E. Indies. Also tanga. [a. Hindi tāngā.] A light and small two-wheeled carriage or cart used in India.
1874. Settlement Rep. Nasik (Yule). Driving light tongas drawn by ponies or oxen.
1882. F. M. Crawford, Mr. Isaacs, ix. The Himalayan tonga is a thing of delight.
1894. Irene Petrie, in Life, vii. (1900), 136. A tonga resembles a squat dogcart, with a hood.
1904. Times, 6 Jan., 5/2. The Indian tongas used in South Africa were very suitable over even ground.
b. attrib. and Comb.
1881. Lett. fr. Bombay Govt. to Govt. of India, 17 June (Yule). Gallantly defending the mail tonga cart.
1882. F. M. Crawford, Mr. Isaacs, ix. Every tonga-driver is provided with a post horn.
1886. Kipling, Departm. Dillies, etc. (1899), 86. So long as ’neath the Kalka hills The tonga-horn shall ring.
1894. Irene Petrie, in Life, vii. (1900), 141. In one place the tonga road was demolished by recent snows.
