in national costumes, pictures are col-lected,
and special days are set aside for imaginary trips to
foreign lands.
The stories in this book deal with race types. Not only
are glimpses of home life given, but some of the
folklore or hearthstone stories are here retold.
The chapters in this book have been a guide to one
teacher, and it is hoped they may be to others.

YABA
Yaba is a little Indian. She
lives on a high hill. This has been the home of her
people for many years.
Her tribe did not like to go to war. So they made their
home on this hill. Here they were safe.
Yaba has red-brown skin. Her hair and eyes are black.
7
8
When she is older she will wear her hair in two large
puffs above her ears.
Her mother's hair bangs down each side of her face. She
winds it with cloth.
Yaba's dress is made of wool. It is one wide piece. She
wears it over one arm and under the other.
When she is cold she wears a blanket. She N has nothing
on
her head.
The men of this tribe weave the cloth. The women help
to' build the houses.
Yaba likes beads and rings. Her father makes them for
her. He likes to wear them, too.
Let us go to Yaba's home. We climb
YABA	9
far up to the top of the hill. The path is steep.
Here is the home of the tribe. It is one great house
with many rooms.—I-This house is made of stone and
sun-dried brick.
Yaba's family live in one of the rooms. Her friends
live in the others.
There are flat roofs on the rooms. Yaba's people sit
here and talk, or watch the games on the ground below.
10
Yaba's brother runs in the races. She likes to see him
win.
There are not many doors or windows in this great
house. We see no steps to the rooms above.
Yaba shows us ladders. They can be
moved from place to place. She tells us that these are
the steps.
Women and girls carry the jars of water up the ladders.
These jars are made of clay. The water is carried from
the springs below.
YABA	11
Some Indians live in wigwams. Others live in huts made
of britsh. These Indians often move, They are not of
Yaba's tribe. Her home is never moved.
We climb the
ladder and
go into the room with Yaba.
Here is a small fireplace. It heats the room in winter.
There are jars on the floor. Blankets hang from pegs on
the wall. Bows and arrows hang from other pegs.
Now it is mealtime. A bowl of food is set on the floor.
These Indians take up the food with their fingers.
12
Yaba is glad when the corn and fruit are ripe. Then her
people have many feasts.
The Indians have songs and stories. The men sing of
brave deeds. The women sing to the babies.
Yaba and her brothers like
to sit in front of the fire and
hear stories of the tribe. They
learn the stories word by word.
The children like to hear the
story oft_
TIYO, A LITTLE INDIAN BOY
He saw the river run past his home. It never came back.
He set out to see why.
His father gave him a box of eagle's
feathers. He must give these to the spider
woman. Then she would show him the way.
He went to her house. She gave him a
YABA	13
charm. This was to drive away the great snake and wild
beasts.
Then the tiny spider woman sat on his ear. No one could
see her.
She threw the feathers on the water and told him to
follow them.
He went to the place where the _sun rises. The sun took
him round the world.
Tiyo saw the rain cloud. He wished to take it to his
own home, but he did not know how , so he went to the
home of the snake men.
They told him how to bring the rain cloud. He must
paint his body and sing.
Tiyo did. as he was told. Then the cloud came with its
rain, and Tiyo's tribe was happy.
.	•	•
The Indians all like to watch the dances. The men paint
their bodies and put on
14
feathers. They sing and shake rattles as they dance.
They dance for rain, for good harvests, and for other
things. They have a corn dance, a sun dance, and a
snake dance.
Yaba and her brothers play games, but they have few
toys. The boys have bows and arrows. They learn to
shoot when they are very small.
There are steep paths over the rocks. The children
climb and run on them.
They have great fun when the rain comes. Then the holes
in the rocks are filled with water.
The children play in the small pools. They swim and
splash in the water. When the long, dry time comes they
often wish for the rain.
YABA	15
Yaba helps her mother grind the corn. They use two
stones. The little girl sits on the floor while she
works.
They make bread out of the meal. A fire
is made under a flat stone. Then the thin sheets of
bread are soon baked.
Yaba often burns her fingers trying to bake on the hot
stone.
She helps to make jars out of clay. When she is older
she will weave bas-kets and trays.
The men teach the boys to hunt and to work in the
fields. Yaba's brother tends the sheep and cattle.
At the foot of the hill is a green valley. Here the
Indians raise grain and fruit.
16 • LITTLE FOLKS OF MANY LANDS
Yaba and her playmates have a little
donkey. His Indian name means big ears.
The children like to play with Big Ears.
They run races when they can make him
go. If he does not wish to race he will not run.
Big Ears likes the children. Three or four often ride
on his back at the same time.
The little donkey often climbs steep paths with large
loads on his back.
YABA	17
Sometimes Big Ears is found in the field eating corn.
Then the Indians cut off part of one ear. Now all who
see him know he has taken corn.
These children have eagles for pets. The boys catch
them when they are small. Here is a story of
AN INDIAN BOY AND AN EAGLE
One day the boy was out hunting with his . bow and
arrows. He found a young eagle. It had a broken wing
and could not fly.
The boy took the bird in his arms. The eagle did not
strike him with its beak but lay very still.
The little Indian took the bird home. He bound the
broken wing with strips of skin. Then he made a soft
bed of grass and leaves for it
He fed the bird till the wing was well.
18
The bird grew day by day. It was strong again and must
be set free.
The boy carried it to the rocks where he had found it.
Here he set it free.
The Indian boy felt sad to part with his friend. He
turned to go home. But the eagle flew over him and
would not leave.
At last the boy hid in the trunk of an old tree. He was
afraid some harm would come to his pet if he took it
back home. He stayed in the tree till the eagle flew
away.
Months went by but he did not forget the eagle. One day
the boy was on the river in a bark canoe. He did not
know he was near the great falls. When he saw the swift
water he tried to turn his canoe. But the paddle broke.
Just then he saw an eagle flying to him. It came lower
and lower. Soon it was over his head. It was his old
friend.
YABA	19
The boy stood up in the canoe. He put out his arms and
took hold of the eagle's legs.
The great bird flew upward with the boy and carried him
safe to the shore. Then he spread his wings and
flew away.
Indian boys have many dogs. These dogs climb ladders
and lie in shady corners. They go with the boys to
scare the crow from the fields. This story is told
about a
WOLF AND SOME CROWS
A little wolf was passing a large tree. Some crows were
dancing under it.
20	LITTLE FOLKS OF MANY LA.NDS •
He stopped to watch them. They were in a ring and each
crow had a bag on his back.
" What are you doing ? " asked the little wolf.
" We are dancing with our mothers," the crows said.
" May I dance, too ? " asked the wolf.
" If you will do as we tell you we will be glad to have
you," said the crows.
The little wolf said he would gladly do as they told
him.
" Then put your mother in a bag and come to the dance,"
they said.
Off ran the happy little wolf to get her. He found the
mother wolf at home by the fireside. He put her in a
bag.
Then the sly little wolf went .to the tree and began to
dance with the crows.
At last one old crow said, " What did you bring in your
bag ? "
YABA	21
" My mother, as you told me," said the little wolf.
" Caw ! caw! caw! " sang the crows. " Our bags are
filled with sand," and they all threw the bags on the
ground.
The little wolf was angry and ran home. He said he
would kill and eat crows as long as he lived. And he
has done so to. this day.
•	•	•	•	•
This is Yaba's baby sister. She is carried in a blanket
on her mother's back. The blanket is small and is made
just for the baby.
Now the mother ha§ work to do, so Yaba takes the baby
on her back.
Here we will leave our little friend on the high hill.
She bids us good-by as we walk down the steep path.
I	
	-
winter the nights are very long.
It is so cold here that trees cannot live. Only a kind
of moss grows under the snow. It is brown and hard.
Eskimos burn the moss in oil to heat and light the
huts. This is the only stove and lamp they have.
In
ERE is Ikwa. He is a little Eskimo boy. I-le .1k es in
a cold land. It is fni. north of us. Let us visit him.
summer the days are very long. In
23
24
People in this cold land do not grow very tall. Ikwa is
small for a boy of ten years.
His skin is yellow. He has bright black eyes. -When he
smiles he shows his white teeth.
Ikwa does not wash his face in water. He puts oil on
it. This makes his face shine.
He must wear warm clothes ; so he puts on two suits of
fur. The inner one has the fur next the body. He wears
the other one with the fur outside.
Eskimos are very brave. Ikwa's father hunts the bear
and the seal. He uses the flesh for food. Clothing is
made out of the skins.
Ikwa's mother makes his clothes. His jacket has a hood.
When he is cold he puts the hood over his head.
His stockings are made from the skins
IKWA	25
of birds, with the soft down inside. Over these
stockings he has boots of sealskin.
Ikwa's mo the r has two hoods on her jacket. Baby
Mertuk is in one of them. She does not need warm
clothes, for the hood is lined with soft down.
Ikwa's father is building a new house. He calls it an
igloo. Let us watch him make it.
First he makes a ring in the snow. This is as large as
he wishes the house.
On this ring he places blocks of snow. Then he lays
more blocks on top of these. Each row leans a little
more to the center than the row below. At last the
house is built.
26
Ikwa and his brothers help now. They cover the igloo
with snow. The shovels they use are made of bone.
Sometimes they throw the snow over each other. Then how
they laugh and run !
There is only one room in Ikwa's home. A small hallway
keeps out the wind and cold.
The window is a small hole over the door. There is no
glass in it. The Eskimos cover it with a thin skin.
Let us go into the igloo. The door is low.
IKWA	27
We must creep on our hands and knees. Now we can stand
and look around us.
Ikwa takes off his outer suit. He does not wear it in
the room.
We can see no table, bed, or chairs. Where do these
people eat, sleep, and sit?
Ikwa tells us that the long bench by the wall is the
bed. It is made of snow, with furs on it. The Eskimos
sit on it, too.
Ikwa shows us the stove. It looks like a large shell
and is filled with oil. Wicks of moss are burning in
it.
This is the only kind of stove these peo-ple have ever
seen. It lights the igloo and cooks the food.
28
Ikwa does not ask us to eat. His people eat only when
they are hungry.
In summer the Eskimos often live in tents. These are
made of skins.
This little boy and his playmates never saw a horse or
a cow. They never ate fruit
or candy. But they have something they like as well as
we like candy.
Many birds come to this land in summer. Their feet and
legs are red.
Ikwa's father kills some of the birds. His mother takes
the bones out of their feet and
IKWA	29
legs and fills them with fat. This is their kind of
candy.
Eskimos have dogs to draw the sleds. These dogs have
small, sharp ears. Bushy tails curl over their backs.
Six or more dogs often draw one sled. The harness is
made of strips of skin.
The driver has a long whip, but he has no lines. When
he drives the dogs he speaks to the leader. The other
dogs follow this one.
Let us take a ride on Ikwa's sled. It is made of bones
tied with strips of skin. He drives the dogs for us.
Ikwa snaps his whip and away we go. How the snow flies
and how fast our dogs run ! We must hold on to the
sled.
Once Ikwa and his little sister were riding
30
on his sled. He drove the dogs far out on the ice. The
dogs were going fast and the children were happy.
All at once they heard a loud crash. The great block of
ice they were on had broken off from the rest.
The ice began to float from the shore out
into the sea. Ikwa knew they might never see their home
again.
As the hours passed it grew very cold. The little
sister began to cry. Ikwa made a snow house to keep off
the cold wind. He wrapped the warm robes from the sled
about them. When the dogs whined he petted thwzi.
IKWA	31
It grew dark. Ikwa sat by his sister and watched all
the night long.
The next morning the wind blew the ice nearer the
shore. This made Ikwa very glad.
He saw some men on the shore. He called to them for
help. They heard him and got into their boats.
The children must cross many blocks of ice to reach the
clear water. Ikwa took his little sister by the hand.
They jumped from block to block, slipping and falling
as they went.
At last they reached the clear water. But the men could
not come close to the moving ice with their boats. The
waves were too high.
The men told Ikwa to throw his little sister to them.
He threw her safely into a boat. Then he jumped into
one. The dogs
32
swam ashore and soon all were safe at home.
This little Eskimo boy has a long boat. He can paddle
very fast in it. He likes to go with his father to
fish.
Ikwa's father is going to hunt a seal. He
cuts a hole in the ice. Then he sits down and waits.
Hours pass before a seal comes to this hole for air.
The father spears it and takes it home.
Now the work begins. Every one helps. The father skins
the seal. Then the people have a feast. The dogs have a
share, too.
The mother and girls scrape the skin with bone knives.
All the flesh must be taken off. Then the skin is
beaten till it is soft.
IKWA	33
Ikwa's sister helps the mother make shoes
a,nd clothes. The needles are made of bone.
They use thin strips of skin for the thread.
These children of the north do not have
many toys. When lkwa was a small boy his first toy was
a bow and arrow.
He liked to sit on the snow bed and aim at things in
the room. One day a dog looked in at the low door. The
little boy hit him on the nose with an arrow.
This was great fun for Ikwa. But the
34
dog did not like it. He growled and walked away.
The children play with a pin-and-cup ball
made of bone. One piece is sharp like a
pencil. The other is much larger and has
many holes in it. This is tied to
the sharp piece by a strip of skin.
Ikwa plays the game in this way.
He holds the small piece of bone
in his hand. He tosses the other
up and tries to catch it on the
small piece. If he misses, it gives
,	I
"I',	him a sharp rap on the thumb.
?ija	The children like to play with
the puppies. The boys train them to draw small sleds.
This is not easy to do.
Sometimes the puppies upset the sleds. Then they run
away as fast as they can go. At other times they sit
down and will mit move.
IKWA	35
The Eskimo boys feed the large dogs-and hitch them to
the sleds. On long trips the dogs can go many days
without food.
Ikwa and his friends like to play in the snow. They all
stand in a ring. A ball is placed in the center. They
cover it with snow.
The boys have [.-
long whips. They try in turn to hit the ball under the
snow. They jump and shout when a boy strikes the ball.
Sometimes they put their heads between their knees and
roll down hill. This makes them look like great
snowballs.
One day the boys were playing in the snow. They saw a
great white bear. He was coming as fast as he could
run.
36
They cried for help and ran to the igloo& The men came
with spears and killed him. After that they looked out
for bears.
lkwa's sister has a dolL It is made of sealskin. The
eyes, nose, and mouth are made of beads. It has a fur
suit with a little jacket
Eskimo children cannot read. They have no books. But
they have many storie&
These are very old. They have been told many times.
Ikwa's father heard them when he was a boy.
The story-teller turns his face to the wall. Then he
tells the story slowly. The little children sit behind
him and listen.
The wick of moss burns in the lamp. It makes a dim
light.
Let us leave Ikwa and his sisters with the old
story-teller in their snow house.
-
MINA
7	INA lives in Holland.
People in -her land are called Dutch. So Mina is a
little Dutch girl.
She has blue eyes and rosy cheeks. Her hair is golden.
Mina looks like a little woman, for her dress is like
her mother's. She has a long skirt and an apron. She
wears a white cap every day.
There is a gold button on each side of it. Sometimes
she wears a hat on this white cap.
37
38
Mina's shoes are made of wood. When she walks they go
click-clack.
The children wash their shoes with soap and water. This
makes them clean and white.
These hard shoes do not hurt Mina's feet, for she wears
thick stockings. She knits them herself.
Parts of Holland are lower than the sea. So the people
have made great walls to keep out the water.
called dikes. They are so wide that roads can be built
on them.
These walls are
MINA	39
When there is a leak in the dike it must be stopped at
once. The little leak would soon make a large hole.
Then the sea would flow over the land.
It might drown many people. The houses would be washed
away.
Every Dutch boy knows the story of
BRAVE LITTLE HANS
He lived many years ago. One day his mother sent him to
the house of a friend. The little boy stopped to pick
flowers.
The sun was low and it would soon be dark. Hans knew
that he must hurry.
As he passed the dike he heard the sound of running
water. He looked down and saw a small hole in the dike.
He knew it must be stopped or the great sea would soon
cover the land. Hans ran to the place and put his arm
into the hole.
40
He cried for help, but no one came. When it grew dark
his people missed him. They went to find him. They
hunted all night long.
At last the father heard a faint cry.
There was the brave boy still holding back the great
sea.
He was very weak and his arm was stiff and cold, but he
had saved their homes.
MINA	41
There are many canals in Holland. Bridges are built
over them. When a boat comes along the bridges are
raised.
Let us watch the boats as they pass.
Some carry hay, fruit, and cattle. Others carry butter,
cheese, and fish.
-
Here is a -- boat with a small house
on it. We can see plants in the window and birds in a
cage.
People live on these boats. They eat and sleep here.
There are many windmills in this country. They have
great arms like sails.
42
The wind makes these arms go round and round. They turn
wheels that grind flour and saw wood. They pump water
from the low lands into canals.
Let us go with Mina to her home. As we
walk along we see dogs drawing a cart. It is filled
with cans of milk which a girl is selling.
We think it strange to see dogs working. The girl often
lets them rest.
MINA	43
Here are children playing by the canal. What a clatter
their wooden shoes make!
Some of the boys are sailing shoes on the_ water for
boats.
This little girl has a doll in a shoe. Another is
playing with a tiny windmill.
Here are girls jumping rope in their wooden shoes.
These , boys are playing marbles.
One little girl has a stocking in her hand. She is
knitting as she watches the others at play.
Here we are at Mina's home. We will
leave our shoes at the door. Mina shows us
44
her mother's blue-and-white dishes, with canals and
windmills on them.
This large red ball is a cheese. These tubs are full of
butter ready to be sold. Holland sends butter and
cheese to other lands.
Many black-and-white cows feed on the grass and hay in
this low country. They
give rich milk from which the butter and cheese are
made.
Here is a story of how little Redcap helped the farmer
with his cows.
MINA	45
LITTLE REDCAP
Once a poor farmer worked hard for a living. His wife
was ill and could not churn. So the farmer did it for
her.
He could do this only at night. When the sun was up he
had to work in the field.
He slept till midnight. Then he got up to make the fire
and to churn.
He went into the milk-room. There he saw an odd little
man sitting by the . fire-place.
He was dressed in red from head to foot. His face and
hands were green. His tall cap had a long red feather
in it.
Redcap was half asleep. The noise made
by the fariner's wooden shoes awoke him. The farmer was
afraid and ran from the
room. He did not churn that night.
But Redcap was his good friend. In the
46
morning the farmer found that the butter was all made.
There was more than ever before.
The wife was soon well, but little Redcap churned for
them each night.
The farmer grew rich and kept many cows. He sold the
butter and soon had a stocking filled with shining
dollars.
Redcap now did all his work. He took care of the cows
and worked in the fields.
As the farmer became rich he grew lazy. He would not
work, and spent his money for useless things.
His little friend Redcap told him this was wrong. But
he did not listen to him.
One day the farmer came home angry. He told Redcap he
must work still harder for him.
Redcap looked sad and went slowly out of the house.
MINA	47
Soon the wife fell ill again. The shining dollars
turned to coals. The cattle died and the farm was sold.
The farmer found too late that he had done wrong. He
wished for his little friend more and more. But Redcap
was never seen again.
•	•	•
There are many sheep on the green fields. They are
tended by shepherds who knit as they watch.
Pretty flowers grow in Holland. There are roses,
lilies, and bright tulips.
Mina and her playmates have gay times when winter
comes. The water freezes in the ponds and canals. Then
the skating begins.
Dutch children learn to skate when they are very small.
They laugh and shout as they play games on the ice.
48
There are sleds of all kinds. Some are like swans and
others are like large shells.
There are chairs on runners. They are pushed by men on
skates. Horses with bells draw the large sleds.
In winter the chil-dren often skate to school.
(i2= '
This large bird flying over our heads is a stork. It
has long legs and a sharp bill. It rests by standing on
one leg.
The people like these birds. Sometimes they place
wheels on the roofs for them. Here the storks build
their nests.
They are not afraid to walk on the streets. No one
hurts them. They like to wade in the water and catch
frogs.
MINA	49
When there are little storks in the nests the children
often sing this song :
" Stork, stork, fly away,
Stand not on one leg to-day.
Thy dear mate sits in her nest
With the little ones at rest."
Mina likes to hear this story of
KING STORK AND THE FROGS
These frogs lived in a pond. They asked for a king. A
log was put in the water for them.
Then all the frogs came and sat around him. But King
Log never moved or spoke.
The frogs did not like this, so they called a meeting.
One said with a croak, " King Log will not move or
speak to us. It is so still in the pond it makes one
sad. Let us ask for a new king."
50
This time a stork was sent to them. It was not so still
now in the pond, for King Stork chased them and ate
them one by one.
At Easter time the children go from house to house for
Easter eggs. They carry green leaves on the ends of
long sticks. They wave them as they go singing down the
street.
The children color the eggs. Then they have merry times
with them.
The best time of all for Mina is Christmas Eve. A large
sheet is put on the floor. The children stand round it
watching for Santa Claus.
All at once the door opens. A rain of sugar-plums falls
upon their heads. Santa Claus has come.
He has a bag of presents for good chil-dren and a bunch
of rods for bad ones. After the presents are all given
Santa
MINA	61
Claus tells them to look for him again next year. Then
he goes to visit other little boys and girls.
Mina's mother tells her this story of good old Santa
Claus.
SANTA CLAUS
A poor man was about to lose his home. His little ones
would be turned out in the cold. He did not know what
to do.
One night he sat alone in his cold room. All at once a
purse of gold fell into his lap. He ran to the window
but could see no one.
The next night gold rattled down into the fireplace.
Still he could find no one.
The next night he saw the door open very slowly. He ran
quickly and saw good old Santa Claus just as he was
throwing more gold.
62	LITTLE FOLKS OF IIANT LANDS
Some children thin' k Santa Clans comes on a white
horse. The night before Christmas they fill their shoes
with straw for him. Then they go to sleep and dream of
the pretty things Santa Claus may leave them in the
wooden shoes.
•
_
	
	
	x
	0
	3
SOM is a little black boy.
0
He lives in a liot country. His home is near a great
forest.
He has no books. He never heard of a school. But he can
hunt and fish.
He does not work so hard as his sister. Minko helps her
mother in the house and garden.
She sweeps the floor with a bunch of twigs. She carries
wood and water.
Osom's mother hoes the corn in the
53
54
garden. She carries heavy loads in a bas-ket on her
back. When Minko is older she will carry one.
The mothers are very	v
Fiore
fond of the little girls. But the fathers like the boys
better.
r
The men in - Osom's country
often go
to war. They look very fierce when they are ready for
battle.
They hold shields in front of them and carry long
spears and sharp knives.
The boys have bows and arrows. They learn to shoot with
them when they are small.
OSOM	55
These people are fond of music and dan-cing. They dance
by stamping their feet on the ground. They move their
bodies to and fro and swing their arms in time to the
music.
("k'
They have drums, whis-
tles, and rattles. Some dance while others sit on the
ground and beat the drums.
The baby has a strange cradle. It is only a strip of
cloth over his mother's shoulder.
He sits on her hip while she carries the heavy loads of
wood.
Sometimes idle puts him in the basket on her back. Then
only the top of his little woolly head can be seen.
Osom lives in a hut made of grass and bark. The roof is
made of palm leaves.
56
All around the hut are banana trees. Osom plays under
them and eats the fruit. He chases the large
butterflies that fly about
There are many tribes of black people in
Africa. They do not all build their huts in the same
way.
Osom's house has no windows. There are two small doors.
One is at the front of the house. The other is at the
back.
osom	57
Let us step inside. Here is a large stone. The women
and girls grind corn on it
The baskets which the women carry hang on the wall. The
father's fishing net hangs there, too.
Here are some wooden spoons and a hoe. The bed is made
of long poles placed side by side.
Osom's people have fruit to eat and good things from
the garden. For a feast they eat roasted ants.
The father goes into the forest to hunt. The other men
and the large boys go with him.
There are lions and other wild animals. Elephants are
hunted for their tusks of ivory.
68	LITTLE FOLKS OF MA.NY LANDS
This animal is very large and strong. He has a long
trunk.
When he takes a drink he fills his trunk with water.
Then he pours the water into his mouth. If he wants a
bath he pours the water over his back.
Men train ele-phants to work. They can carry heavy logs
with their trunks.
Many kinds of monkeys chatter in the trees near Osom's
home. Some are as tall as men. Others are so small that
you could put one in your pocket.
osom	59
They use their fore legs as arms. Their hands are very
strong.
Some monkeys go far into the forest, jumping from tree
to tree. An old monkey leads the way. The little one
clings tightly to its mother's neck.
The mother swings with one hand on a branch. Then she
jumps far out to catch hold of the next tree.
Parrots screech
father sometimes brings one home.
There are strange trees in the forest. Vines grow over
some of them. In the trees are many birds with bright
feathers.
The men and boys are away for days on
as they fly about. Osom's
60
hunting trips. When they come home they
bring ivory and rubber. They trade these
with the white men
for beads and cloth.
Rubber is made
from the sap of trees.
These trees grow in
hot countries. Some
of them are in the
forest near Osom's home.
Let us see how rubber is made. This is one way.
A small cut is made in the bark of a rubber tree. Then
under it. The sap flows slowly cup. When the cup is
full it is taken away.
a cup is tied
into this
osom	61
Now a fire is made. A stick is put into the sap and
held in the smoke. The heat and smoke change the sap to
rubber.
When you play with a rubber ball again think of what
you have learned about it
We have seen where Osom lives. Now let us see how he
looks.
He has bright black eyes. His skin is black and his
hair is woolly.
Look at the picture and see how his mother wears her
hair. It is put over a small frame of bamboo. She wears
beads and shells on it.
Most of Osom's hair has been cut off. Only a little is
left on the top of his head.
He wears a strip of cloth about his waist. He likes
bright beads and rings.
^-•^•^•	7••••^^T--
62	LItTLE FOLKS OF MANY LANDS
Osom's mother wears heavy rings on her ankles. The
girls and women have brace-lets on their arms. Some of
them reach from the hands to the elbows.
The men like to wear rows of monkeys' teeth round their
necks.
These children have many games. The boys have more time
for play than the girls.
Osom likes to roll a ball past a line of boys. Each one
throws a spear and tries to hit the ball as it passes.
These boy's have many games with spears. They learn to
throw them very far.
The children play " cat's cradle " with a string. In
this game they can use their toes as well as their
fingers.
The boys know where to find shells with
osom	63
sharp points. They throw these at marks, as our boys
throw tops at marbles.
The children like to hear stories of ani-mals. Osom
likes this one about
THE LION AND THE SNAKE
The lion said to the turtle one day, " I have caught
all the animals in the forest but the snake. Will
you catch him for me ?"
" Yes," said the turtle; " go into the forest and will
catch him for you."
When the lion had gone the snake came. He said to the
turtle, " I have caught all the animals in the forest
but the lion. Will you catch him for me ?"
" Yes," said the turtle; "go into the forest and I will
catch him for you."
64
After the snake had gone the turtle dug a deep pit in
the bushes near his home. He put grass and leaves over
the top.
Soon the snake came crawling to him and said, " Where
is the lion I asked you to catch for me ? "
The turtle said in a low tone, " Don't speak. The lion
is coming. Run and hide."
The snake crawled into the bushes. Crash! he went into
the pit.
The turtle came near and said, " Ssh ! Keep still. The
lion will hear you. You are in a safe place."
He put grass and leaves over the pit again. Then he sat
near and waited.
Soon the lion came leaping over the grass. The turtle
said to him, " Run, hide over there The snake is
coming."
The lion ran to hide and he, too, fell into the dark
pit.
osom	65
The snake said, " What 's that ? " And the lion said, "
What 's that ? " But the tur-tle said, " Ha, ha! Now I
have you both in the pit. Make the best of it."
Then they fought till the lion killed the snake and the
snake killed the lion. The turtle threw bushes over
both and left them in the pit.
-	-
4"gf
	•	11,1: ,Irdr,
117	4• •
66
EE this boy on a horse. How well he rides ! It . is
Ahmed, a little Arab.
He is playing a game with his friends. They are all on
horses. The boys are throwing spears as the horses run.
Arabs are very fond of horses. They make pets of them.
Once an Arab chief fell into the hands of robbers. They
tied his hands and feet. His horse was tied near by.
In the night the horse got free. He picked up his
master with his teeth and
67
68	urn-E FOLKS OF MANY LANDS
carried him to the far-off tent There the weary horse
dropped dead.
.
Arab children have been told this story many times.
In some parts of the desert there is no rain. In other
parts it rains a little. Then the grass springs up.
Here Ahmed's father finds grass for his horses and
camels.
AHMED	69
Many tribes on the desert live in tents. It is easy for
them to move from pla,ce to place.
They must cross the hot, dry desert to reach the green
spots. These people often travel at night under the
bright
stars. Then it is cooler.
There are sand storms in the desert. The wind blows
hard and the air	
is very hot. The camels
lie down and put their
noses in the sand. Here they find cooler air to
breathe.
In our country we travel by rail or by water. In
Ahmed's country the people travel in caravans. These
are trains of camels or horses. Let us watch them.
70
This camel has a heavy load. It is the tent in which
Ahmed lives. Another camel
carries the food. Another carries bags filled with
water to drink. These bags are made of skins.
Here is a camel with a small tent on his back. It
belongs to Ahmed's
mother and sister.
6"-ir
The camel kneels for them to get
inside the tent. Here they ride till the long trip is
ended.
AHMED	71
Here comes Ahmed's father. He has black eyes and hair.
The sun has made his skin dark.
The father wears a black-and-white cloak. It is made of
camel's hair. Over
his head is a	,
silk cloth. It hangs down on his shoulders.
Ahmed's mother is comi'ng, too. She covers her head and
dress with a - cloak. Ahmed wears only a loose blue
coat.
The camel has a hump on its back. Long hair grows on
this hump. The neck and legs of the camel are very
long. It has pretty brown eyes.
72
The camel is very useful to Ahmed's peo-ple. They drink
its milk. They weave the hair into cloth for tents and
clothes. Bags and baskets are made from its skin.
The camel can travel three or four days without
drinking. Wide feet keep it from sinking in the sand.
This story is told of a donkey and a camel.
The donkey was once walking by the side of a camel. The
little animal fell down.
He said to the camel, " What keeps you from falling ? "
The camel said, " You look only as far as your nose. I
look far ahead. Then I see the rocks and holes in my
path."
Let us travel across the desert with Ahmed. We must
start early, before the sun is hot.
Every one is busy. There are tents to take down and.
camels to load. The camels
AHMED	73
are lying on the ground. They are ready for their
loads.
One old camel is very angry. He is making a great fuss.
He thinks his load too heavy. His driver cannot make
him get up.
He growls as he turns his head from side to side. When
he does this the driver knows that some of • the load
must be taken off.
Ahmed is on his camel. So we will get
on OUTS.
He kneels and we climb into the high seat. Ahmed tells
us to hold on to the
74
saddle. It is made of wood, with thick rugs on it.
We do as he tells us. Now we are ready for our camel to
stand.
First he rises a little on his hind legs. This nearly
throws us over his head. Then he rises on his fore legs
and we almost tum-ble over his tail.
We feel sure we are going to fall. It does not seem so
funny as it did at first.
The camel is up at last and we are glad. Ahmed laughs.
He knows just which way to lean when his camel rises.
Now the caravan starts. Some of the men • are on
horses. Others are on camels.
When it is too hot to travel the tents are set up on
the hot sands. We eat dates and drink camel's milk.
Here we rest and listen to stories. Ahmed's father
tells this one of
AHMED	75
THE ARAB AND THE CAMEL
An Arab sat in his tent. The night was cold. A camel
stopped and looked in.
" Please, master," he said, " let me put my head in the
tent. I arn very cold out here."
" Of course," said the Arab. So the camel put his head
inside the warm tent.
Soon he said, " May I not warm my neck also ? " " Yes,
indeed," said the Arab. •
By and by the camel said, " It will take but little
more room for my fore legs. May I not put them in ? "
The good Arab moved aside and made room for him in the
small tent.
" May I not come inside ? " said the great animal at
last. " I keep the tent open as I stand now."
" Yes, yes," said the Arab. " Come into the tent."
76	LITTLE FOLKS OF MA.NY LANDS
So the camel came inside. But the tent was too small
for both of them.
" I see," said the camel, " that there is not room for
both of us. It will be better for you to step outside.
You are smaller than I. Then there will be plenty of
room for me."
Saying this, the camel pushed the kind Arab out of the
tent
Now the air is cooler and we will start again.
We meet other caravans. The camels have loads of dates
and ostrich feathers.
A strange bird lives in this country. It is an ostrich.
It has a small head and long legs. It is as tall as a
horse and can run very fast.
This bird has wings, but they are too small for flying.
Its feathers are long and
AHMED	77
soft. The ostrich lays its eggs in the sand. These eggs
are so large that one of them makes a meal for three or
four people.
Ahmed's father sometimes brings one home. The chil-dren
think it a great treat Now Ahmed is happy. He sees tall
trees on the desert. He knows there is a grassy spot
ahead. Here he will find sweet dates.
The horses and camels are glad, for they know that
water is near. They like to eat the dates, too.
People could not travel over the desert if there were
no green spots.
The date tree is one of the most useful
78
trees in this land. It grows very tall. The leaves and
fruit are near the top. Ahmed can climb this tree like
a monkey.
The Arabs use every part of the date tree. The trunk is
made into posts. They
into mats and bas-kets. The children think the fruit is
the best of all.
The tents of the Arabs are not like the tents we have
seen. They are low and flat. The cloth of the tent is
made of camel's hair.
weave the leaves
These Arabs sit on the floor to eat. The men eat first,
and then the women and chil-dmn. They all eat from a
large bowl.
AHMED	79
The women and girls grind wheat into flour between two
stones. This flour is made into thin bread.
Ahmed does something that you cannot do. He eats his
plate.
Let us see how he does it. His mother gives him some
thin bread. He puts his
meat on it. After he has eaten the meat he eats the
plate, too.
The children have great fun with the little colts. They
often keep them in the tents.
The boys must learn to throw spears and fire guns, for
the Arabs often fight with other tribes.
80
These boys have many games. In one a boy is tied by his
hand to a peg in the ground. He is at the end of a long
rope.
The other boys have small whips. They run near and try
to strike him. If he can catch a boy, that one must be
tied in his place. Arab boys like the games with spears
best of all. Then• their fathers watch them. The boys
choose sides. Each boy throws a spear to the boy in
front of him. This one must catch the spear in one hand
and at the same time throw his spear back with the
other hand. Arab boys who live in the towns go to
school. They take off their shoes at the door, but keep
on their hats. They all sit on the floor and sway their
AHM ED	81
bodies as they study aloud. The girls do not go to
school.
Ahmed's sister helps her mother take care of the tent.
She learns to weave cloth. She takes care of the little
Arab baby, too. It hes wrapped in a cloth with its tiny
arms at its sides.
Our trip is ended. It is time for us to leave our
little friends of the desert. They say good-by to us at
the door of their low tent.
, ..	.. A . ____.	-
' 4 Wil'....1kilg;',././1; 7 !:,//:„:!(/,//,./..;
,.,,,..
82
ONA'S home is in a warm country. We must go halfway
round the earth to reach it.
When the sun is over our heads it is night where she
lives. She is fast asleep.
Tona is a little Filipino girl. She lives on an island.
The water is all around it.
She has never seen the ground white with snow. In her
land the grass is always green. Many pretty flowers
bloom there. Some are as large as plates.
83
84
One kind has a leaf that looks like a cup. This leaf
has a lid and will hold water.
Let us take a trip over the island. In the forests are
monkeys and wild animals. Ferns grow as tall as trees.
There are many birds on the island. Some build strange
nests. These nests are sold to the Chinese, who make
soup of them. There are parrots and doves also.
The children like to hear the story of how the dove was
once a child.
The child was playing in the hut. The mother would not
give it a small rice cake she had just made.
TONA	85
The child was sad and ran from the hut. It made two
wings out of palm leaves, Then
.	-
-
- -
it turned into a dove and flew away. The dove still
cries for the rice cake.
Rice and sugar cane grow in this country. The children
like to chew the fresh sugar cane. Boys and girls help
in the rice fields.
Coffee is raised here. The plants have pretty white
flowers. The coffee berries are picked when they are
red.
Each berry has two seeds. coffee beans.
They are the
86
These tall trees are coconut trees. They have large
leaves near the top. In the
leaves are clusters of coconuts.
The children like to eat these nuts. They drink the
water that is found inside.
Tona's mother uses coconut oil in her lamp. She puts
water in a bowl. Then she puts oil on the water and
burns a wick in it Sometimes the light burns all night.
Many kinds of fruit grow on this island. Some we have
never seen.
Bananas grow around Tona's home. She likes to eat this
fruit.
TONA	87
Out of little threads that grow in the pine-apple
leaves a thin cloth is made. Tona's mother weaves this
cloth.
One of the most useful plants here is the hemp. Its
fibers are made into ropes and cloth.
Tona's home is made of bamboo and matting. There are
no nails in it.
The father makes a frame of bamboo. This is tied with
strong vines. Then he hangs the walls of the house on
it. These walls are made of woven mats. He covers the
roof with palm leaves.
The house is built on poles above the ground. When it
rains hard and the ground is wet the house is dry
inside.
The steps are bamboo and so are the floors. These are
made of poles tied side by side. When Tona walks on
them they shake a.nd creak.
88
The windows of this little girl's house are not made of
glass. They are made of very thin shells. The windows
have shades which are left open in the daytime.
Tona's people use the palm tree and bam-boo for many
things. They build houses, fences, and bridges of them.
The children have kites and other toys made of banaboo.
Filipino boys play many games with tops and kites. They
like to see who can send his kite the highest.
Sometimes they have a battle with the kites. They tie
sharp bits of shell on the strings. Then they try to
cut the strings of the other kites and make them fall.
The boys play a game of football. One boy tosses the
ball into the air. As it comes down he kicks it up
again.
All the boys now run and kick the
f
TONA	89
ball. They must keep it in the air by kicking it. They
must not touch it with their hands.
Tona and the other little girls have their games, too.
They play one with sticks of wood and two small stones.
They make a ring in the sand and place the sticks
inside. Then they try to throw the stones so as to send
the sticks out of the ring.
The children like to dive and swim. They learn when
they are small. When they are in the water they must
look out for sharks. These are large fish that eat
people.
The Filipinos like music and have many bands. The
children like to dance when the band plays.
Tona's mother tells her little ones this story.
90
THE JUNGLE BIRD
One day each year the jungle bird comes. The children
in the street hear sweet music. It is the song of the
jungle bird.
The children draw near. They see a flock of birds in a
large ring. They are dancing and singing.
The little ones begin
to dance and sing with
them. The birds lead
forest. Then the sweet
music stops. The birds scream and fly away.
The children are lost in the forest. This is the work
of the jungle bird.
Tona's skin is brown. Her eyes are dark and her hair is
straight and black.
them deep into the
TONA	91
Filipino girls dress like their mothers. Tona wears a
loose jacket and a long skirt. She has no shoes or
stock-ings. But she often wears They have toe straps to
keep them from falling off.
This little girl does not wear a hat. Her father has
one made of bamboo. It is large and he can use it for 
an umbrella or a basket.
Tona's father goes out in the boat to fish with a large
net. He salts and dries the fish.
92
This little girl has a pet monkey. He plays with the
children. When he wants to eat a coconut he climbs a
tree for it. There he chatters away and sometimes
throws down a nut.
Tona helps her mother. She learns to weave mats and
baskets.
She often carries wood to put in the stove. The stove
is made of red clay. She sits in front of it and puts
in a stick at a time to keep the fire going.
Tona often cooks rice on this stove. The people eat
much rice in her country.
They chew a nut which makes their teeth and lips very
red.
Let us take a walk with Tona near the river. On the
water are two horns spread far apart. Under them are
two black eyes and a nose. Tona tells us that a water
buffalo is bathing.
TONA	93
He must go into the mud and wat,er often or he cannot
live. He plows the fields and does other work.
These animals are not cross if they can bathe. The
children are not afraid to climb on their backs and
take a ride.
Tona likes to watch the fireflies as they fly about at
night. But she does not like the large bats that fly
over her head.
She weaves a pretty basket for us. Her brother fills it
with fruit and flowers. Then we climb into the little
cart and go down to the great boat that is to take us
home.
i
MATSU
TP
the sea.
IIIS is little Matsu. She lives in a land far over
When Matsu was a baby she was often tied on her
sister's back. Here she took her nap or watched the
games with her bright eyes.
Her sister played hop-hop and bounce-the-ball. The baby
had many a bump, but did not cry.
When Matsu was small her head was shaved. Only a little
hair was left on the
95
96
LITTLE FOLKS OF MA.NY LANDS
top. Now she is older and her hair is longer.
Matsu lives in Japan. Many of her little friends are
named for trees and flowers. Her own name means pine
tree.
Matsu's shoes are made of wood. She keeps them on by
slipping her toes under the straps.
She often runs about in her stockings. They are not
like yours. They have places for the
MATSU	97
big toes. If they were not made so, her shoes would
fall off.
Matsu does not wear her shoes in the house. She leaves
them at the door. Here
she puts on sandals. They are made of straw and are
very light.
Girls in Japan dress like their mothers. Matsu's dress
looks like a long coat. She wears a sash with a large
bow tied behind. The wide sleeves are her pockets. Here
she carries her dolls and her books.
98
Our little friend does not wear a hat. When she is in
the sun she holds a paper umbrella over her head.
Matsu's home is only one story high. It is made of
bamboo. Let us go in.
e	Here comes Miss
Pine-tree to meet
us. She does not
shake hands with
us, but bows many
-WW1	times almost to the
_
floor. This is her way of showing how glad she is to
see us.
We sit on thick mats on the floor. It is a cold day, so
a man brings a box of hot coals to warm our bands. This
is the stove.
Small tables are now set in front of us, with bowls of
rice. Matsu eats her rice with two small sticks. They
are called chop-sticks. They are made of ivory.
MATSU	99
Two sticks are by the side of each bowl. We try to use
them, but it takes a long time to get the rice to our
mouths. It slips off the sticks.
All the people in Japan drink tea. Matsu brings our tea
in pretty cups made near her home.
Now the tables are taken away and we play games and
listen to stories. The lit-tle people of this land have
many story-books. They tell us this story about
AMA, THE SUN FAIRY
Ama was a fairy. Her home was in the sun. She had a
brother who lived in the sea. The little sister was
afraid of the waves.
They roared so loud she took her light and hid in the
cave. This made the world grow dark.
Her brother went to the mouth of the
100
cave and begged her to come out. But Ama would not
come. She was still afraid.
At last he hid behind a rock. Then he held a bright
glass before her. "This must be a strange fairy," said
Ania. So she came out to talk to her.
Then her brother caught her. He carried her back to her
home in the sun. "The waves shall not harm you," he
said.
This made Ama happy. She still lives in the sun and
shines for us all.
•	•	•	•
At last it is bedtime. The mother places thick quilts
on the floor for us.
Here we will sleep. The bed is not hard, for the
matting is thick.
But the pillow is not so soft. It is made of wood, with
a pad of white paper on it. When we need a clean
pillow, we take off a sheet of the paper.
MATSU	loi
The beds are' ready and screens of bamboo and paper
are drawn out to make our rooms. At first the pillows
hurt our heads, but we are soon asleep.
In the morning the screens are drawn back. In this way
all the rooms are made into one large room. The quilts
and pillows are put away in the closets.
Matsu comes to take us for a ride in an
odd-looking
cart. It is not
large, and has two poles in front.
We step in
and a man
takes up the
'poles. He gives the cart a tilt that almost
throws us out. But we cling to the sides
102
and away we go. The man is strong and can run like a
pony.
We see people working in mud and water. Matsu says they
are planting rice.
The rice seeds are planted in small beds. When the
little plants grow they are set out in fields cov-ered
with water. The white seeds grow at the top of the
stalk.
A Jo'
Now we are passing a tea field. It looks like a green
garden. The tea plants are set in long rows.
MATSU	103
When the leaves are ready the workers pick the tender
green ones. The leaves are spread on mats to dry. Then
the tea is put in boxes to be sold.
Let us stop at this house where silk is made. Here are
many trays filled with leaves. The leaves come from the
mulberry tree.
Hungry little worms are feeding on the leaves. These
worms are hatched from the eggs of a moth. When they
grow large they spin cocoons.
The cocoons are unwound and made into thread. This is
woven into silk.
We buy silk, as well as tea and rice, from Japan.
104
Now we are off again. We pass many apple, peach, and
plum trees. Here are cherry trees too, all in blossom.
Matsu and her friends have many picnics in these
groves. They go to see the pretty blossoms. When they
are tired of play they listen to stories. Here is one
of
THE MONKEY AND THE CRAB
A monkey met a crab on the road. The monkey picked up a
seed. The crab was eating a rice cake.
The monkey wanted it. He said, " Will you give me that
cake for this seed ? "
" Yes," said the crab. So he took the seed and planted
it.
Soon it grew into a tall tree and was filled with
fruit.
Then the crab asked the monkey to pick the fruit for
him. The monkey climbed the
MATSU	105
tree and ate the ripe fruit himself.
He threw the green fruit down on the back of the poor
little crab.
When the crab's
friends heard of this they went
it)
to war with the monkeys.
But the crabs were soon beaten. They went to their
homes to make new plans. They asked the rice bowl, the
bee, and the egg to come and help them.
Then they went to the king of the mon-
(D keys. They asked him to meet with them and talk of
peace.
106
The monkey came. He sat down by the
fire. Bang ! went the egg that was hidden
in the ashes. The monkey's arm was burned.
He ran to a tub of water to stop the pain.
11:
1:1
The bee flew from behind the tub and stung him on the
nose.
" Oh ! oh ! oh ! " cried the monkey as he ran to the
door.
Then the rice bowl fell and hit him on the back.
This made the monkey think of the poor crab whose back
he had hurt. Then all the
MATSU	107
crabs rushed in and pinched him with their big claws.
Japan has many shops. In this one boys and girls are
sitting on their heels. They are making lanterns. Th ey
bend bamboo into many shapes and cover it
_
shops. Many of these
.‘
are sent to our country.
This man has toys to sell. He has drums, balls, tops,
and butterflies made of paper. He makes animals of
straw or bamboo.
Here is a man making toys out of paste.
108
The children watch him as he works. He makes dolls and
funny animals.
There are many holidays in Japan. The first is New
Year's day, but the games last many days. The chil-dren
wear their best clothes. They give presents, as we do
at Christmas.
At this time branches
and pine are
hung on the
bright and gay.
There are many games. Matsu likes to play bat-the-ball
with her playmates. They use light wooden bats. Some of
the balls are large seeds with feathers stuck into
them.
gates.	make the streets
Flags and lanterns
MATSU	109
Two or more girls play the game. They try- to keep the
ball in the air by hitting it with the bats.
There is a holiday for little girls. It is called the
Feast of Dolls. It comes on the third of March.
All the shops have dolls. The happy children go from
one shop to another to see them.
Matsu likes this day, for her mother takes out all the
dolls in the house. There are Matsu's dolls, her
mother's dolls, and her grandmother's dolls. They
almost fill the room.
The little girls visit from house to house. They see
the other dolls and have candy to eat.
no
When - the day is over, some of the dolls are put away
until the next year. Others are kept to play with.
Matsu likes to tie dolls on her back, as she was tied
when a baby.
The boys have a holiday of their own. It comes the
fifth of May. Each boy has a paper fish in front of his
house. It is hollow, and the air makes it float and
flap like a real one.
Matsu has one brother, so there is but one fish in
front of her house.
The stores are filled with toys for the boys. There are
bows and arrows, guns and soldiers.
Boys and girls in Japan like to play hide and seek and
blindman's buff. They spin tops and fly kites.
MATSU	111
The kites are of many shapes. Some are like birds and
animals. Others have funny pictures painted on them.
Many of the kites make a humming noise while flying.
Matsu does not play all the time. She helps to sweep
the floor and fold the beds. She can cook, - sew, and
make tea.
In school Matsu learns to write with a brush. She must
hold her hand so that the brush will not blot the
paper. This
is the way she writes her name:—
Now the time has come to say good-by to Matsu. She bows
many times to the floor and asks us to come again. We
tell her how glad we shall be to have her visit us in
our home.