Page:Life in Java Volume 2.djvu/279

 SCARCITY OF POST-HORSES. 263

Governor-General being at Tjapanus only twenty miles off amusing himself, no horses whatever could be supplied, as they might be telegraphed for at any moment." Such was the answer given to every inquiry we made, and how to proceed we knew not. To remain at Tjandjor would only be waste of time, as in any case we must have awaited the Governor's pleasure : so, after a short council between ourselves, we decided to hire buffaloes, and trust to chance for picking up help on the road. Drahman was accordingly despatched in search of the animals, but returned very soon with the dispiriting intelh'gence that none could be found, all being at work in the fields, and not one for hire. Disappointed, but not discouraged, we sent him off a second tune, and after some delay he came back, acconij)anit'(l by a man leading a yoke of oxen, which were ipiickly attaclied to the carriage by means of sundry ropes. As soon as the necessary }>rej)arations were made, we entered the vehicle,

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