THE HUMAN BEAST OF BURDEN. 



29 L 



chandise, and household effects, with this sole object in view, gives to 

 some of the Chinese loaded barrows rather a romantic effect. 



The Japanese back is one of the best in the world, and the people 

 have repeated many of the Chinese methods of burden bearing. The 

 most frequent method of burden bearing isthe bamboo basket, suspended 

 from the shoulders in like manner to the knapsack. (Fig. 49.) 



The palankin of Japan is also very similar to that of China. In 

 both countries, especially in the latter, on ceremonial occasions, frames 

 and other devices have been invented for hitching up a great number of 

 men, and thus of securing the advantage of combined effort. This 



. Fig. 49. 

 Common Carrying-basket of Japan. 



(From a photograph in the U. S. National Museum. ) 



should not be overlooked in studying the civilization of countries that 

 became quite elevated without our modern appliances. 



Any knowledge of Aino culture at this time is valuable, when a sys- 

 tematic effort is being made to discover the relationships of this primi- 

 tive people. For carrying burdens the Ainos use a frame, like a small 

 trellis or ladder, around which braided cord is wrapped to furnish a bed 

 for the load. (Fig. 50.) 



