CEYLON COCOA ESTATE 229 



broken shards, and the hundred and one things 

 at their own door, so do we in the dearth of 

 organised amusements divert ourselves with 

 anything which may be a little out of the daily 

 routine. This afternoon Rob and I have been 

 much entertained by watching the vagaries of 

 some young bulls being broken in to go in a 

 hackery. When about two years old their 

 education begins, first a light rope is passed 

 through the nose, over the top of the head and 

 tied securely at the side of the face, to this 

 eventually the rope reins are adjusted and by 

 it the bull is guided, (I must say, not very 

 effectually guidedV When the slit in the 

 nostril is quite healed the training begins. 



A light hackery is secured, the bull with 

 many pushes and shouts is at last induced to 

 enter the shafts, the yoke is fitted to the hump, 

 the best and most fearless driver mounts the 

 box, and the coolies place themselves on either 

 side of the shafts, and two more at the back, 

 all to exercise enough pressure to keep the 

 hackery straight. Then begin a series of 

 jumps and rushes on the part of the unfortunate 

 and bewildered animal, generally ending in a 

 furious gallop which it takes all the fleetness 

 and the strength of the coolies to keep pace 

 with, and to keep the vehicle on the right track. 

 Sometimes the proceedings are varied by the 

 young bull taking an obstinate fit, putting down 



