﻿MODERN 
  LIFE 
  IN 
  THE 
  CRADLE 
  OF 
  CIVILIZATION 
  

  

  Photograph 
  hv 
  Eric 
  Keast 
  Burke 
  

   BURDEN 
  BEARERS 
  OF 
  MESOPOTAMIA 
  

  

  In 
  the 
  land 
  of 
  the 
  Garden 
  of 
  Eden, 
  human 
  labor 
  is 
  so 
  cheap 
  and 
  plentiful 
  that 
  machinery 
  cannot 
  compete 
  

   and 
  therefore 
  most 
  burdens 
  are 
  carried 
  on 
  men's 
  backs. 
  These 
  coolies 
  from 
  the 
  Kurdish 
  foothills 
  arc 
  identified 
  by 
  

   their 
  headdress, 
  a 
  felt 
  cap 
  with 
  a 
  turban, 
  and 
  each 
  carries 
  around 
  his 
  neck 
  the 
  tool 
  of 
  his 
  trade, 
  a 
  plaited 
  

   strap 
  of 
  great 
  strength, 
  with 
  which 
  he 
  secures 
  his 
  load 
  — 
  an 
  upright 
  piano, 
  a 
  great 
  packing 
  case 
  or 
  whatnot. 
  Their 
  

   profession 
  is 
  relatively 
  well 
  paid 
  and 
  after 
  a 
  few 
  years' 
  work 
  in 
  the 
  city, 
  the 
  villager 
  returns 
  home 
  with 
  a 
  

   competency. 
  

  

  I 
  

  

  