Litter (vehicle)

A litter is a human ( and litter bearers ) or pack animals on the front and rear outstanding rods for gentle ( gentle ) transport of passengers carried rack.

Use

Litters were used since the early human time especially for the transport of dignitaries or people with walking difficulties. In the mountains mules were used as carriers for you.

Since the 17th century were in larger cities and public litters as a precursor of today's taxis in use. These so-called Portechaisen were used from 1617 in Paris and from 1688 in Berlin. In Berlin, the Huguenots were initially privileged as litter bearers. In Munich, the guild of the Turkish chair carrier was launched in 1688, whose members had been deported as prisoners of war of the Turkish wars and had to carry members of the court through the city. As in 1699 with the peace of Karlowitz was a prisoner exchange to the debate, was the only concerns of the Bavarian elector, " that this nit the chair wearing even get canceled. "

The Leipzig Regiment ( litter bearers since 1703) and the Berlin Rules of 1688 for the local litter-bearers were the first legal regulations of public transport at all. Legally, the track was (not the sidewalk ) provided for them. In Dresden there were already 1710 10 litters with 20 carriers and around 1781 in Vienna 100 public sedan chair. While standing at this time even in competition with the cabs, presented the last operation there until 1888 the business one. By 1878 ended in Dresden Chaisentragen; However, the works since 1717 existing cooperative (now under " cooperative Ratschaisenträger eG to Dresden " under the corporate name ) as a special transport operation for heavy furniture and for the conversion of machine on.

Long litters were compared to cabs and carriages due to poor road conditions at an advantage; it was only when improved this, they fell over their competitors in the long run behind.

The use of litters was maintained at a funeral or a memorial service in modern times in the custom of dignified coffin carrying, although the heavy coffin could be transported easily on a vehicle.

Litters in Ghana

In southern Ghana are particularly used by the Akan boots- and chair -like palanquins, which are used both by the kings and their queens mothers (Queen Mothers ) and of their sub - chiefs. The Ga in the region of Greater Accra use different from the Akan also figurative litters, which are modeled after the animals, plants and objects in their symbolic form, representing at the Ga clan and family totems. Litters are used in the Ga unlike the Akan not of the highest chiefs, but only from the worldly Sub - Chiefs ( mantsemei ) and also by women. Today, the Ga use only rarely figurative litters. Suit you now but also the known to the Western art market figurative coffins in which now no longer be buried only the traditional leaders, but also Christian Ga.

Special litters

• One linked to a rod fabric hammock for two carriers, for longer or steeper trails, she allowed sleeping during transport and was easy to prepare.
• Sedia gestatoria - the portable throne of the Pope.
• Howdah (also houdah ) - the covered area on the back of an elephant (India).
• Basterna - a closed mule litter for ladies, which was widespread in antiquity and the early Middle Ages in Europe.
• Figural litters in the form of clan totems at the Ga in southern Ghana.

Draft litter for Queen Charlotte in 1775

Litter in Rio de Janeiro in 1770

Howdah on the back of an elephant

Haafner traveling in a palanquin

Figural litter drawn by Ghanaian litters and coffin builder Ataa Oko (2010)

Figural litter drawn by Ataa Oko (2009)