Carrying yoke

Lempa joppa

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"408. Carrying yoke - "Lempa djoppa" 
A piece of wood, two meters long, narrow, pointed on both ends, which is used for carrying loads, whereby it is placed on the shoulder while the loads are hung from both ends by cords. The native develops great strength and skill carrying loads with this yoke; he can carry the heaviest loads in this way that he could hardly lift with his arms. By carrying loads with a yoke individuals who do this heavy work often develop thickened places on their shoulders which in some cases can be a lump the size of a fist and consists of tissue under the skin. The chest and stomach muscles as well as the muscles of the legs, on which the whole load rests, and which must still move, develop with this work in an amazing way. Since the carrier is nearly naked, it is possible to see nearly every muscle of the legs and upper body as they expand when he is carrying a heavy load. The arm muscles are not developed since they have nothing to do in this work. The rather athletically built carriers have very weak arms and small fine hands which do not fit at all to the rest of the muscular build. As they carry it, the yoke is swung from one shoulder to the other behind the neck so that alternately both sides of the body, both shoulders carry the weight. The carrier has a half-running step and swings the arm of the free shoulder, which is bent to a right angle. In the whole of the East Indian Archipelago the loads are carried in this way, including the largest. Heavy, four-wheel wagons are unknown, only small two-wheel Asian buffalo carts. The large loads are naturally carried by a large number of people, often two to three hundred. Such loads are fastened to a large number of long poles, and these are placed on the shoulders of the carriers and taken away with colossal noise and cries."

Translation of: Czurda, F. A. J. (1883). Catalog mit Erklärungen der Etnografischen Privatsammlung des Dr. F. A. J. Czurda in Postelberg (Böhmen). (p. 91-92). Wien, Wilhelm Braumüller