Droschkies

Town Carriage (Droshky). by Alexander Orlowski

There is still another species of  vehicle and manner of driving here that immediately attracts the attention of a stronger, and this is, their droschkies, a vehicle peculiar to Russia alone, Somewhat resembling an Irish jaunting-car, and still quite different.  In the first place the wheels are not more than 3 ft in diameter and nearly always of the same size [35] before as well as behind, the seat of which is no higher than the wheel, and placed between them runs fore & aft, having room for one person beside the driver.  Both of them sit astraddle exactly as on horseback and consequently “spoon fashion” as we say in a cold winters night in bed, so that one is in pretty close contact with your bearded Russ, and stand a tolerably fair chance of finding there half a dozen of those little animals that the French describe by saying “qui saute,” “which jumps.”—The wheels are necessarily defended from throwing mud by fenders completely covering the tops.  The beauty of the horses and the manner in which they are harnessed however tend to make these singular vehicles appear quite light and fanciful.  The (really most beautiful) horses are harnessed as ours excepting that they never have any blinders to their head-stalls, making the horse appear almost [36] wild, a yoke is fastened on to the end of the shaft quite high, and standing over the neck of the animal, towards the top of which yoke the horse’s head is raised by straps, thus keeping it quite up, as our check reins tend to do. Generally on the near side of this horse which is placed between shafts as usual, is placed another which is never seen to trot but is always on a canter, whilst his mate already trots & frequently very fast too.  This nigh horse always has his head quite low and always turned to the left, by means of a single rein pulled by the driver.  Taking it altogether, it presents the most singular appearance I ever saw of the kind, and looks really very fine.  They drive like the wind, and still an accident seldom takes place, as there is a law, (which is rigidly enforced upon every one), which orders that any horses that run over any one shall be immediately sold to pay damages.