American missionary, in 1869 Japan, where it was at once adopted as the national means of transport, although J. Dyer Balt} has recorded the name of a British Consular Chaplain at Yokohama, the Rev. M, B, Bailey, as an alternative} claimant to the honour. From Japan the jinricsha made a remarkably rapid conquest overseas. Shanghai seems to have adopted it well be~ fore 1875 and later Hongkong followed suit. The shortened name "riesha", or rickshaw, ame into use. Singapore, Ceylon, India and South Afrien quickly perceived its value, Ball avers that one cnthus last even conceived the idea that London might take to the fashion, despite the competition of the hansom, growler and knife~ board. Fortunately for London that fantasy remained a fantasy and nothing more.
Shanghai now finds the rickshaw an old man of the sea. Vainly, in imitation of Singapore. have efforts been made to abolish it, Abolition has been endorsed in principle by the Shanghai Municipal Council and recently the first step toward that attainment has been taken by making a modest reduction in the number plying in the streets for hire. One day, perhaps, a comprehensive public transport authority will arise here to serve Shanghat efficiently with power vehicles which will effectively cover all needs. AN! that is needed is a little vision and determination in develop ing the use of the motorbus, the facilities of which are still imperfectly appreciated by Shanghai Janders—such as those, for example, who are dependent onthe rickshaw for covering the length of the Bund, when, for a quarter of the price, they can more quickly reach their objective if they take the trouble to study the bus routes. Then the rickshaw of Shanghai may find an outlet by offering its services to Tachienlu, now becoming "man~ wheel" conscious. For—let "Tibetan" note—there is no reason why the rickshaw should not be adapted to the rigours of bumpy roads and precipitous streets.
India's attitude might give an object Iesson. The rickshaw there has come to be regarded, not as a vehicle for the plains but as the essential means of transport in the Hills, Calcutta has been known to tolerate a casual rickshaw but the search for such a vehicle on the banks of the. Hooghly might occupy many moons. In stations up country ghostly old crocks may occasionally be discerned in some out-of-the-way neighbourhood, but it is in the Hills that the rickshaw has come fully into its own—not drawn by a single puller, but manned by a team of four or, the human load either of di of bulk demands it, six. For Simla in 1879 decided to' make its rickshaw take the place of the bogey or tum-tum of the plains. Coachbuilders from Long Acre—printers have now ousted them from that historic street—tet Ambala into the secret and rickshaws with spidery wheels, rubber-tyred, hooded and: furnished with lass windows, were evolved. No horse-drawn carriages
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.