i66 COACHING IN CEYLON 



that " when a bullock cart was driven 

 through the hill, the Kandyan kingdom 

 would come to an end." After the final 

 capture of Kandy by the British, the road 

 was made and the hill in question tunnelled, 

 thus singularly fulfilling the prophecy to the 

 letter. 



The Ceylon coaches are of uniform 

 pattern, and very unlike our idea of a 

 coach. The main body consists of a very 

 broad '* coach-inside" to accommodate three 

 on each seat. In front is a low driving-seat, 

 which affords room for one passenger, or 

 sometimes two. Behind, facing to the rear, is 

 another seat, which is very uncomfortable, 

 and always occupied by natives. On the 

 footboard of this the guard squats. The 

 roof is merely supported on iron stanchions. 

 Curtains of American cloth hang from this, 



