Packsaddle

This is a tool placed on an ox’s back to load items onto it or to support a compost carrier, a wicker rack, or a packsaddle carrier. It consists of two wide and thick horseshoe-shaped packsaddle arms placed parallel to each other before being fixed with cross bars. A thick saddle blanket made of straw was placed between the ox’s back and the packsaddle to cushion the weight on the ox’s back. When placed on the ox’s back, the arms of the packsaddle were curved downwards along the ox’s body, and therefore it was rare to immediately begin placing loads on the ox. When carrying crop gamani, or straw bag, however, a bag was placed on either side of the packsaddle and fixed with a string. Except for such cases, additional tools such as a compost carrier, a wicker rack or a packsaddle carrier should be placed on the packsaddle to load items onto the ox’s back.