The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-08-13
A Primitive Postal Service,


The conlmonest type OF Indian post
runner, or ''Tappal wallah," wears a
long white coat, very tight trousers in
close his lean legs, and his headdress is
huge light blue turban. His letter.
bag Is slung on his side, and it is neces-
sary that he should be good linguist,
and De able to read Il great variety of
strange, grabbed characters. for sever
al OF the multitudinous languages of
HIndostan are written in quite distinct
characters, all of which are alike in
comprehensive to our untutored eyes.
The rural letter of Hindostan
carries long stick with a sharp iron
point, which can be used as a weapon
IN case of need. The stick is adorned
with six little brass bells, which serve
to frighten away reptiles and dangerous
animals, and also to give notice of the
approach of the post. The danger
from wild beasts is, in some districts, a
very real one, the "tappap' runners
through the forest districts in the south
Of Ceylon having occasionally had very
narrow escapes from the attacks of
rogue elephants and other wild
beasts.
OF all varieties of Indian letter-car-
rjers, clothed or uuclothed, none are so
picturesque as the camel express mes
sengers. The men wear a serviceable
red uniform, and large green turban
embroidered with gold thread. From
their glrdle hangs curved saber in a
red sheath. The camels are adorned
with trappings of gay cloth and tassels,
ornamented with blue beads and cowrie
shells, and small brass bells round the
neck TO give notice of their swift ap-
proach. 1t is said that their rough and
rapid trottinC, sometimes at the rate Of
eighty miles a day, is SO trying to the
riders as to shorten their DAYS. Two
heavy mail-bags hang to right and left
on each side of the camel. and the sad
die IS so arranged that passenger can
take Il seat behind the postman.
In no country Of the world is the
postal organization more wonderful
than in Japan; the chief marvel being
that, Till about a dozen years ago, there
was no regular government institutions
OF posts in the country. In 1871. when
Japan awakened like giant from her
long sleep OF eXclusNeness, and set TO
work TO accomplish changes OF every
oNi I, o4LO iCoOiNCd " CStlDIlSu tilt T-u-
rOpean postal system; and with such
astonishing zeal has she done her work
that within ten years the British,
American, aud French nostoilices, which
had been established at all the open
ports, were closed, foreign nations be-
ing satisfied with the thoroughness of
the Japanese postal service. In that
short period mail routes had been or
ganized over SO, 600 miles; mail trains
and steamers, post-yans, and runners
were all enlisted; 1927 postotfices and
Z, 439 letter boxes had been esta blished;
money-order offices and postoffice saw
ings banks were IN full operation; T.
500 persons were employed on the reg
ular staff; stamps, stamped envelopes,
postcards, and newspaper wrappers.
were issued at the same rate as our
own; letter postage to any part of the
empire being at the rate of l pence,
and post cards pence; while within
the limits OF the city OF Toxic these
postages are respectively only hall
price.
Where the postotlice had thus been
started at full swing it is needless to
say that the telegraph was not forgot
ten; and by 1880 it was in full working
order over distance of about 10000
miles, and giving employment to about
-, 600 persons. Gordon Catnlnainq
IN CdSSelPs Family Aagazjne for Au-
aust