Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 4.djvu/193

 but in truth it did not come into existence until the second half of the seventeenth century, and nothing is known as to its origin. Its capacities were quickly appreciated, and gradually the onerous task of drawing it produced a class of men broad-shouldered and heavy-thewed, who rank next to wrestlers in Japan's athletic scale. As to symmetry of muscular development the first place belongs to the seafaring population. Their method of standing erect when using a big two-handed scull, throws equal labour upon every muscle of the body, and results in types comparable with the galley-slaves of ancient Rome. But the drawer of the ni-guruma (goods-cart) is a more powerful man, though clumsier. It has been calculated that he accomplishes twice as much work as a horse in a given time,—the Japanese pony being, of course, the unit of comparison,—and his daily allowance of food is twice that of an ordinary adult.

The horse was not used for purposes of traction in Tokugawa times. His first employment in that capacity dates from the beginning of the Meiji era. It is remarkable how unprogressive the Japanese showed themselves in the matter of means of locomotion. From the heavy, slow-moving ox-carriage they might have been expected to pass quickly to lighter vehicles drawn by horses. But they never made the change until carriages were imported from Europe in modern times. Perhaps for that reason their manner of constructing