Beasts of Burden

The abundance of nature’s variety is perceptible in the world of animals. There are animals to meet man’s requirements in the different regions of the world. Donkeys, mules, horses, camels, yaks, oxen, and elephants are some of the animals used for pulling loads and carrying weights. Man’s own capacity is limited and he can carry only limited weights for short distances. Other modes of carrying weight are comparatively recent in man’s history. Now there are trains and trucks, boats and planes, trolleys and wagons; but this has not been the case in the past. Even when these are available, their utility and mobility may be limited. There are vast stretches of sand and narrow hilly terrains where man must depend on animals and where a motorbike or a motorboat are ineffective. In such cases, it’s nature’s ingenuity that provides the answer.

Man’s dependence on animals has always been there whether he used from them plowing his field. for ferrying water, for traveling, or for carrying loads. The camel is one such beast of burden. The Bedouins of Arabia call it “Ata Allah” i.e. God’s gift. It justifies this epithet by coming to man’s rescue when motors and machines fail man. It is difficult for a person brought up in the lush. rich region of Malaysia or Singapore to imagine the vast endless stretches of sand in the wilderness of Sahara or of the Thar desert. Camels have been carrying weight even since man-made their acquaintance. The camel can go without water for long periods — if it is not working too hard. It can outlast a horse and can carry a load of more than two hundred kilos.

Mules are sturdy animals and where donkeys or horses cannot find their way. mules are able to go along. Mountaineers and soldiers find them very useful when moving heavy equipment in the mountainous regions. In areas where the heavy monsoons easily flood the rivers, and boatmen are afraid to ferry across, elephants can be used for ferrying loads and people across the river. With their heavy bulky bodies and tall stature, they are able to withstand the strong current and can drift along diagonally to the other bank. In the snowbound areas of Tibet, Yaks are used for carrying loads. Their thick fur provides them with protection against the cold.

The most well-known beast of burden used by potters and woodcutters, and an important character in many a fairy tale, is the donkey. Dull and stupid, the donkey is a common enough sight in some countries. Associated with stubbornness, the poor beast is often given a bad thrashing for this trait.

These animals which help the man carry loads have been responsible for the beginnings of trade. and merchants have carried their goods and traveled on them from one country to another. They were also used in war. especially horses and elephants. Now man has eliminated and rendered superfluous their help in some areas but it is not possible for him to do so entirely. The bullock cart and the horse-drawn carriage have still their glamour and their utility.