THE HITMAN BEAST OF BURDEN 



293 



offshoot of the Chinese, coolie's double load is found in Siain. The pole 

 rests on the shoulder, and on either end is suspended a long, daintily 

 woven hamper. A wooden bottom protects the basket from injury, 

 and the holes for the insertion of the pole are arranged like grommets 

 by means of bamboo sewing. (Fig. 52.) 



Cords are provided, both for 

 the attachment of the top load 

 and the convenience of the 

 bearer. In all the Siamese car- 

 rying apparatus from Siam in 

 the National Museum the work- 

 manship is of the most delicate 

 character. The baskets are wov- 

 en of split rattan, and the stitch- 

 ing compares favorably with 

 that of our best California weav- 

 ers. 



Compare the Siamese with the 

 Saudwich Island pack, and the 

 rude parentage of the Siamese 

 method may be seen. (Fig. 53.) 

 Captain Wilkes long ago said of 

 the Hawaiian carriers: "One 



can not but be struck with see- 

 ing the natives winding their 

 way along the different thor- 

 oughfares laden with all kinds 

 of provisions, wood, charcoal, 

 and milk, to supply the mar- 

 ket and their regular customers. 

 Their mode of carrying burdens is to suspend them with cords from 

 the ends of a stick; this is laid across the shoulders, and so accustomed 

 are they to carry the load in this manner that they will sometimes in- 

 crease the weight by adding a heavy stone in order to balance it. The 

 stick on which they carry their load is made of the Hibiscus tiliaceus, 

 which is light and tough. Instead of baskets they use a kind of gourd 

 which grows to a large size. These are thin and brittle, but with the 

 care the natives take of them are extremely serviceable. They are 

 used for almost everything. It takes two gourds to make one of the 

 baskets used for transporting articles, the smaller one being turned 

 over the opening cut in the larger one, effectually protecting the con- 

 tents from rain. Some of these gourds will contain upwards of two 

 bushels. The gait of the Kanaka moving with his load is a quick trot, 

 and he takes very short steps." (Wilkes.) 



The carrying net of the Utes of Utah and Colorado re-appears in the 

 Papuan area in the shape of a bow of wood, the space between being 



Fig. 52. 

 Carrying-basket. 



(Cat. No. 27613, U. S. N. M. Siarn. Presented by the King of Siam.) 



