The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

284
THE BOY TRAVELLERS.
boats, some descending the stream witli the aid of the current, and others
making a laborious ascent. Tlie difference of up-stream and down-stream
travel was never better illustrated than in the present instance. Tlie Japs
who floated with the current were taking things easily and smoking their
pipes, as though all the world were their debtor; while the men on the
towpath were bending to their toil, evident!}' giving their whole minds to
it, and their bodies as well. Some of the towmen had on their grass
coats, while others were without them. Every head was carefully pro-
tected from the heat of the sun by the broad hats already described.
MEN TOWING BOATS NEAR OSAKA.
MODE OF HOLDING THE TOW-ROl'ES.
They saw a native ferry-boat at one point, which was heavily laden
with a mixed cargo. According to Fred's inventory, the craft contained a
horse and half a dozen men, together with a lot of boxes and bundles,
which were, as the auctioneers say, too numerous to mention. The head
uf the horse was firmly held by the groom who had him in charge, as it