COACHING IN CEYLON 169 



with a stout wooden one, and the space 

 between the two was filled with rolls of 

 stout coir rope as thick as one's finger. The 

 use of this I was yet to learn. 



At last the luggage and passengers were 

 "all aboard." The driver, a native of 

 course, dressed in dark-blue serge, gathered 

 up his reins, while the guard, who was 

 similarly dressed, except that in his case 

 knickerbockers and bare legs took the place 

 of trousers and boots, blew the bugle strung 

 from his shoulders, and we were off. The 

 starting teams are always the best ; but on 

 this occasion we had not crone far when the 

 horses caught sight of each other. Forth- 

 with they neglected their business of pulling 

 the coach, and began a regular fight. The 

 guard rushed to the rescue, and they were 

 induced to give up their amusement. Mean- 



