Bullock cart on the road to Keerimalai, Sri Lanka.

The bullocks provided motive power to the population in days gone by. They are now a rare sight. Diesel powered hand tractors have replaced them.

Video:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEx4VLkxZgA

Racing cart next to a horse drawn carriage

Kerosene cart - before 1960s - Exhibit at Mr.Martin Wickremasinghe's house.

The cart was drawn by a bull and would arrive on the streets of a village. The carter had a long metal blow-horn to announce his presence. The villagers would arrive with empty bottles or tin cans to buy their supply of kerosene oil measured in 'bottles' or 'gallons'. The carter would open the tap fixed at the rear lower part of the metal drum mounted on the cart, into measuring cans, carried suspended in a net below the cart. It was a weekly event in the village where the urchins had a good laugh at the antics of the carter. 

Bull in the rain.

I took this picture in the courtyard of Saman Dewale, Rathnapura during a heavy downpour.

A small, fast, bullock cart used for transport of people, Sri Lanka.

Bullock carts were used for 'comfortable' transport of people in the South Asia region, from time immemorial. The 'Thirukkal' - Tamil, 'Thirukkale' - Sinhalese, was used extensively in Sri Lanka till recent times. The above is a picture of a Thirukkal, kept as an exhibit at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Sri Lanka. You also see an exquisitely carved wooden cupboard, next to the Thirukkal.