My Headmaster would cane in a very measured way. Having carefully chosen his selected cane from several hanging up in a tall cupboard he would ask me to bend over the end of the desk holding on to the sides. He would first swish the cane a few times and then tap the cane at the top of the buttocks and also at the top of the thighs. He would then deliver the first stroke at the top and the second stroke at the bottom of the area he wished to cane. Further strokes (up to a maximum of 8) would be laid evenly between the top and the bottom stroke. A good 30 – 45 seconds elapsed between each stroke.

I only received a caning from him once – it was enough.