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THE PREHISTORY OF AVIATION
BY BERTHOLD LAUFER
THE desire^ to^ fly^ is^ as^ old^ as^ mankind^ ;^ in^ all^ ages^ man's^ imag-
ination has been stirred by the sight of flying birds and seized
by the ambition to sail upon the wind like one of them. There is a
long record of ventures, experiments and failures, and the romance
of flying still remains one of the most fascinating in the historv of
mankind.
It is to man's ingrained love for the fabulous, for the wondrous
and extraordinary, to which we are indebted for the preservation of
ancient records of flight. The prehistory of mechanical science is
shrouded in mystery because primitive man (^) was unable (^) to render
an intelligent account of it. Just as natural phenomena were re-
garded by him as wonders wrought by supernatural agencies, so
any mechanical devices were interpreted as witchcraft. Every in-
vestigator and skilled artificer of prehistoric and early historic days
has gone down in history as an enchanter or wizard who had made
a pact with demoniacal powers. Aiany of the so-called magicians
were simply^ clever mechanics whose work was beyond the com-
prehension of their contemporaries and whose achievements were
so singular and awe-inspiring that they were believed to have been
inspired by supernatural forces'. This is the reason that those who
made attempts at aerial flights were so often associated with magic
and necromantic art and why in our middle ages solely (^) witches and
devils were endowed with the faculty of flying.
Ancient traditions regarding mechanical wonders must, there-
fore, be divested of their legendary garb and exposed in their his-
torical nucleus, (^) but we owe to them the preservation of many re-
Extract from Publication 253, Volume XVIII, No. 1, Anthropological
Series, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
494 THE OPEN COURT
cords, for the dry and bare bones of historical events are apt to be
relegated to the waste basket.
The imaginative faculty of the human mind does not conceive
things that have no reality in existence. The product of our im-
agination is alw^ays elicited by something that we have at least reason
to believe exists. The question is : if these myths exist, how did they
arise, and what germ of fact lies behind them.
In the same manner that astrology was the precursor of astron-
omy and alchemy evolved into the science of chemistry, so there is an abundance of lore which godfathers the history of aviation. To
distinguish that primeval stage from the present accomplished fact
we will simply speak of it^ as the prehistory of aviation and we will
show that our modern progress is not due solely to the efforts of the
present generation.
The Romance of^ Flying^ in^ China
At the threshold of the earliest recorded history of China an
imperial flyer^ appears, the emperor Shun who lived in the third
millennium before our era^ ; and he^ is^ not^ only^ the^ first^ flyer^ recorded
in history but also the very first who made a successful descent in a parachute.
Shun's early life teemed with thrilling^ adventures.^ His^ mother
died when he was quite young, and his father, Ku Sou, took a second wife^ by whom^ he^ had^ a^ son.^ He^ grew^ very^ fond^ of^ this
son and graduallv conceived a dislike^ for^ Shun^ which^ resulted^ in
several conspiracies against the poor youngster's life.^ In^ spite of
ibis. howe\ er, Shun continued in exemplary conduct towards his
father and^ step-mother.^ His^ filial^ piety^ attracted^ the^ attention^ of
the wise and worthy emperor,^ Yao.^ Yao^ had^ two^ daughters^ who^ in-
structed Shun in the art of flying like a bird. In the commentary
to the annals of the Bamboo Books, Shun is described as a
flyer. Se-ma^ Ts'ien^ has^ preserved^ the^ following^ tradition.^ "Ku
Sou bade his son. Shun, build^ a granary^ and^ ascend^ it,^ and^ there-
upon set the structure on fire. Shun who stood on top of the tower,
spread out two large reed hats which he used as a parachute in
making his descent and landed on the ground unscathed." Consider-
ing the fact that Chinese^ reed hats^ are^ umbrella-shaped,^ circular
IBladud, the legendary tenth^ king^ of^ Britain,^ is^ said^ to^ have^ made^ wings
of feathers by means of which he attempted^ an^ aerial^ flight^ which^ resulted in his death^ in^852 B.^ C.
496 THE OPEN COURT
AERIAL CONTEST OF DRAGON-CHARIOT AND DRAGON-RIDERS
Stone Bas-relief of Han Period, A.D. 147. Shan-tung, China
cal step that imagination^ leads^ one^ or another to attempt the con-
struction of some kind of an airship.
The history of the ancient Emperors, the Ti zvang shi ki, con-
tains the following^ notice: "Ki-kung-shi^ was able to make^ a flying
chariot which, driven by a fair wind, traveled a great distance. At
the time of the emperor Ch'eng T'ang the west wind blew Ki-kung-
shi's chariot as far as Yli-chou. The emperor ordered this chariot
to be destroyed so that it should not become known to the people.
Ten years later, when the east wind blew, the emperor caused an-
other chariot to be built by Ki-kung and sent him back in it."
The term "flying chariot" (fci ch'o) used in this passage is
now current in China to designate an aeroplane.
Another account ascribes this invention to the Ki-kimg nation,
who are one-armed, three-eyed hermaphrodites. Most likely two
distinct legends have here become contaminated.
A wood engraving of Ki-kung's chariot of (^) comparatively re-
cent origin reconstructed from the slender fabric of the ancient
tradition is reproduced here. The Chinese draughtsman is decided-
ly wrong about producing a two-wheeled chariot as the sole in-
dication of motive power given in the account itself is the wind.
In ancient China only two devices were known to set a vehicle in
motion, namely, a sail and a kite. A sail alone cannot lift (^) a vehicle
into the air, but this can be accomplished by several powerful kites.
Therefore, Ki-kung's chariot was probably^ built^ on the aerostatic
principle, being driven by a combination^ of sails^ and kites.
Possibly the chariot was similar^ to^ the aerial boat designed by
Francesco Lana which was to be lifted by four copper globes from
THE PREHISTORY OF AVIATIOX^497
AERIAL CONTEST OF DRAGON-CHARIOT AND DRAGON-RIDERS
which all the air had heen extracted. The heat is then propelled by
oars and sails.
Kung-shu Tse, a contemporary of Confucius, also called Lu
Pan, is said to have carved a magpie from bamboo and wood ; when
completed he caused it to fly, and only^ after^ three^ days^ did^ it^ come
down to earth. According to another tradition, Kung-shu made an
ascent on a wooden kite in order to spy on a city which he desired
to (^) capture. This invention (^) is sometimes ascribed to Mo Ti, and a
greal deal of confusion surrounds the accounts. As early as the
first century of our era, real knowledge of this contrivance was
lost.
This wooden bird and its affinity, the dove of Archytas, meet
with a curious parallel in the west. The astronomer, Regiomontanus,
who (^) lived in (^) Nurenberg in (^) the 15th century is said to have con-
structed an eagle which he sent out high in the air to meet the em-
peror and accompanied him to the citv gates. Considering the fact that
such similar contrivances are reported from different parts of the
world at widely varying times we cannot help concluding that a
grain of truth must underlie these accounts, even though we grant
that they are exaggerated. Perhaps Kung-shu's bird was a glider,
or perhaps it was attached to or raised by a kite.
Starting from realistic means of flight, Chinese eff'orts devel-
oped into mysticism and magic. In the second century B. C. al-
chemistic lore began to infiltrate from the west. The notion of flight
was a link^ of paramount importance in the chain of mystic dreams
which held the people enthralled for many centuries. Alchemists
sought the elixir of life, people ascended to heaven upon drinking
concoctions, or^ upon the back of cranes, of ducks or tigers.
In this later history two singular ideas come to the fore ; levi-
tation bv means of starvation and bv means of remedies taken in-
Tin-: PRKIIISTdRY^ OF^ AVIATIOX^499
KAI KAWUS^ FLIGHT^ TO^ HEAVEN
From a Persian Illustrated Alanuscript^ of^ the^ Shahnameh,^ Dated^ 1587-
Courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Courtesy of Field Museum
500 THE OPEN COURT
Kites were originally used for military signaling. The idea that
a kite drives away bad spirits is of local and recent development
—
found more in Korea than in China and bears no relation to the
origin of kites, and cannot be clearly traced. They seem not to have
existed in times of early antiquity, and therefore they are not^ men-
tioned in the treatise on the art of war by Sun Wu in the 6th century B. (^) C.
Kung-shu's wooden bird was "not a flying kite. The earliest no-
tion of this looms up in the life of Han Sin who died in 196 B. C, one of the three heroes who assisted Lu Pang in ascending the throne as the first emperor of the Han dynasty. He wanted to dig
a tunnel to the palace and in order to measure the distance he is
said to have flown a kite. Some say he measured the cord, others
say that he ascended the kite, but it is most probable that he intro-
duced kites into warfare using them in trigonometrical calculations
of the distance from the hostile army. The story is however
not well authenticated for it appears only in comparatively late
sources and Han Sin's kite is said to have been made of paper, while
paper was invented only 300 years later.
Chinese authors are wont to speak of paper kites. Paper was
invented in A. D. 105. Ever since paper has come into use, kites
have been made of this material, and no other material has been
used for them. But the^ framework^ might^ have been covered by
some other light material, silk or hemp. Chinese records, however,
are reticent on this point.
From China (^) knowledge of kites was diffused (^) to all other na-
tions of Eastern Asia, that experienced the influence of Chinese
civilization such as Korea, Japan, and nearby countries. In some
parts of Indonesia, kites are put to the practical purpose of catch-
ing fish. Kites were introduced into India through 'Malay or Chinese
immigrants. Kite-flying is a popular amusement in the spring and
contests are held for high stakes.
In .Siam, kite flying is a state ceremony, as well as a public fes-
tivity connected with agriculture and the northeast monsoon.
All data at our disposal goes to prove that the kite spread from
the far east westward, to the near east and finally to Europe and
makes its debut there as a Chinese contrivance.
In European literature kites are first described by the Italian
Giovanni Batista in his book on natural magic, and the Jesuit Athan-
502 the^ open^ court
The Dawn of Airships in Ancient^ India
Although the^ Aryan^ Indians^ of^ the^ Yedic^ period^ had^ numerous
aerial deities, such as the^ Gandharvas,^ elves^ "haunting^ the^ fathom-
less spaces of air," no allusion^ is^ made^ in^ the^ Rigveda^ to^ their^ man-
ner of locomotion. The Vedic gods did^ not^ fly,^ but^ preferred^ driv-
ing in^ luminous^ cars^ drawn^ by^ fleet^ horses,^ cows,^ goats^ or^ spotted
deer. Indra, the favorite^ national^ god,^ primarily^ a^ storm^ and^ thun-
der god, is borne in a golden chariot^ drawn^ by^ tawny^ chargers^ as
an eagle is borne on its wings, faster than^ thought.
A myth of^ post-Vedic^ times^ tells^ of^ quaking^ mountains^ with
wings gifted with the power^ of^ flight.^ They^ flew^ around^ like^ birds,
alighted wherever they pleased and with^ their^ incessant^ motion
made the^ earth^ unsteady.^ With^ his^ thunderbolt,^ Indra^ clipped^ their
wings and settled^ them^ permanently^ in^ their^ places^ ;^ their^ wings^ were
transformed into thunder^ clouds.
The Agvine (horsemen), the^ twin^ dieties,^ probably^ represent-
ing the dawn and the morning star, traverse^ heaven^ and^ earth^ in
a single dav, drawn in^ a^ sun-like^ chariot^ by^ horses^ or^ birds^ or
swans or eagles. OtherVedic gods,^ Surya,^ the^ sun^ god,^ Agni,^ the^ per-
sonification of the sacrificial fire, drive in^ chariots^ or^ are^ represented as birds. Pushan, who^ is^ closely^ connected^ with^ the^ sun,^ moves^ in
golden ships sailing over^ the^ aerial^ ocean.^ The^ sun^ on^ one^ hand
appears as a boat in which 'aruna.^ the^ god^ of^ the^ sky,^ navigated
the aerial^ sea,^ and^ on^ the^ other^ hand^ as^ a^ chariot^ with^ Varuna^ as^ the
charioteer. This conception^ arose^ from^ the^ experience^ of^ seeing^ the
sun set in the sea.
The Maruts, the gods of the winds, are^ described^ as^ having
volked the winds as steeds to their pole; that is, their chariot is
driven by winds.
In post-Vedic literature^ the^ Indians^ profess^ to^ have^ had^ two
distinct types of flying machines, the Garuda airship of native manu-
facture constructed on the principle of bird-flight, and the Yavana
airship ascribed to^ the^ Greeks^ whose^ manufacture^ was^ scrupulously
guarded as a secret. Whether the^ ancient^ Indians^ ever^ really^ navi-
gated the air or whether their dirigibles are fiction is irrelevant.
The main thing is they had the idea, and their ideas about aero-
Mautics were not^ worse^ or^ more^ defective^ than^ those^ of^ Europe
from the 16th century to the first^ part^ of^ the 19th century. They
saw two points clearly—that aircraft must operate on the principle of
THE PREHISTORY OF AVIATION 503
the flight of hirds and that a mechanism is required to start the ma-
chine, to keep it in midair, and to make it descend. They devoted
considerable thought^ to^ problems^ of^ the^ air^ and^ efforts^ were^ made
to construct aircraft of various types.
The Greek records are silent as to aircraft, so that we do not
know whether the Greeks really, as asserted, did supply them with
flying machines. Certainly Greek mechanists and artisans^ enjoyed
a high reputation in India, and marvelous inventions were ascribed
to them, such as marvelous automata, movable figures of beautiful
women.
The vehicle of the god A ishnu is Garuda, a celestial bird origin-
ally a solar bird. This mythological conception proved very fertile
in stimulating^ imagination^ and^ according to Indian^ stories^ led to
construction of airships, and attempts at fl} ing.
The most popular collection of Indian folk-lore contains the
story (^) of the weaver as 'ishnu. A (^) weaver became infatuated with
the king's daughter. His friend, a carpenter, made a wooden air-
ship for him in the shape of a Garuda, which was set in motion by a
switch or^ spring.^ Equipped^ with^ all^ the paraphernalia of the god,
he flew to the seventh story of the palace where the princess had
her apartment. She took him for Vishnu, and he married her ac-
cording (^) to the rites (^) of the Gandharvas (by mutual consent). To
her father's questions, she said she was the consort of a god. The
king thereupon became overbearing to his neighbors who made war upon him.^ He implored^ the^ pseudo-Mshnu for help through his daughter. He accordingly appeared above the battlefield with bow
and arrow, ready to die. But 'ishnu, not wishing his authority to
suffer among men, as it would if he allowed the weaver to die,
entered his body and scattered the enemy. After the victory the
weaver told the whole story to the king, who rewarded him and mar-
ried him to his daughter. The most interesting point to this story
is that a garuda is used to rout an enemy.
Another garuda is described in a collection of old Indian stories.
The wife of a rich man's son is stolen, and a carpenter's son, to
rescue her, builds a wooden Garuda. It is supplied with three
springs, one in front to make it go upward, on the side to make it
float smoothly along, and one beneath to make it descend.
Again reference to airships is found in a collection of stories
the prehistory of aviation 505
From Babylon and Persia to the Greeks and^ the Arabs From the^ Euphrates^ Valley^ large^ fragments^ have^ been^ recovered
of a legend of the sovereign Etana^ who,^ as^ a^ reward^ for^ having
helped a wounded eagle, is carried on his back to the^ dwelling^ of
the gods. They reach the heaven of Anu and halt at the gate of the
ecliptic. The eagle is next^ urging^ Etana^ on^ to^ the^ dwelling^ place
of Ishtar, six hours distant, but either his^ strength^ is^ exhausted
or the goddess intervenes, for a precipitous descent begins. They
fall through space three double hours^ and^ finally^ reach^ the^ ground.
The close of the story is wanting, but the purpose of the flight^ has
failed.
This is the only record of flight recorded in^ cuneiform^ litera-
ture. Although it is found in Babylon and several different cylinder
seals illustrate the legend, it is thought to be of Iranian or possibly
Aryan origin.
There is an ancient Persian tradition of especial interest which
was transmitted^ to Europe^ at an early^ date.^ In^ the^ semi-legendary
history of Iran, there w^as a king, Kai Kawus, who was easily led
astray by passion. He built seven palaces on Mt. Alburz, then he
tried to^ restrain the demons of Mazandaran,^ one^ of which^ retaliated
and sowed the seeds of discontent in his heart, so that he set his
mind on attaining supremacy in the celestial abode. He built (^) a
throne, supported and raised by four starving^ eagles. As an in-
centive for the birds to fly, four pieces of flesh were fastened to the
top of four spears planted on the sides of the throne. The flight
was of^ short duration ; the strange vehicle soon came down in a
crash and the grandees found the king unconscious in a forest.
The Iranian motif of an aerial vehicle lifted by starved eagles
was adopted by the Greek Romances of Alexander the Great which
became widely known throughout the middle ages.
Of all^ the flying^ stories of classical antiquity the one that has
left the most lasting impression and inspired the greatest number
of imitators is that of Daedalus (Cunning Worker). (^) He incurred
the wrath of king Minus and, in order to escape imprisonment,
fashioned a pair^ of artificial wings coated with wax for himself
and his son. They mounted and flew westward over the sea. Icarus,
however, disregarded his father's advice and flew too near the sun ;
the wax on his wings softened (^) and melted, and he fell headlong into the sea.
506 THE^ OPEN^ COURT
It dees not^ matter^ if the story is^ or^ is^ not^ true.^ It^ is^ the^ flight
of human imagination, the impulses and visions^ of^ a genius,^ very
often his errors, which have stimulated inventions and progress.
The Daedalus^ story^ finds^ an^ echo^ in^ the^ Germanic^ saga^ of^ Way-
land the Smith, the artificer of marvelous^ weapons.^ King^ Nidung
endeavored to keep him in his service by cutting the sinews^ of^ his
feet, thus laming him forever. Wayland forged a feather robe and
revealed his purpose to the king from the tower of the castle and
flew home to Seeland.
The most notable of the Greek gods and goddesses who flew
through space were Perseus and Hermes with winged helmet and
shoes. Fantastic conveyances^ were^ used^ on^ the^ Greek^ stage^ to^ give
the illusion of persons being lifted upward or^ descending^ from^ the
air.
Archytas, a Greek philosopher, mathematician and statesman,
who lived in Italy in^428 B.C.^ attained^ great^ skill^ as^ a^ practical
mehanician. His flying dove of wood was one^ of^ the wonders^ of
antiquity. From the accounts we have, it is not clear just what it
was. It is described as^ being^ a wooden^ figure^ balanced^ by^ a^ weight
that was suspended from a pulley. It is said^ to^ have^ soared^ in^ the
air and been put into motion by a current of air "hidden and en-
closed" (^) in its interior. Some scholars incline to the opinion that
it was an anticipation of^ the hot^ air^ balloon,^ others^ that^ it^ was^ an
aerostat or glider, for it is said that it could fly but not rise^ again after falling. It may also have been on the order of Lu Pan's
wooden kite.
Lucian. the delightful satirist and divine^ liar^ of^ the^ second^ cen-
tury of our era, tells of an air voyage where the flyer, Menippus.
goes Daedalus^ one^ better^ by^ refraining^ from^ the^ use^ of^ wax.^ He
fastened an eagle's and a vulture's^ wing^ to^ each^ side^ by straps^ with
handles for grips. Thus he essayed to fly, at first leaping^ and flap-
ping, keeping close to the ground as geese do, later becoming bold
enough to fly to Olympus, and to the moon. This story gave tht
impetus to the class of fiction^ known^ as^ "voyages^ imaginaires."
Such a voyage is described by Francis Godwin^ in his romant
"The Man in the Aloone." His hero, Gonzales was abandoned on an uninhabited island, St. Helena. He trained a flock of birds to
fly together bearing^ a^ burden.^ Then^ he^ devised^ a^ mechanism^ where-
by he could distribute his weight at the start of the flight. At first
508 THE OPEN COURT
he experimented with a lamb, then he was himself carried aloft.
"For I hold it far more honor to have been the first flying man than
to be another Neptune that first adventured^ to^ sail^ upon^ the^ sea."
This sentiment, "to be the flying man," finds its earliest expression
here.
The Arabs, heirs to Greek philosophy,^ and^ science,^ made^ con-
siderable progress in mechanical devices. About the year 875,
an Arabian, known as the Sage of Spain, who was the first to
manufacture glass, invented a contrivance to make^ his body rise
into the air. He made wings, clothed himself with feathers and
fiew quite a distance, but as he had not considered what would
happen during his descent, he fell and injured his buttocks. He
was ignorant, the Arabic chronicler adds, that a bird falls only on
its rump, and had forgotten to make a tail for himself.
There is another story of a flying architect from the tenth cen-
tury, who erected a huge tower for King Shapur I. The king, not
wanting anyone else to profit by his genius, left him on the top of
the tower. The architect built a pair of wooden wings, fastened
them to his body, and driven by the wind, flew to a place of safety.
This story bears a remarkable resemblance to the Daedalus story.
In Constantinople, at the festivities held in honor of a visiting
Sultan, a Saracen wanted to show his skill in flying. He announced
he would fly from the^ tower^ of the hippodrome^ across^ the^ race-
course. He was clad in white garments, large and wide, braced with rods of willow-wood laid over a framework. He delayed for
a long time^ and^ the^ crowd^ became^ impatient^ ;^ but^ finally,^ when^ the
wind was favorable, he soared like a bird and seemed to fly in the
air.
Oliver of Malmesbury,^ an^ English^ astrologer^ of^ the^ eleventh
century, is said to have attached wings^ to his^ hands^ and feet and
attempted to fly ofT from a tower. He attributed his fall to the
lack of a tail. This bears a striking resemblance to the Arabic story
above mentioned.
John Damion, an Italian^ by birth^ and a physician^ at the court
of King James, claimed he could overtake an embassy to France.
He fastened wings of bird feathers on himself and hopped ofif the top of Stirling^ Castle,^ but^ he^ fell^ and^ broke^ his^ legs.^ He^ blamed
his misfortune on the fact that there were some^ chicken feathers
in his wing which showed a natural affinity to return to the barnyard.
THE PREHISTORY OF AVIATIOX 509
Giovanni Battista Danti,^ a mathematician^ of^ Perugia,^ is^ said^ to
have attempted winged flights over the lake Trasimeno.
Roger Bacon was to some extent under the inHuence of Arabic
science. He had all the superstitions^ of^ his^ contemporaries^ in^ regard to flying. He suggested that flying^ machines^ could^ be made so that a man "seated in the midst of the machine, revolving some sort of device^ by means^ of^ which^ wings^ artificially^ composed^ may
beat the air after the manner^ of^ a flying^ bird."^ Bacon's^ place^ is at
the end of the line in the prehistory of aviation. His^ ideas of flying
are the echo of the ancient idea that we have traced from China and
India, Persia and Arabia.
The modern history of aviation begins with Leonardo da Vinci.
The Air Mail^ of^ Ancient^ Times
Air-mail service was first established in the United States in
1918 when the New York-Washington mail route (^) (218 miles) was
established. While our air-mail is an epoch-making innovation and
an achievement of modern times, there was also a prehistoric air-mail
wdiich is no less admirable, carried on the wings of pigeons. This
institution we owe also to the Orient.
The first Chinese who made use of carrier pigeons is Chang
Kiu-ling (A.D. 673-740) a statesman and (^) poet, who corresponded
with his relatives by means of a flock of carrier pigeons, which he
called his flying slaves (fci nu). The messages were attached to
the feet of the birds who (^) were taught how to deliver them. The
government of China never employed pigeons for carrying impor-
tant messages, but their use remained restricted to private corres-
pondence chiefly for bringing news of the arrival of cargoes and
the (^) ruling prices of markets.
In India the use of carrier pigeons goes back to great antiquity
and may with (^) certainty be assumed to have been in full swing in
the beginning of our era. Kings of India received news about the
movement of hostile troops by domesticated pigeons. In Indian
stories various kinds of birds appear as harbingers of messages, the
white wild goose, for instance, the crow, and frequently parrots.
As regards Persia, many pigeons (^) were kept on their sea going
vessels, capable of flying several thousand li (Chinese miles). These
were released and they returned home bearing tidings as it were
THE PREHISTORY^ OF^ AVIATION^311
in the l)usiness of raising pigeons, their prices^ reached^ amazing
figures. A well trained pair^ sold^ as^ high^ as^1000 gold^ pieces.^ Bag-
dad was the central station for^ air-mail^ until^ it^ was^ conquered^ by
the Alongols^ in^ 1258. One of the most curious^ incidents^ in^ the^ history^ of^ airmail^ was
when the Caliph Aziz (975-996) had^ a^ great^ desire^ for^ a^ dish
of cherries^ from^ Balbek.^ His^ Vezir^ caused^600 pigeons^ to^ be^ des-
patched from Balbek to Cairo each of^ which^ carried^ attached^ to
either leg a small silk bag containing a cherry. This^ is the^ first^ record
of parcel post by air-mail.
Stanley Lane Poole, in his "History of Egypt in^ the^ ^liddle-
Ages," writes of Beybars^ (1266-77)^ "the^ most^ famous^ and^ energetic
of all the Bahri Mamluks, that he established^ a^ well-organized^ sys-
tem of posts, including the pigeon post... .The pigeons were kept in
cots in the citadel and at various^ stages^ which^ were^ farther^ apart
than those of the horses. The bird would stop at the first^ post-cot
where its letter^ would^ be attached^ to^ the^ wing^ of^ another^ pigeon^ for
the next stage. The royal pigeons had a distinguishing^ mark^ and
when one of these arrived at the citadel with a dispatch, none was
permitted to detach the parchment^ save^ the^ Sultan^ himself^ : and^ so
stringent were the rules that were he dining or sleeping or in^ the
bath, he would nevertheless be informed at once of the arrival
and would immediately proceed to disencumber^ the^ bird^ of^ its^ mes-
sage." The letters were written on a fine tissue paper and were fas-
tened beneath the wings and later to the tail feather.
During the middle ages the European nations became acquainted
with pigeon air-mail when the cross and the crescent clashed during
the Crusades. There are^ stories on^ record which^ depict the^ won-
der and amaaement of the Christian soldiers at witnessing this
novel experience. They brought carrier pigeons back from the Ori-
ent. Medieval knights^ used them^ in^ sending^ communications^ from
castle to castle. The convents did so also. All pigeons used in me-
dieval Europe for air-mail purposes were of Oriental origin.
The first employment of pigeons for military purposes in Europe
was during the siege of Harlem by the Spaniards in 1573. The
garrison received advices by pigeon mail announcing the approach
of a relief army under the Prince of Orania.
It is said that Rotchschild of London had his agents join Na-
poleon's army and send him first hand information by air-mail.
512 THE^ OPEN^ COURT
whereby he managed^ his^ financial^ speculations.^ Renter^ started^ his
career by organizing^ a pigeon^ post^ from^ Aix-la-Chapelle^ to^ Brussels-
A newspaper^ reporter^ equipped^ with^ a^ small^ pigeon^ cage^ was^ not^ a
rare sight. During^ the^ siege^ of^ Paris^ in^1870 the^ only^ news^ from^ the
outside world that^ reached^ the^ city^ was^ conveyed^ by^ the^ wings^ of
pigeons. In^ the^ world^ war^ pigeons^ were^ extensively^ utilized^ and
achieved brilliant^ records^ of^ flight^ under^ great^ difficulties.
Pigeons are^ still^ bred^ and^ kept^ in^ large^ numbers^ for^ messenger
service and^ racing.^ In^ good^ weather^ young^ birds^ will^ fly^ about
300 miles in^ seven^ to^ nine^ hours^ and^ flights^ of^600 miles^ in^ one
day have^ been^ accomplished^ by^ older^ birds.
KI-KUNG'S FLYING CHARIOT
Chinese Woodcut from^ T'u^ sliu^ tsi^ ch'eng
Courtesy of Field Museum
