276 THE THONG AND POINTS. 



diminish in number and size towards the quill end and are 

 evenly distributed. 



THE THONG. 



The thong is made of plaited horsehide and is attached 

 to the stick by means of a quill. The length of the thong 

 is about three feet eight for a whip used with a single car- 

 riage and about ten inches longer when intended for a pair- 

 horse vehicle. The quill part should be comparatively short ; 

 the whalebone which is used to stiffen the thong at this 

 point is bound with black thread. Frank Swales, in his book 

 entitled " Driving as I have found It," says, " Coachmen who 

 cannot hit a horse effectively with a light whip and without 

 being obliged to have the top half whalebone should never 

 be allowed to use one, a bale stick or plough handle would 

 suit them better." — /. io6. 



" It seems a strange thing when we consider it, that we should take the 

 hides of dead horses — the hides upon which the lash may so often have 

 descended — to make more lashes to beat more horses." — A. Matidslay, 

 " Highways and Horses,^' p. 44. 



" Even when the cattle were good, and but little whip was required, 

 thongs soon became rotten from the sweat of the horses and the rain, and 

 to avoid the frequent necessity for new ones, what were called ' three quar- 

 ters and middles ' were made which coachmen were generally able to splice 

 on for themselves." — Edward Corbett, "An Old Coachman'' s Chatter,''' 

 p. 124. 



POINTS. 



The point should be made of leather, but very few 

 are. Red, blue, white or other colored whipcord or silk is 

 commonly used. If whipcord or silk is used the color 

 should be white. The leather point is preferable, but as it 

 is plaited to the thong the cost of replacing those which 

 have worn out is greater. 



