Summary Measures. 8 1 



poor coolies, enervated and disheartened, at first 

 flatly refused to take up their abode in this eagle's 

 nest. They urged various objections, first that the 

 climb of a mile and a half up 1500 feet after their 

 day's work would kill them, next that the site of 

 the new lines was too cold, and so on. Laughingly 

 saying that it was better for a few to die, if it could 

 not be helped, of fatigue, than for all to die of fever 

 (which they certainly would do unless they changed 

 their quarters), I gave them plain notice that next 

 day they must be prepared to remove up the hill 

 or take the consequences. Next morning about 

 eight o'clock I went down to the old coolie lines, 

 and calling out the Kanganies asked if all were 

 ready to migrate ; but further remonstrances and 

 objections being the only response, and seeing that 

 the time for half-measures had passed, I now told 

 them that they would do well to take their goods 

 out without further ado, as in ten minutes the lines 

 would be in a blaze. I then took a burning faggot 

 and held it ready to fulfil my warning. This had 

 the desired effect ; in ten minutes the pots and 

 pans and blankets were outside, and the thatched 

 roof was enveloped in flame. Making a virtue of 

 necessity, the whole gang now marched up the hill. 

 I took up my own abode about 500 feet higher 

 than the new lines on the mountain side, the general 

 result being that during the two years I remained 



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