Porters at a ford on the Sakawa River, near Odawara, Japan, by Felice Beato, between 1863 and 1885. is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. The city was founded on December 20, 1940. Felice Beato (born 1833 or 1834 died c 1907 sometimes known as Felix Beato, was a Corfiote Photographer. Hand-coloured albumen print.

A porter, also called a bearer, is a person who carries objects.

Historical meaning

Human adaptability and flexibility early led to the use of humans for transporting gear. Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another Uneven terrain, such as in mountains, alleyways and markets, and a lack of formed roads, such as in jungle, makes the use of porters economical where one can obtain relatively cheap labour.

Porters were used as human beasts of burden commonly in the ancient world, when labour was generally cheap, especially in societies that depended on slavery. The ancient Sumerians, for example, enslaved women to carry wool and flax. Sumer ( Sumerian: sux-Latn [[Ki (earth ki]]-[[EN (cuneiform en]]-'''ĝir15''', Akkadian: Šumeru; possibly Biblical Shinar

The use of bearers for litters to carry persons of rank or religious idols, especially in formal processions, seems to have extended their practical function into that of ceremonial status symbol in the often conservative protocol of court and cult, a role continued into the 20th century with the papal sedia gestatoria and possibly echoed in the modern funeral pallbearer. The litter is a class of Wheelless Vehicles a type of Human-powered transport, for the transport of persons The sedia gestatoria is the portable Throne on which Popes were once carried A pallbearer is one of several Funeral participants who helps carry the Casket of a deceased person from a religious or memorial service or

Current meaning

Sherpa porter carrying wood in the Himalaya, near Mount Everest

Porters are still employed to carry burdens in many third-world countries, especially where animals like camels, oxen, horses and dogs, or vehicles like carts, trucks, ships, trains and aircraft, have not taken over human bearers' traditional functions or where such alternatives are not practicable. For other uses of the word Sherpa see Sherpa (disambiguation. Mount Everest, also called Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा meaning Head of the Sky) or Chomolungma, Qomolangma or Zhumulangma (in Third World is a name given to nations that are generally considered to be underdeveloped economically Child soldiers are also typically compelled to serve as porters. The military use of Children takes three distinct forms children can take direct part in hostilities (child soldiers or they can be used in support roles such as porters spies messengers

The Sherpa people of Nepal have established a reputation as mountaineering porters, and are considered indispensable for the highest Himalayan expeditions. For other uses of the word Sherpa see Sherpa (disambiguation. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. “Alpinist” redirects here See also Alpinist (magazine Mountaineering is the Sport, Hobby or Profession of

Porters who work at railway stations in India are called coolies, a term for unskilled Asian labourers. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Coolie (variously spelled Cooly Kuli Quli Koelie etcis A historical term for manual labourers from Asia particularly China and India, in the 19th The term "coolie" was also used in China for porters in general.

The term "porter" is also used in general for hotel, railway and airport employees who carry luggage; the respective industry-specific terms are bellhop, redcap and skycap. A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging usually on a short-term basis "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. An airport is a location where Aircraft such as airplanes, Helicopters and blimps take off and land A bellhop, also bellboy ( or bellman, is a Hotel porter, who helps Patrons with their Luggage while checking in A Skycap is a porter employed by an Airport and provides the following service to airline passengers Luggage Perform curb Railroad porters once wore distinctive red-colored caps for easy identification, contrasting with the caps in blue or other colors, normally worn by other train personnel.

In many public places such as airports, border crossings, sea ports and railway stations, porters are often a nuisance to tourists, taking their luggage without permission and demanding excessive fees.

References

• Herinneringen aan Japan, 1850 - 1870: Foto's en Fotoalbums in Nederlands Bezit ('s-Gravenhage : Staatsuitgeverij, 1987), pp. 106-107, repr.
• New York Public Library, s.v. "Beato, Felice", cited 21 June 2006.