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 b}^ 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 ffo far and fast. 



