DESCENT FROM THE BARIZAN. 427 



tans fastened to tlie forward axle, and a suitable pro- 

 portion behind to bold back by a rattan seciu'ed to 

 the bind part of tbe carnage as we went down-bill. 

 All being in tbeir places, I jumped into tbe carriage. 

 A wild yell was raised, and away we dasbed down a 

 gradual descent, as if we were drawn by a race-borse ; 

 tbe road became steeper and steeper, and we flew 

 faster and faster ; tbose behind bad e\ddently for- 

 gotten what was expected of them. Tbose in front, 

 who were outside of the thills, dropped the rattan and 

 leaped aside for fear of the rattling wheels behind 

 them, and those in the thills shouted out all sorts of 

 implorings and execrations against those behind, who 

 seemed to enjoy the discomfiture of their fellows too 

 much to bold back at all. When we reached the 

 bottom of tbe long bill, the men in the thills were 

 the only ones near the carriage. Tbe others were 

 scattered at intervals all the way down the hill, 

 but were coming on as fast as they could. All 

 seemed in tbe best of temper, except those in tbe 

 thills, who gave a spirited lectui'e to the others ; 

 but at once all formed as before, and took us up 

 the succeeding hill. Tbe inspector was in constant 

 apprehension of some mishap, but I thought we 

 might as well be drawTi by wild men as ^vild horses. 

 Just before we amved at each village, the rajah 

 of that place met us with men enough to take us on 

 to the next kamjiong, and sometimes we bad forty or 

 fifty of them dramng us at a time. On the level 

 lands they usually took us along at a fast canter, 

 shouting, and screaming, and leaping, as if they were 

 half mad. 



