Madeira, Funchal - Oxen carriage

Traditionally, the means of travel in Funchal, the capital city of Madeira, did not include wheeled carriages. The uneven cobbled roadways, steep hills and sharp bends, meant that horse drawn carriages and, later, motorised vehicles were regarded as unsuitable. Rather, the locals opted for various other, more original, forms of conveyance. Crude wooden carts, mounted on wooden runners, lubricated with grease and pulled at a sedate pace by oxen were a favourite, as depicted on this postcard. These carro de bois were said to have been introduced to the island by a British Army Officer who required a means of conveying his invalid wife about town

Bois Canopy Carro Drapes Funchal Greased Madeira Oxen Runners Slow

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