In Switzerland and some parts of the continent, the use of large diligences still continues. Some of the old shape [Plate 36] recently performed the journey from Geneva towards Chamounix. The shape of modern diligences varies very much, many are like omnibuses; but almost all are without a perch and upon elliptical springs. In Continental travel may also be seen large family travelling carriages, as well as very light one-horse vehicles for mountain roads, and the further eastwards the traveller proceeds, the rougher and more simple the vehicle. In Russia may be found very rough, cheap, fast waggons, as well as the “Tarantas,” which is a very comfortable travelling carriage for the wealthy, and with its numerous boxes and appliances, its bed and store cupboards for food, is almost a small house upon wheels. Thus, whilst in our history we have enumerated the various methods of travelling used by our forefathers, we may, in passing from England to Persia overland, still have personal experience of almost all of these methods. All travelling dependent upon the speed of a horse has been, on good roads, almost the same in all ages. It is only since the introduction of locomotion by steam on railroads that we have attained any great advance upon ancient times. The years during which rapid stage coach and post chaise travelling seemed such a remarkable advance to Englishmen, only lasted from about 1810 to 1840. Since then the triumph of steam has in many places paralysed the improvement of stage coaches and posting [Illustration: PLATE 34. AN ENGLISH STAGE COACH, 1787, AFTER ROWLANDSON] [Illustration: PLATE 35. DILIGENCE FROM PARIS TO LYONS.] [Illustration: PLATE 36. MODERN FRENCH DILIGENCE.] upon ordinary roads, even where steam does not compete.