2-981-755 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Ekas, Bengal Presidency, from a sketch by one of our special artists, 1876. 'The Eka is one of the many forms of Indian vehicles, and derives its name from ek ("one") from its being pulled by one horse. The most common vehicle is perhaps the bilee, from bile and ox, by which it is driven. This last is slow and lumbering, and might be called "growler", like our own four-wheeled cab; while the eka, with its horse, being lighter in construction, is the "hansom" of the locality'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.