PALANQUINS 377 



are no roads, where all travel and traffic is by saddle and 

 sumpter- beasts, the palanquin is the equivalent of our 

 coupe. It is by no means as uncomfortable as it appears. 

 Comfort is relative. An Oriental lady cannot take her 

 ease and go so far as she might in a Pullman-car, or eke 

 a travelling carriage over smooth roads ; but on a camel 

 one can journey ten hours a day, at an average of three 

 miles an hour, with great comfort, over the merest mount- 

 ain paths. When you try to double up in speed you must 

 be habituated to the motion from childhood to stand the 

 fatigue. A single camel palanquin is not as luxurious as 

 one borne by two camels ; but there is much room for 

 change of position in even this. The palanquin looks 

 unwieldy, but being made of reed and wicker-work it is 

 light, and with its two travellers will not weigh more 

 than four hundred pounds. The porter-camel can carry 

 five hundred ; a runner not much over half the weight, if 

 he is to go far and fast. 



