---
title: "An unreported use: yellow-nosed albatross wings adorned a Cape Town rickshaw puller in the 1900s"
---

# An unreported use: yellow-nosed albatross wings adorned a Cape Town rickshaw puller in the 1900s

 ![Rickshaw albatross wings](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/Rickshaw_albatross_wings.jpg)

 *“A jinrickshaw in Cape Town”, from the*[*Cape of Diab*](https://www.facebook.com/groups/capeofdiab)*Facebook group*

 In the past albatrosses and their eggs were exploited in various ways, [mainly for food](https://www.acap.aq/news/news-archive/24-2011-news-archive/816-they-dont-eat-albatrosses-do-they-an-excursion-into-the-culinary-literature?highlight=WyJnZXJiZXIiXQ==), but also for cultural purposes, as notably occurred in Hawaii (to be covered in a future post).

 A hitherto unreported cultural (or at least decorative) use is depicted in an old postcard that has recently come to light.  Thought to be from around 1900 (late Victorian/early Edwardian), the photo from South Africa’s Cape Town shows a[rickshaw puller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickshaw) with a pair of yellow-nosed albatross wings (not identifiable to species) strapped to his upper arms.  This is the only known case of such a use found.  Perhaps he found them washed up on the shore, or obtained them from a fishing vessel. In the same era, rickshaw pullers in South Africa tended to a cow horn head dress, presumably as an aid to attracting clients.  Just a [few rickshaws](https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/take-a-backseat-and-enjoy-the-durban-rickshaw) survive in the country in Durban, aimed at the tourist trade.

 [https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/take-a-backseat-and-enjoy-the-durban-rickshaw](https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/take-a-backseat-and-enjoy-the-durban-rickshaw)![Durban rickshaw pullers](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/Durban_rickshaw_pullers.jpg)

  ![Durban rickshaw cow horns colour](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/Durban_rickshaw_cow_horns_colour.jpg)

 *Headdresses worn by Durban rickshaw pullers: past and present*

 With thanks to Michael Fortune and Peter Ryan.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 04 December 2020*