Rickshaws Of Natal

RICKSHAWS OF NATAL

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Queer Man Drawn

Vehicles Used In

South African Towns

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In several

South African

cities on the

east coast there have

been import-

ed, along with

coolies from

the far east. several distinctly oriental

ideas. One of these Is the Japanese

method of local transportation by jin-

rikishas. Durban, the beautiful sea-

port of Natal, through which England

is pouring her soldiers from the troop-

ships, Is one of these cities where the

rikshaws are popular.

     There are several other means of

conveyance in Durban. You can ride

about the principal business streets in

shabby horse cars drawn by mules,

you may whirl along in open landaus

behind spirited horses, or you may hire

a rickshaw and go flying about the

palm shaded streets in the wake of a

grinning, long legged, sweating Zulu.

Most Afrikanders prefer the rick-

shaws, although many Europeans

never get over their prejudice against

making a black do the work of an ani-

mal.

     But the Zulus do not imagine the

work to be especially hard. They ap-

pear to like it. Trained from youth

to be fleet of foot, they are able to run

at full speed for long distances with-

(line drawing of man with horns on his head, pulling rickshaw)

(caption:)

TYPICAL RICKSHAW BOY

out becoming exhausted, They get

themselves up in most picturesque

fashion. Many of then wear on their

heads white wigs, to which they fas-

ten bullocks' horns. They are fond of

adopting other fantastic decorations,

and altogether they form one of the

most picturesque features in this in-

teresting town.

     You will be surprised to learn, too,

that these queer looking two wheeled

carriages are not made in Japan,

but America.. An Ohio carriage manu-

facturer who was traveling in South

 Africa saw these jinrikishas in use.

He bought one and shipped it home.

When he returned to Ohio, he started

to manufacture rickshaws for the

South African trade, and now he does

a large export business.