were maintained under native traditions, but often adopted by the colonials as a new ruling and/or socio-economic elite, either for practical reasons (often comfortable modern transport was unavailable, e.g. for lack of decent roads) and/or as a status symbol. During the 17–18th centuries, palanquins (see above) were very popular among European traders in Bengal, so much so that in 1758 an order was issued prohibiting their purchase by certain lower-ranking employees. The traveling "silla" of Latin America A similar but simpler palanquin was used by the elite in parts of 18th- and 19th-century Latin America. Often simply called a silla (Spanish for seat or chair), it consisted of a simple wooden chair with an attached tumpline. The occupant sat in the chair, which was then affixed to the back of a single porter, with the tumpline supported by his head. The occupant thus faced backwards during travel. This style of palanquin was probably due to the steep terrain and rough or narrow roads unsuitable to European-style sedan chairs. Travellers by silla usually employed a number of porters, who would alternate carrying the occupant. The porters were known as silleros, cargueros or silleteros (sometimes translated as "saddle-men"). A chair borne on the back of a porter, almost identical to the silla, is used in the mountains of China for ferrying older tourists and visitors up and down the mountain paths. One of these mountains where the silla is still used is the Huangshan Mountains of Anhui province in Eastern China. See also Bath chair Litter (rescue basket) Sling (furniture) Mikoshi Sedia gestatoria, the portable throne of the popes Ark of the Covenant, described in the Hebrew Bible as a portable sacred container and throne of God, sharing similarities with portable shrines and covered sedan chairs Howdah (carriage positioned on the back of an elephant or camel) Pall-bearer to carry a casket during a funeral procession Gurney References Further reading Regula Tschumi: Concealed Art. The Figurative Palanquins and Coffins in Ghana. Berne, Edition Till Schaap 2014. Regula Tschumi: The Figurative Palanquins of the Ga. History and Significance. In: African Arts, Vol. 46, Nr. 4, 2013, S. 60–73. Trevor Fawcett, "Chair transport in Bath": from Bath History, II (1988): richly detailed social history Luxury Transport of Palanquins: Historical exhibit at Kamat.com Chairs Human-powered vehicles Animal-powered vehicles Taxi vehicles Objects used in Hindu worship