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Throughout both roads between Yedo and Niigata, in every place of importance, there was a house, belonging to the “Rikugun-kai” (an overland transport company), which is, as far as I could see, very well organised. Here we were provided with jinrickshas, kagos, pack-horses and coolies, after a fixed tariff, which differed slightly according to circumstances; thus, in the mountains, it was a trifle higher than on the flat parts of the road.
A jinricksha was paid for 1 “ishu” per ri; if with 2 coolies about 10 cents. In the mountains the weight which a man had to bear, was 7 quanine (about 57 pounds); he was paid for that 5.2 tempo per ri, if carrying more, his wages were increased in proportion. A kago, borne by two men, pays for 212 men, as a compensation for wear and tear. On an average the Kai-offices were 3 or 4 ri apart; taking 312 ri, a coolie’s wages in the interior should be something between “Sanshu” and “ichibu.” Very often the Kai-offices were at the same time the municipal offices of the villages, with the “Koshiduka” (or official notice-board) before the entrance. The distances which separate the villages are measured from notice board to notice board.
By this company, all merchandise is despatched by pack-horses from office to office. The horses are often led by little girls; when arriving at the different stations the packages are at once taken from the horses, and thrown upon the ground, where they remain lying till fresh horses are ready to carry them to the next station; while the other horses immediately return.
In order to assemble the necessary number of coolies, in some of the villages, a kind of roll had to be beaten with a wooden hammer on a hollowed-out piece of wood, hanging in front of the Kai-office. This operation had often to be repeated 10 or 12 times before the required number arrived; they game on very slowly and drowsily, but after having weighed their load and prepared to start, they become jolly and good-humoured, and all over the way there is no end to their talking and laughing.
