Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-07-23
HUMAN BEASTS OF BURDEN
Cinnamon Hltohed Up as Horseo In Parts
Of California.


An astonishing sight has been presented
recently to observant travellers over the
narrow gauge railroad to Santa Cruz while
passing through the great mark t gardens
near Newark, In Alameda county 1t is
nothing more or less than the utilization
of Chinese aboIers as beasts of burden,
and Of their own volition, too.
Along the railroad near the station men
toned bands of coolies have rented large
tracts Of land for the purpose of raising
vegetables for the San FIincisco market
For the past few weeks Chinese have been
engaged in planting beets, onions and 9th.
or vegetables, using large drills in doing
the work. Horses have usually been an
poyed to pail these drills, but here the
Chinese lab0rer5 substitute themselves Tor
the usual beasts Of burden, hitch themy
selves up in their stead, and are by another
coolie guided like dumb driven cattle
The large seed drill somewhat resembles
81 plow. II has handles like that imple-
ment, and from the front of the drill ex-
tends rope six or eight feet long On
The end OF this rope a pole about eight
feet in length il tied. Two Cinnamon
place the pole in front of them, about the
middle of their bodies, and bending 10
their work, they pull the drill about the
field in response to the commands Of the
man at the handles
In some cases, instead Of using the pole,
two ropes are attached to the drill, and the
cooley beasts of burden take the ends Of
these lines over their shOlders and plod
over the fielb. Backward and forward
they 20, just like horses, and apparently
as contented with their lot.
Certainly in no other part of the United
States is such a sight to be seen, that Of hui
man beings voluntarily taking the place Of
work animals.
When the MormOns founded Salt Lace
city and populated the country thereablut
the working of women in the field was
commen, and evea until few years ago
many an old Mormon could be seen from
the cars driving heard Of his wives hit
ched to a plew like oxen, and like them
staggering under the yoke, receiving but
his curses if they stopped to rest The IN
fax Of Gentiles has, 1t is supposed puf an
end to this inhuman treatment Of the Nor
mons female slaves.
In some older countries, where the poor
er classes are dowDtrodden and animals
are scarce and fodder dear, such conditions
still exist, though even there they are fast
becoming rare.
In Holland women, aided or hindered by
dogs are compelled to draw canal boats
while their lords or masters sit compIacent-
ly on the boats smoking their pipes, re-
moving them only to yell at their beloved
and admired hcpmates If they lag IN their
heavy task
In the north Of Germany women are
compelled 10 do similar work 10 that oil the
coolies in Almeda county and hitch them
selves up with horses or cows to be driven
either by other women, who change of %
give the hrst a rest, or BY their husbands
who consider that their position is at the
helm, and never change. ia the north
Of France women can still be seen harness
ed IN carts with dogs dragging the pro-
ducts Of the field into market, but this ID
becommiDg extremely rare, though former
y OF common occurrence
The fellabs Of Egypt are the only other
class Of degraded human beings that arf
forced to DO the work OF beasts ana tht
only men % employed, and they probably
have tee hardes, time Of it. Trey are still
compelled to draw the primitive pillow
made oftwo wooden sticks, one Of whict
serves or a handle and the other pointed
down into the ground
But in this land Of plenty, where ami
mails Of all kinds are9in abundance anc
cheap and the fodder for them can be raised
at Domial cost, it is indeed a pecnlia
thing for Chinese even TO consider them