Ultimate shoulder rides

From a new book that was recently published (Brazilian author). Slavery didn't end in Brazil until 1888. The Portuguese Royal Family fled to Brazil in about 1825 to escape the French invasion led by Napoleon. When the Royal Family returned to Portugal in 1886, slavery ended two years later and Brazil became a Republic.

checkmateguy wrote:

From a new book that was recently published (Brazilian author). Slavery didn't end in Brazil until 1888. The Portuguese Royal Family fled to Brazil in about 1825 to escape the French invasion led by Napoleon. When the Royal Family returned to Portugal in 1886, slavery ended two years later and Brazil became a Republic.

Hi, Checkmateguy

I wish I could find that book on Brazil especially as regards those human horses. However I have to respectfully disagree with some of its historic  statements : The Emperor Napoleon I was dead already in 1825, and the only French "invasion" underway at that time was that of Spain, in fact a French-lead expedition requested by European powers to restore "Law and order" in Spain. That war was made and won in 1823, but I believe that French occupation troops remained there for a few more years.
But only in Spain, I believe, not in Portugal who then was  an English protectorate of sort. And, as the last thing the French Kings wanted was a new war with the English,  we most probably never touched Portugal.

I agree with frenk5080 that riding astride a human pony's shoulders for too long could become uncomfortable because a human pony's shoulders are slim and boney unlike a traditional saddle. However, the shoulders of a Negro slave in 19th century Brazil were probably well-developed and muscular from the hard physical work that a slave from that era did on a day to day basis. Therefore, the Negro slave's shoulders, being muscular and well-developed, would have been a lot more comfortable than the average skinny shoulders of a man these days. Likewise, because Negroes were used to hard physical work (and to make sure they did the work they were required to do there were plenty of public whipping posts in the towns and cities where slaves could be tied and lashed with the whip), they would have had the endurance to carry a Master on their shoulders for much longer than the average modern person could today. Even the most enthusiastic human pony of today is unlikely to have the strength or endurance of a 19th century plantation slave who would also have worked in a hot and humid climate.
Not that sure about the history. All the book says is that the Portuguese Royal Family and its Court sailed off to Brazil escorted by British naval vessels and returned a few decades later. Well, the King returned but left his son to rule Brazil for a few more years.
I'm still not sure why the plantation owner preferred to travel around his plantation riding astride the shoulders of his various slaves instead of using a horse. He would have got a good view, of course, sat astride a slave's shoulders particularly if he picked his taller slaves to ride. Slaves were also used as human mules in colonial Africa by explorers, settlers and traders to cross shallow rivers or travel along narrow tracks through densely forested areas. It was a common sense and practical way to get around before 4-wheel drive vehicles were invented. But, personally, I find it much more fun to ride around on a guy's shoulders than in a 4x4!

Hi Rugbyplayer95. I saw the book in a bookshop when I was browsing last week. It was among the new books. The title didn't have the word 'Brazil' in it. Instead it was something like 'birth of an empire.' I was so engrossed reading about the shoulder riding plantation owner that I never really took much notice of the book's title. You should be able to locate it via an internet search. It wouldn't be worth buying the book though as the reference to shoulder riding consisted of just a short paragraph.