DESCENT FROM THE BARIZAN. 



427 



tans fastened to tlie forward axle, tmd a (suitable pro- 

 portion beliiud to liold back by a rattan secured to 

 tbe hind part of the carriage as we ^vent dowm-hilL 

 All being in tlieir places,, I jumped into the carriage. 

 A wild jsell was raised, and away we dashed down a 

 gradual descent, aa if we were di-awn by a race-horse ; 

 the road became steeper and steeper, and we flew 

 faster and taster; those behind had evidently for- 

 gotten what was expected of them. Those in front, 

 who were outside of the thills, dropped the rattan and 

 leaped aside tor fear of the rattling wheels behind 

 them^ and those in the thills shouted out all sorts of 

 implorings and execrations against those behind, who 

 seemed to enjoy the discomfltiire of their fellows too 

 much to hold back at all. When we reached the 

 bottom of the long hill, the men in the thUls were 

 the only ones near the carnage. The others were 

 scattered at intervals all the way down the hill, 

 but were coming on as fast as they could. All 

 seemed in the best of temper, except those in the 

 thills, who gave a spirited lecture to the others ; 

 but at once all formed as before, and took us up 

 the succeeding hiQ. The inspector was in constant 

 apprehension of some mishap, but I thought we 

 might as well be drawn by wild men as wild hoi'ses. 



Just before we arrived at each village, the rajah 

 of that place met us with men enough to take us on 

 to the nest kampong, and sometimes we had forty or 

 fifty of them drawing us at a time. On the level 

 lands they usually took us along at a fast canter, 

 shouting, and screaming, and leaping, as if they were 

 hall* mad. 



