to fifty pounds. These baskets were passed up through an open port, the Japanese standing close enough to each other to toss and catch the baskets, which in this manner arrived at their destination in the ship's bunkers. From the chattering and laughter of the heavers one would have fancied that it was all play—but it was downright hard work. At noon word was passed, and all the heavers of both sexes and of all ages clustered on the deck of the lighter. Accompanied by a Japanese friend, I crossed the plank to the coal-laden craft. None of the labourers resented my very evident curiosity as to their noonday hour. Few had begun to eat. Approaching one stalwart-looking little man whom I had already picked out as the Oriental Hercules of the crowd, I asked:
"Have you no food?"
"Oh, yes," he answered smilingly, and held up a little fragment of dingy blue cloth in which something was wrapped. He opened the bundle to display his noonday meal—an apple, a tomato, and an onion.
"Is that all you have to eat?" I asked.
"Why, yes," came his reply. "I would not
