Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-21
HUMAN BEASTS OF BURDEN.

HUMAN BEASTS OF BURDEN.
Prof. Mason Tells How Savage and Civ.
nized People Garry Their Bundles. !:
Prof. Otis T. Mason read last night, at the
14lst meeting Of the anthropological society of
this city, an interesting paper ON the subject of
| ''The Human Beast of Burden" In his prefa-
tory remarks Prof. Mason explained that this
was a subject that had awakened his deepest
interest, and that the paper he presented was
but an introduction to other researches. bv
means Of which he proposed to fully investi-
gate and demonstrate the growth of commerce
as carried on through the agency Of the human
body. That the aboriginal inhabitants per-
formed great feats in the way Of Transporting
materials IL shown by the co-existence of raw
copper on the shores Of Lake Superior
and manufactured copper implements in the
remains Of the mound and cave dwellings,
In the southern part Of the .eountry.
Inc same thing Is true of the presence of
wrought jade, which is found in China and in
the Swiss lake dwellings. Men and women
we're the frst beasts of burden. and it il un-
doubtedly true that all aboriginal carrying
was done on their heads and backs. Even
the improved state Of civilized society has not
extinguished all traces Of this, for
HUMAN CARRIERS
are still numerous. Hod-carriers have but re-
| Gently. and, indeed, but partially, been super
| seeded by elevating machines. The great
progress of the time has been such, continued
Prof: Mason. that no one walks nowadays, un-
less 1t Is a preferred exercise; horses, steam
and electricity lend their aid to whirl people to
their destinations. 1t is considered vulgar to
carry parcel; the humblest servant girl, buy
ing few cents worth, may have her purchase
taken home in special delivery wagon covered
with forty coats of lacquer. It has been cal
culated that 100000 tons are constantly worn
by the human race in the way Of dress and
ornament
HANDS AND FINGERS.
The paper then enumerated the various
methods by which the human beasts of burden
perform their carrying tasks. First of all the
hand, the right hand. In speaking Of this
Prof. Mason said that he has examined great
number OF savage implements designed to be
carried In the hand, and that the proportion of
those shaped for use by the left hand was not
greater than to 50; in no case did he find
left-hand female implement. Then both hands
are used, after which the fingers come into
play. As an illustration Of the use of the fin
gers In carrying Prof. Mason mentioned the
summer-resort waiter, who bears his tray
ai0fs on three fingers. The baldric
the shoulder by strap and hanging on
the hip. In this way hunters carry game and
travellers carry small satchels. Then. still pro-
crossing. goods to be carried are hung to belt.
Hanging things on the arm may be called the
retail method Of carrying, and is used by farm
hands, servants, porters, in fact q large pro-
portion OF the people we meet in any place.
While civilized being will twist his form so
as to get the load that is hung on his arm sup
ported BY his back, savage will never be
ing over the shoulder, of which a good eI-
ample is the universal sack Of the negro vaga-
bond, containing unclaimed property and
other peoples chickens. This method is used
by grain porters and hod-carriers.
THE ORIENTAL PoRTERs
carry almost exclusively on their shoulders. A
coolies average load is 100 pounds, with which
he can make 80 miles a day. 1t is estimated
that there are 1, 900, 900 tons Of material moved
by coolies in China each day. Then both
shoulders come into use, the load being placed
around the necks, after which an easy progress
sion is to the back, which is the natural carry
ing-place of the burden. The soldier, carrying
his knapsack and ratiOns, is good
example. Then loads are carried on the
head, process called "toting:" The
negro is q domestic example and dairymaids
are reputed to carry their milk pals on their
heads, and there are many other illustrations
OF this mode Of transportation. Certain tribes
OF Indians wear straw rings on their heads to
aid in bearing and balancing these great loads.
worth mentioning as q civilized means Of trans
portation, although the flowing robes of China
man are capable Of concealing at least half
bushel OF playing cards, q capacity that deserves
passing notice. The carrying power given by
these various modes is augmented by means Of
COMBINATIONS OF MEN,
in illustration of which the vast works in Egypt
and other eastern countries were cited Men
also carry goods by traction, that is, by draw
L.
used, then line Is fastened to the object and
to the person. 1t is held in the hand over the
shoulder, wound around the waist or over a
pole. The hunter drawing home his game is
a primitive example of this means Of carving
Throwing is sometimes resorted to as a mode
of transportation, OF which the negro method
OF handling watermelons by tossing them from
hand to hand is fair sample. Dirt and exca-
waited material were at first carried in sacks,
which have been superseded by shovels The
great necessities and the differentiatng pro-
cesses Of civilization for rapid and safe trans
portation give rise to the professional carriers,
among whom may be mentioned carriers, mes
sengers, mail-men and peddlers.
Insanity Cases.
Yesterday Judge Cox, on the petition Of the
District Commissioners directed writ de lu-
natico inquirendo to issue in the case of Daniel
Luther, well-known painter. Luther had ac-
cumuiated some property, but recently, 1t Is
said, by speculation, lost almost all be had and
then showed signs of mental derangement,
Judge Cox also directed writ to issue as to
Elizabeth Howell, who, under a similar writ
was, in January last, declared to be sane. The
petition in this case is filed by Merrick T.
Hitchcock. and sets forth that Miss Howell,
had been placed in Providence hospital BY
the District authorities, but that the hospital
authorities are unwilling to keep her on ac-
count OF her ALTERATION of mind.
Transfers Of Real Estate.
Deeds in fee have been filed as follows: Jas.
T. Ward to Josephine E. Bennett, part 26, so.
513; $500. Eliza Ann Bouldin to same; same
property; $780, Mary L. Hawkins to Ludwig
Wolff, part 10, SO. 1913; 81, 500. Della Chappeli
to Harriet NJ. LOngley, lot "a, so. $40; 81, 800.
II. p. Waggaman to Thos Z. Waggaman I'M
divided half interest in Aaron, sub lots ii, 15
IL, % and 80. SO. n. e. 1865; 8, IA and 15 SO.
1865; l6, II, o. q, IS and Sc, SO. 1O45, and the
whole Of lots % to "a, 80, 40, 45, 49, 81, So, g.
So, 20, rs, 70, SO to 81 and 50. So 1896 and part
8, 50. $40. B. H. Warner to j. Fl. Lee, parts 80
and 81, B. and H. 8 addition to West Washing
ton; 1.450. Henry G. Lewis to Philip Maloney,
sub lot 107, blk. 20, Long Meadows; S1,725. J.
w. Humphrey to Margret E. Thomas, pts 9 to
II. SO. 49O; 81 500. c. C. Walter to w. c. King,
pts. and 8, 50. 255; g. B. F. Leighton to
Anna i. HOppertOn, lot 10, blk a. BrOokland.