CHAPTER XY.
T H E PA D A H G P L A T EA U .
As I had seen only a small portion of the Pa-
dcmgsche Bovenla/nden, or Padang plateau, I again
set off for the interior, following the same route that
I had taken before, namely, north, over low lands
to the left of the Barizan chain. As the governor’s
| American ” had not arrived from Saboga, he kindly
borrowed for me a “ bendy,” that is, a small, heavy,
two-wheeled chaise. He gave me an order allowing
me to use two horses if I pleased; and, by the time
I had travelled twenty miles, I was glad to avail myself
of the privilege. A bamboo was fastened across
the thills and allowed to project four or five feet on
one side, and the additional horse was then placed
beside the other, the usual mode of driving tandem
in this country. To complete the odd style of harnessing
these half-tamed steeds, the natives arranged
the reins so that I was obliged to hold two in the
left hand and but one in the right. The result was,
that the outer horse was as loose as those harnessed
in a similar manner in Russia, and altogether beyond
my control. Whenever we came to a slight
descent, he would always spring into a full gallop,
and the one in the thills would follow his example.
Then came a few severe shocks against the large
stones in the road, and we found ourselves at the bottom
of the hill- One time the shocks were so severe
that my footman, who had a seat behind, and a good
place to hold on with both hands, was missing when
I reached the bottom of the hill, and, on looking
round, I found the bendy had flung him off some
distance upon the rough stones. When we reached
Kayu Tanam, thick clouds, that had been gathering on
the adjacent lofty peaks, rolled down and poured out
a perfect flood of rain. The drops were so large, and
fell with such momentum, that it seemed like standing
under a heavy shower-bath. The lightning
gleamed as it only does in tropical lands, and the
thunder roared as if the great Barizan chain on my
right was splitting open again, and forming another
immense “ cleft.” I was wondering that my horses
were not frightened amid such terrific peals, when
suddenly a piercing flash dazzled my eyes, and the
same instant came a sharp crash like the sudden
breaking of a thousand heavy timbers, and for a
moment X was (piite bewildered. Both horses reared
until they nearly stood on their hind feet, and then
plunged forward in a perfect state of fright. The
road there chanced to be straight, and I let them go
at the top of their speed for a mile or two, when
they again became somewhat manageable, and in this
way we flew along high up the side of a great ravine
and came into the deep cleft. Ascending the canon,
we came to Padang Panjang, and the next day to
Fort de Kock. The waterfall opposite where we
entered the cleft was considerably swollen by the