The Port Gibson reveille., 1893-03-10
Transforming HuRpENs.


Garry Heavy Loads.
At tho last meeting Of the Anthroroiog.
ical Society, OF Washington, says So1snes'
Prof Mason read paper Ia which be de-
scribed some OF the more common ways In
which man has made himself beast OF
burden. The brief abstract given here
presents some Of the more salient parts or
the puper.
In his predatory remarks, Prof. Mason
explained that this was 3 subject that bad
awakened his deepest interest,". and that
.he paper he presented was but an Intro
duction to other researches. b. means OF
which lac proposed to fully Investigate and
demonstrate tire growth OF commerce as
carried on through the agency OF the
human body. That the aboriginal inhabit-
ants performed great fcAts IN the way OF
Transporting materials Ia shown by the CO.
existence OF raw copper on ths shores or
Lake Superior, and manufactured copper
implements Ia the remains Of tho mound
and cave dwellings in the southern part Of
The country The same thing is true Of the
presence OF wrought jade, which Is found
IN China and ia the Swiss lako-dwellings.
Men ana women were the first beasts Of
burden. and Il IL undoubtedly true that all
aboriginal carrying was done on their
heads and backs.
Even tho improved state OF civilized so
cicty las not extinguish0d all traces Of this,
for human carriers are still numerous. Hod-
carriers have but recently, and indeed but
partially. been superseded by elevating ma
chimes. The great progress Of the time has
been such. continued Prof. Mason, that no
ono walks nowadays unless Il is pre-
ferrcd exercise; horses, steam and cleo
tricity lend their all 70 whirl people to their
destinations. II Is considered vulgar TO
carry q parcel: the humblest servant girl,
buying few cents worth. may have her
purchase taken hnrae in special delivery
wagon covered with forty coats Of lacquer.
II las oecn calculated that two million tons
arc constantly worn by the human race in
tho way ~ dress and ornament.
Tho paper then enumerated the various
methods by which the various beasts Of bur
den perform their carrying tasks, first Of
all. the hand--ihe right hand. In speaking
OF this. Prof Mason sad that he has exam
incd great number of savage implements
designed 10 be carried in the hand,
and that the proportion Of those
shaped fpr use BY the left hand was
not greater than one 70 ffiy. In
~ cgsc dll he iiud a left.hand female Inn
plcmeut Then buta hands are used, after
winch the iiascrs cJme into play. As an
illustration o. the use cf the fingers in car
rying, Prof Mason mentioned the summer.
resort waiter, who bears his tray aloft on
three fingers The blldric is next IN order,
sluug over tic shoulder by a strap, and
hanging on the hip. IN this way hunters
carry glne. ani travellers carry small
sachels. rnsn, still progressing, goods 70
h. Carried are hung 10 ! belt Hanging
Things CT the arsa iaay be called the retail
method of carrying, ani is used by farm
hands, servants. portcrs; IN fact q large
proportion Of lue sauple We meet in any
place. While civilized being will twist
his form 50 as 10 got the load that is hung
on his arm supported by his back, savage
will never be found doing SO. Next comes
the han ging over the shoulder. Of which
gOod example i the universal sack OF the
negro yagaOond, containing unclaimed
property and other peoples chickens. This
method is used by grain-porters and bod
carriers.
The Oriental porters carry almost ex-
clusivciy on their shoulders. a cooly's
average load is O hundred pounds, with
which he can make thirty miles a day. IL
is estimated that there arc million tons OF
material moved BY coolies in China each
day. Then both shoulders como into use,
the load being placed round the neck; after
which au easy progression is 20 the back,
which IS tho natural carrying.pla OF the
burden. ! he soldier, carrying his KNAPP
sack and rations, Is good example. Then
loads arc carried on the heads, 3 process
called "toting." The negro is q domestic
example, and dairy-maids are reputed 70
carry their miikpails on their heads, and
there MANY other Illustrations of this mode
OF transportation. Certain tribes Of In
dams wear straw rings on their heads to
aid IN bearing and balancing these great
loads. Pockets, remarked Prof. Mason,
arc scarcely worth mentioning as a civilized
moans Of transportation, although the flow-
ing robes Of Chinaman arc capable Of
concealing AT least half hashel OF playing
cards a capacity TINT deserves passing
notice.
Tho carrying power given By these
various rlodes is augmented By means OF
combinations OK mon, IN illustration Of
which the vast works IN Egypt and other
Eastern countries were cited. Men also
c1rry goods by tras.ilu; that Is, By drawing
over tho ground. First the urn alone Is
uscd. tacn i .ine i fastened TO the ebicct
aud % the psrSoa. IL is held in the hand
over tae t4Jaliar, or wound over the
waist .. over pole. The hunter drawing
home his game is primitive example of
this mans or carrying. Throwing Is some
times resortesl. to rs mode OF transporta-
uon, Of which the negro method Of handling
watcrmelons by tossing them from hand 70
hand IS q fair example. Dlrt and excayated
material were at first carried in sacks,
which have been superseded by shoycls
The great necessities and the differentiat-
ing processes Of civilization FOR rapid and
safe transportation give rise 10 the probes
sional carriers, among whom may be men
toned carriers. messengers, mail-men and