Page:Sketches of Tokyo Life (1895).djvu/91

Rh carrier, who is at the same time her valet; in others, every tea-house has a carrier who calls for a geisha whenever she is wanted; and in others again, there is a carriers’ office which sends a man to fetch a geisha and escort her to the tea-house that applies for her. In the latter two cases, the geisha always takes care to stand well with the carriers as they can, if they please, prevent her being called to any tea-house by pretending that she is already engaged elsewhere. The carrier receives a small gratuity from the guest at whose call he has brought the geisha. The carrier’s calling is not a dignified one, but is said to be very lucrative.