As time went on improvements were made, and we find pictures of chariots on the walls of the ancient, ruined cities of Egypt and Assyria. The Bible tells us of the chariots and horsemen of Pharaoh, who were overwhelmed in the Red Sea, but more than two hundred years before that time King Thutmosis of Egypt had a wonderful war chariot, which, in 1903, was discovered in his tomb at Thebes. It is now in the museum at Cairo, and on it are painted pictures of Thutmosis driving in the chariot, charging his enemies and shooting arrows at them. [Illustration: PREHISTORIC SLED.] Other nations also used chariots in warfare, and we read that they carried two men, one being the driver and the other the warrior. In a close encounter the soldier alighted and fought on foot. Some of these chariots were armed with great hooks or scythes fastened to the wheels. Julius Cæsar tells us that when he invaded Britain the chief, Cassivelaunus, had more than four thousand chariots, and he describes how skilfully they were handled by their drivers. [Illustration: EARLY CART WITH SOLID WHEELS.] "In the most steep and difficult places," he says, "they could stop their horses at full stretch, turn them which way they pleased, run along the pole, rest on the harness, and throw themselves back into the chariots with incredible dexterity." In Britain, at that time, there were also conveyances for travelling, called _benna_, and also larger carriages with four wheels, which carried the wives and children of the warriors and their baggage. The Romans themselves used chariots both for warlike and peaceful purposes, and they were named _biga_, _triga_, or _quadriga_, according to the number of horses by which they were drawn. Chariot races were an important feature of the great festivals that took place in the Colosseum, and it is said that Nero once drove one with ten horses abreast. [Illustration: EGYPTIAN CHARIOT.] These racing chariots were, of course, lightly made and designed for speed, but there were other vehicles of great size and magnificence, which carried successful generals when they rode in triumph through Rome to celebrate their victories. This triumphal car was usually drawn by four white horses, but very often by lions, elephants, tigers, bears, leopards, or dogs. [Illustration: ROMAN TRAVELLING CARRIAGE.] Other vehicles for more everyday use were to be seen in the streets of ancient cities, and in the paved roadways of Pompeii are deep ruts made by the wheels of chariots nearly two thousand years ago. [Illustration: ROMAN LITTER AND MOUNTING STOOL.] Litters were also used at that time, and Pliny calls them "travellers' chambers." They were borne on shafts, and special slaves used to act as bearers. Roman ladies often travelled in covered carriages called _carpenta_, which were gorgeously decorated.