Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-07
RIKIsHASaIN JAPAN
Tho Standard Oriental Carriage Of Amer
lean Origin.
Sail probationary GobeIs Rheuna-
tism Was the Incentivc-The won-
nsO
derful Endurance Of the Coolies.
W. E. Curtis in the Chicago, Record.

W. E. Curtis in the Chicago Record.
For the 'rilkisha, which is the greatest
blessing travellers In the east enjoy, we
have to bless an American sailor who came
here on Commodore Perry's flagship in
1858, and then returned seven or eight years
later as a missionary of the Methodist per-
suasion. His name was Jonathan Gobel,
and he is mentioned in Commodore Perry's
narrative as a pious man of rare intelli-
gence. who took great interest in the spirit
ual welfare of the Japanese Gobel was
one of the earliest members Of what is
known as the Newton mission, system of
evangelical work inaugurated very soon af-
ter Japan was opened to foreigners by q
Connecticut gentleman Of that name.
The jinrikisha is another Illustration CT
the old adage that necessity Is the mother
of invention, for Brother Gobel was afflict-
ed with rheumatism in his later years, and
found it difficult to navigate. The sedan
chair, which was used by the nobility, was
too close for him, and the kago, q vehicle
in which the humber classes were in the
habit Of carrying the lame ami the lazy,
was very uncomfortable for his long legs,
so he took a packing case, painted it black,
upon a pair of wheels. For shelter from
the sun he rugged canvas awning that
could be raised or lowered according to his
convenience, and he hired a brawny coolie
Of the vehicle which takes the place of
carriages and street cars in Japan. Corea,
India and China, for Brother GobePs inven-
ton has spread all over this coast. So USE
full an Invention needed good name there
fore Brother Gobel called it jim (man)
ricki Cpower) sha (carriage). But the swells
prefer to term 1t a kuruma. 1t looks like
an exaggerated baby carriage and is very
comfortable for riding.
The 'Rfkisha System.
The 'rikishas are all made in Japan, and
large number are exported to the neigh
boring countries. They cost from SIT to
$40, according to the care bestowed on their
construction, the material used, and the
character Of their decoration, but they
could not be made for more than twice that
money in the United States. Many of them
are owned by the coolies who draw them,
others by companies or private individuals,
who let them to the coolies for share Of
the money they make. You can hire them
by the week for yen G2.50). by the day for
IS sen G71a cents), 10 sen g cents an hour
for ordinary service, or 10 sen for trip
Of not more than two miles.
The system of operating them Is very
much like that In use by our hackmen at
home. Each 'rikisha man has his name
and number upon his hat and his lantern.
He Is registered at police headquarters and
pays a small tax to the government.
Those that are attached to the tourists
D.
age. for the privilege, as they get more
patronage and many fees that do not fan
to the lot Of the ordinary man on the
They wear a loose tunic and tights Of
blue or white cotton cloth that reach not
quite to the knees, and are often entirely
barelegged In the he: months of the sum-
mer. Sometimes on q hot day when he has
will strip down to aTbreechclou.. On his
head he wears hsti; of woven bamboo
covered with canvaa that Is the shape Of
an inverted wash bswl and on his feet a
pair OF "waraji," or sandals. woven of rice
straw, that cost lesstithan half a cent
They are made in. every village and in al
most every farm house, and the coOlie
ts has two or three pairs strapped to
the axle OF mis- 'rikisha, as they wear out
rapidly on the gravel of the roads. In
winter he goes barefooted, Just as he does
IN the summer. with nothing but his
'waraJf' to protect his flesh from the snow.
Have Great. Endurance.
The 'rikisha men are very remarkable for
their endurance and many Of them for
their speed. The other day rode twenty
miles in less than three hours over a coun-
try road that had some long hills, and at
the end of the journey there was scarcely
a sign of WEAKNESS among the several
'rtkisha men in our party. It Is CUSTOM
airy and proper on these long rides to take
two men. One Of them works in the shafts
and the other assists by pulling on rope
made fast around his shoulders, or pushes
from behind when the road is billy. They
will go fifty or sixty miles a day for weeks
at a time, and keep a gait of six miles an
hour but they expect to have enc hours
rest in three. They will travel further
and faster and with less fatigue than the
ordinary road horse. Their gait is an even
trot, with the head and shoulders forward.
The comfort of the passenger depends
very much upon the way the shafts are
held. If they are too high or too low he
tires easily, but when the coo1ie gets ac-
customed to your most comfortable pos
ture he will accommodate his shafts to it
and you ride with less fatigue than in any
carriage.
Some of the 'rikisha coolies are very elab-
orately tattooed. The art of tattooing has
reached its highest stage in Japan, and
some Of the specimens one sees on the
street are very elaborate and artistic. Like
everything else, the work is cheaply done
You can have beautiful picture in colors
tattooed upon your back or breast that
will last a lifetime for 81 or So. and skill
full artist will place an indelible portrait
Of your lady love on your arm at about
the cost of an ordinary photograph at
home.