Improved Locomotion. 97 



principle calculated for greater ease to the passengers 

 than is to be found in any other such vehicle." And 

 he flatters himself that the new Caravan would "prove 

 little inferior to a post chaise for convenience and 

 pleasant riding being adorned in the front and sides 

 with full glass windows, and elegantly padded in the 

 inside ; and full room for six inside passengers and 

 two outside." In short, "no expense" had been 

 spared to render the improved Caravan such as to 

 merit the approbation of those who might honour its 

 proprietor with their favours. In closing his announce- 

 ment, Mr. Scorgie assures "ladies and gentlemen wish- 

 ing to send youth of either sex " to any of the places 

 visited by the Caravan, that they might "depend upon 

 his most tender care and attention in conveying them 

 in safety to the places directed." 



This improved Caravan could boast of four wheels, 

 and was drawn by two horses driven tandem. It was 

 specified to give full room inside for six passengers, but 

 would accommodate eight at a pinch. In addition to 

 being padded inside, the Caravan was done up out- 

 side in bold black and yellow colours, with regular 

 " dicky" and space for a passenger on the box seat. 

 The " insides " gained admittance to their seats by a 

 door behind ; and when, as would occasionally happen, 

 the proprietor-driver a rather fussy little man, as the 

 rustics deemed him, with a cap and big " peak " to 

 protect him in all weathers had no passengers, or but 

 few, he too would take his seat inside, and contrive 

 to steer his team through an opening in front. The 

 pace of the vehicle was a slow trot, hardly exceeding 

 five miles an hour on an average. But the roads were 

 none of the best; and in the earlier days of the Caravan, 

 at any rate, the hours of arrival and departure were 

 by no means rigidly adhered to. For in addition to 

 waiting any reasonable space of time at starting for 

 an expected "fare," Mr. Scorgie, on being apprised 

 that a possible passenger, willing to pay the hire, 

 8 



