Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-16
METHODS OF TRAVEL
Travellers in India Cross the
Streams on Water Jugs.
TAKE LIVES I'M THEIR HANDS
Trip in Shigram Drawn by Fractions
Mongol Ponies.
MADRAS CATAMARAN FOR MEN
Carriage That Looks Like a Circus
Cage-Ekka Survival of First
Sulky.
TAKE LIVES I'M THEIR HANDS
MADRAS CATAMARAN FOR MEN
Written for The Star.

written IoF Inc
His highness the Maharaja. Gaekwar Of
Baroda, who has been touring in this coun-
try since the midle Of last month, should
be thoroughly acquainted with the Amer
lean methods OF travel by this time. Per-
haps some appeal to him as strangely
unique Perhaps his opinion of our sleep
Ing car would not be fatterng, if he could
be surprised into revealing It. Poor. indeed,
his opinion OF II would be were he to say
that It Is far less comfortable than the
shigram of Hindustan.
The shigram, one OF the numerous travel
ing vehicles of India is favored for dak
posting, especially by night, and may,
therefore he compared with the occidental
sleeping car.
1t is nothing more or less than a large
palarquin on wheels. palanquin is an
Oblcng box Of light strong wood about six
feet long, half as wide and four feet from
the cane bottom to the top AS a general
rule, the front is of glass, while sliding
doors occupy much of the space on either
side. These can be opened or closed at the
pleasure OF the occupant, who stretches out
on a straw mat thrown upon the bottom.
For the comfort OF back and head curved
support and pillow are placed at one end;
at the other is shelf for small articles In
the Bombay palanquins this shelf folds and
is equipped with lamp.
IE place Of the palanquin's bamboo car
rying poles, the shigram has a tongue, or
pole. to which pair of Mongol ponies is
usually hitched. though bullocks are some
times used to drag a shigram from dak to
dsk dak corresponds TO our stage house,
and is provided and supervised by the
state.
Difficulties of Shigram Travel.
Were it not for the cussedness of the
Mongol ponies travelling by shigram would
not be among the most uncomfortable
known methods of getting over Hindu
ground They never start of without lot
of urging. Then they begin the journey
in so violent manner that the traveller is
In momentary danger of being spilled to the
gI(CLd
bearable the ponies stop as suddenly as
they started and the traveller finds himself
frGntically trying to keep his body from
shooting through the glass front of the box
of torture into which he so confidently ven
tured, perhaps fifteen minutes before
The trick now Is TO get the ponies In a
frame OF mind for further travelling. A
groom arms himself with piece of bamboo
about two feet in length. At one end of
this stick is a looped horsehair cord. Co
ing up to the head of one of the obstreper-
Gus little devils and few PAGES in advance.
the groom proceeds to twist the cord around
one OF its ears. Then he braces his feet and
pulls with all his might. Next he jumps
hastily TO one side, while the ponies plunge
past II Is now up 10 the traveller TO mold
fast and to pray that this time the ponies
Will take II into their heads to keep on
till the first dak post is reached. Some
times they do. More often they do not.
Disturbs Peace of Mind.
There is one other little matter that is
liable 10 disturb the peace OF mind of the
stranger making a night Journey in a shig-
ram for the first time. He awakes In the
dead of night 10 find In all likelihood the
vehicle motionless. the groom. the minor
attendants and the ponies all missing
There is no sign OF life anywhere outside
the shigram, and the traveller, stranger
that he Is to the ways OF the country, in
stantly makes up his mind that he has been
abandoned between dak posts in the middle
Of the road
The experienced traveller. however. wrath
fully scrambles out OF his-berth, l vas
about 70 say-and wrathfully makes for
clump OF trees near to the roadside. In
another minute he gains a group OF men
sitting about campfire. He strides up to
one and begins calling down on his head
all the choice native imprecations he can
think Of. The effect is magical. The groom
and other attendants run hastily 10 hitch
up the ponies, and. u they have good luck
at this, the traveller Is again under way in
half an hour. AS for the bullock drivers
with whom the travellers people stopped TO
swap tales In THE wee sma' hours they
are used 10 such scenes. and In no wise
ruined by the sudden appearance OF an Eu-
FOpeah AT the camp nre.
Ttme-Killing Chopaya.
The best way under the sun to kill time
bar none-ts to travel In chopaya
This vessel is as cumbersome as II is pic
turesque. In appearance IT Is a cross be-
tween an autumnal festival float and a
kings triumphal car. Its body is rectangu-
lar. -Four carved posts support a double
Roof. Between the roofs Is space sufficient
20 hold ones baggage and body servant.
The body is usually brilliantly painted--sky
blue is favorite color-and deliberately or
Eamented with flowers and divlnit.es OF
ludicrous lines and features.
The sides, which are open. are hung with
curtains. The traveller sits IN the center
of the body, while four white oxen, their
backs covered with red cloths, carry him
over the ground at the leisurely rate OF two
miles an hour. That Is. on level stretches.
IL IS considerably less going up Hill. Ii is
decidedly more going down. AS soon as
the descent is begun the driver goads the
oxen into galloping. and down the Hill the
chopaya careens madly. The wise traveller
never goes down two hills In a chopaya.
He gets out and walks after negotiating
his first one in this Embarrassing fashion
The unusual sensations attendant ON this