A CARRIAGE RIDE IN SERVIA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 192, 1 December 1876, Page 13

A CARRIAGE RIDE IN SERVIA.

•H The correspondent of the London 'Times' in Servia, gives the following description of a native carriage in which he made his journeyings: — " Our carriage deserves to be described. It is reraaTkably like what we might imagine would be a gay ambulance; indeed, one might well mistake it for a fantastic minature hearse. It is on four wheels, low in the body, and with three windows on either side. There is room for four persons inside, with a convenient well for baggage beyond the seat which faces th 9 horses. This, as well as the roof which covers the passengers' heads, ia covered with leather. A leather hood descending' from the roof falls down behind, and is attached to the back of the carriage by straps. A small verandah in front covers the driver's seat, on which there is space for two persons. At the back of this seat is a window, through which you can communicate with the driver. On each side without is a notification in Turkish, Servian, and German, that the machine is a fiacre, which makes journeys through Servia, and Turkey. There is a scarlet curtain inside, which may be drawn completely across each window. Two horses harnessed without collars complete the equipage. The driver informed us at starting that in Turkey our carriage is regarded with a respect nothing short of what Christians would regard as veneration, inasmuch as it had the great honor of being retained to convey the ladies of the Sultan's harem. As we are not within the boundary of Turkey proper, but only in a territory which is in open revolt against its Ottoman Suzerain, we thought at starting that it would be rather dangerous for us to have it supposed that the contents of the wagon were ladies on their way to the Seraglio, so we took care all day to keep the windows open, and to salute and acknowledge the salutations of those whom we met on the way. It is only a becoming tribute to Servian hospitality and politeness to say that the latter greetings were almost as frequent as the occasions of our meeting any of the natives of the country."