Two Figures of the Atoyama at the End of the Meiji Era (1868-1912): The Long Bamboo Basket and the Coal Carrying Box with No Sled
January 1965

Meiji Makki Atoyama Ni Tai: Battera to Dainashi Sura
[Two Figures of the Atoyama at the End of the Meiji Era (1868-1912): The Long Bamboo Basket and the Coal Carrying Box with No Sled]
38.1 x 54.2 cm Painting in Watercolors and Ink

(1) The battera was a long bamboo basket just like the nagajoke used at farmers' houses. It had no sled but had two pieces of cut bamboo fitted to its bottom. It was used in the haulage way where it was impossible for the atoyama (hewer's helper) to tow a sura (coal sled) because the inclination of it was uneven or the bottom of it was too soft. Its capacity was about 60 kg.

(2) The atoyama could not tow a normal surase or sura in haulage ways with the inclination of more than 30 degrees. In this case, the atoyama pushed down the coal-loaded box with no sled (dainashi sura) on the ladder as a guide track made of wood 60 mm in width and 120 mm in height. The box had two pieces of 60-mm-square timber on its bottom for derailment prevention. I saw one in Furukawa Shimoyamada Coal Pit in the end of the Meiji Era (1910).

Lyrics of "Gotton Bushi" Song at the Bottom Left
Ebu to ganzume ga nagarete kuraru (normally kudaru).
Doko no kiriha de tomaru yara.
Dokkoi! Dokkoi!

I see an ebu (bamboo winnow) and a ganzume (rake) slipping down the slope.
I wonder at which working they will stop.
Dokkoi! Dokkoi! (Interjected chants)


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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