XX
LOCOMOTION.
On board the passenger gives up his ticket, receives the
number of his berth, superintends the stowing away of his lug¬
gage, and finally repairs to the deck to observe the progress of
the vessel as it quits the harbour, of which a fine view is gene¬
rally obtained.
Diligences. Corrieri are the swifter conveyances which carry
the mails, and accommodate two or three passengers only at high
fares. Diligenze, the ordinary stage-coaches, convey travellers with
tolerable rapidity, and generally for the same fares as similar vehicles
in other parts of the continent. They are in the hands of private
speculators, and where several run in competition the more expen¬
sive are to be preferred. When ladies are of the party the coupe'
O^rd dearer) should if possible be secured. The importunities of
the coachmen at the end of each stage should be disregarded.
The communication between many towns is maintained by
Vetturini, who convey travellers neither very comfortably nor ra¬
pidly, but at moderate cost. Inside places cost somewhat more
than those in the cabriolet. The driver receives a trifling fee,
the ostler 1 soldo; for the removal or replacement of luggage
2 soldi. The ordinary tourist will probably rarely have occasion
to avail himself of a mode of conveyance rapidly becoming obsolete.
The vetturini are generally respectable and trustworthy, and show no
less zeal for the comfort and safety of their employers than in the
care of their cattle. W7ith three horses and a vehicle to accom¬
modate six passengers 35—40 M. are daily accomplished. At
midday a halt of several hours is made. The vetturini also en¬
gage to provide the traveller with hotel accommodation, which,
when thus contracted for, is considerably less costly than when
the traveller caters for himself. In this case it is advisable to
draw up a carefully worded contract, to which the vetturino af¬
fixes his signature or mark. This should also be made to include
the gratuity (tutto compreso); and, if satisfaction is given, an ad¬
ditional fee may be bestowed at the termination of the journey.
The entire vehicle, or the interior only, may be engaged. It should
be distinctly arranged before starting, where the night is to be
passed, where breakfast and dinner taken. The agreement having
been concluded, the vetturino gives the traveller a small sum as
earnest-money (caparra), by which both parties are bound. The
following formula will serve as a basis for a contract of this nature.
Contralto tra il Sgr. X. N. e il Vetturino X. N.
Jo sotloscritto Vetturino rn'obbligo, di condurre il Sgre. N. N. e sua fa-
miglia etc. in una buona carrozza con ire etc. buoni cavalli, ed incaricare la
loro rob/t di viaggio cost ben servata, che -non prenda nessun danno, e non si
perda niente, da .... per . ... a .... in ... ■ giorni, cioe a dire il
prima giorno a . . . . il secondo a etc. ed arricare sempre a buon ora, sotlo
le seguenti condizioni:
La vettura tutta intiera (non errettuato il gabrioletto, or if the traveller
engages the interior only, ecceliualo il g.), appartiene per questo riaooio ai
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