22 TEA 



far as surface is concerned, it is a fine motor-track, 

 and as it is just wide enough to take a fair-sized 

 car, a motor can scale it, provided the engine is 

 good and powerful, and the driver has sufficient nerve 

 to steer a safe course. The first car to come up this 

 road belonged to Sir Thomas Lipton ; it was driven by 

 an experienced English chauffeur, and carried the owner, 

 who was going on an inspection visit to one of the well- 

 known firm's tea estates — the same one for which we 

 are bound as sightseers. The car arrived safely at its 

 destination, but the chauffeur's face turned white as 

 he sprang from his seat, and his Hmbs began to tremble. 

 British pluck had made him stick to his post, had con- 

 trolled his nerves and steadied his hands on the wheel 

 until he had brought his job to a successful finish ; 

 but now that a reaction bearing testimony to that pluck 

 had set in, he exclaimed : " No amount of money would 

 persuade me to drive up here again." 



On his next visit to the same estate, Sir Thomas 

 again came up in a car, but this time the chauffeur was 

 a native. The road had no disturbing effect on the new 

 driver ; he was so accustomed to mountain roads, that 

 although this track was probably much more hazardous 

 than any he had previously taken a car along, he did 

 not give a thought to danger — thereby considerably 

 minimizing the risks. Impressed by the cool way in 

 which he came through a feat that had strained the 

 nerves of a very competent English chauffeur, his master 

 took him to England. And so terrified by the London 

 traffic was this " treasure," that in taking a car along 

 Piccadilly, he entirely lost his head, stopped in the 

 middle of the road, and weepingly declared that he 

 dare not go any farther. 



