Drinking Water in Coal Pits in the Old Days
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yama no Inryosui
[Drinking Water in Coal Pits in the Old Days]
21.0 x 30.0 cm Ink Painting

There was no water supply system in the pit (yama) in the old days. All the people in the pit depended on wells (groundwater). However, the well near our miners' houses ran dry except in the rainy season or after hard rainfalls. Everyone in the pit had to go to a well in a small valley more than one kilometer away from the pit to scoop up and bring water to their house, shouldering a yoke and a pair of pails (tago). In the Kaho and Iizuka districts, every road which ran through fields, banks, and paths between rice fields was so bad that women at that time had much trouble in carrying their pails. Children in the pit ten years or more of age helped them, but no husband was seen to scoop up and carry water. It seemed that if a husband helped his wife, he was derided by others in his pit in those days. Therefore, miners did not use as much water as we do today, but saved it more strictly than money. Miners' wives considered it most shameful to have their husbands help their kitchen work.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

<<Last pictorial record    Next pictorial record>>

<<Last 10 items  141 | 142 | 143 | 144 | 145 | 146 | 147 | 148 | 149｜150 |   Next 10 Items>>

149／306