Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/243

207 The cavady-man balances on his shoulder his bamboo staff, with a large square tin box hanging from either end, containing our tea and sugar, plates, knives, forks, spoons, and all the little essentials of housekeeping. Three bearers now put their shoulders under the hinder pole, so as to raise one end of the palankeen, and the traveller turns in: three more sieze the pole in front and lift it. “All ready! go ahead!" comes from the interior, and off we move, at first slowly, but with a gradually quickening pace. The palankeen with a quivering motion keeps time to the measured and peculiar tread of the bearers. Six carry at a time, while the other six run alongside ready in a few minutes to relieve their companions. As they move on, they keep time with a wailing, grunting ejaculation of “Oh! oh! Ah! ah! Oh! oh! Eh! eh!" intermingled with an exclamation now and then of “Lively there!" "Bandy coming!” or “Softly! softly,” &c. At times the leader gives them a song, usually of flattery to the rider, to which the rest grunt an earnest and dismal chorus.

The bearers are a faithful set of fellows, with whom you may intrust yourself and your property without the least fear. While under