Mauritius's Odd 19th-Century Cart Rule: No Horse Carriages Without Curtains

In Mauritius, there is historical talk of a peculiar 19th-century transport regulation that allegedly mandated all horse-drawn carriages to be equipped with curtains or drapes. While the original wording and enforcement details remain elusive, local lore suggests the rule was intended to provide privacy for passengers or to shield them from sun and dust. This requirement, if true, offers a glimpse into the island's colonial-era transportation culture, where travel comfort and discretion had legal importance. The idea of legislating carriage curtains today sounds especially quirky given modern transport modes. Verifying this rule is challenging due to limited archival records and the evolving nature of colonial laws. Nevertheless, this alleged ordinance remains a captivating snippet of Mauritian history, illustrating how local customs and old laws can sound unexpectedly odd by contemporary standards. Whether fact or folklore, it adds color to the history of transportation regulation on the island.