No.11 Almas

Almas were already reported in the 13th century, and they were regarded as something common in Caucasus. Judging from the numerous witness accounts, they seemed to have the capacity to use tools and somehow communicated with each other.

There's a report of a female Alma that was captured and named "Zana" who was used as a maid. This signifies that they were capable enough to perform day-to-day living as human beings. Besides, it is said that she mothered children.

In 1925, an army surgeon of the former USSR performed a detailed research on a hairy being that was thought to be a dead Alma. According to its report, Alma was muscular being of medium height and build, bearing no difference anatomically with the modern men. Its head, however, showed clear and peculiar distinction. The reports speak of distinctive and a large brow ridge among the eyebrows with tilted forehead, large lower jaw, flat and large nose. These accounts completely match with the imaginative Neanderthals.

Furthermore in 1941, partisans (guerilla soldiers) brought a peculiar captive to the Russian army that was fighting against the Germans in Caucasus. According to the Russian army commander, Karapetyan, such captive was naked with its whole body covered with long hair, and it was obvious that it could not understand Russian. Even when Karapetyan tried to gather some of its body hair, the captive showed no sign of resistance but only looked frightened. The captive, when held in a heated room, stank and dripped sweat. So he was held at a barn. It is said that this captive was executed as a deserter.

Neanderthal was first regarded as Russian Cossack soldier when discovered at the Neander Valley. And now, he was mistaken as a German soldier, captured and executed by the Russians. What an ironical life it lived. As these episodes clearly signify Alma, Yeti, the Chinese Wildman and other beast-like man of Asia may be the survivor of the Neanderthals.

Someday, if the existence of the abominable snowman can be formally confirmed, then the truth may also be revealed. Abominable snowman may never be discovered. But instead, someday, a hairy Neanderthal, packed in ice among the glaciers may reveal itself in a state where he was piercing a Mammoth with a spear. If such happens, then the world's major population may be re-divided into black, white, yellow and hairy races. And this may occur in a not-so-distant future.

Translated by Rie Ishida