[Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by George M. Gould]@TWC D-Link bookAnomalies and Curiosities of Medicine CHAPTER IX 245/442
They give him preference as regards wages, help push his vehicle up heavy grades, and show him all manner of consideration. Figure 180 represents two Japanese porters and their usual load, which is much more difficult to transport than a jinrickisha carriage.
In other Eastern countries, palanquins and other means of conveyance are still borne on the shoulders of couriers, and it is not so long since our ancestors made their calls in Sedan-chairs borne by sturdy porters. Some of the letter-carriers of India make a daily journey of 30 miles. They carry in one hand a stick, at the extremity of which is a ring containing several little plates of iron, which, agitated during the course, produce a loud noise designed to keep off ferocious beasts and serpents.
In the other hand they carry a wet cloth, with which they frequently refresh themselves by wiping the countenance.
It is said that a regular Hindustanee carrier, with a weight of 80 pounds on his shoulder,--carried, of course, in two divisions, hung on his neck by a yoke,--will, if properly paid, lope along over 100 miles in twenty-four hours--a feat which would exhaust any but the best trained runners. The "go-as-you-please" pedestrians, whose powers during the past years have been exhibited in this country and in England, have given us marvelous examples of endurance, over 600 miles having been accomplished in a six-days' contest.
Hazael, the professional pedestrian, has run over 450 miles in ninety-nine hours, and Albert has traveled over 500 miles in one hundred and ten hours.
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