PADAMAHS SACRIFICE. 141 



named Padamah, always clad in a bright red turban 

 and little else, a man who, from his cunning and his 

 long residence, exercised considerable influence over 

 the coolies, and being besides a great glutton, he 

 watched every opportunity to propitiate the gods, 

 which means having a sacrifice or tremendous feast, if 

 possible at master's expense ; at one time it is 

 sickness, at another evil signs or any other trivial 

 cause. 



One early morning the loquacious Padamah made 

 his appearance in the compound wild with excitement, 

 in vain trying to make himself heard by the dhorasani, 

 whilst the cattle were lowing and the sheep bleating 

 on leaving the sheds ; the poor lady finding herself in 

 the same dilemma as King Charles of old, during his. 

 progress through Kent, when a mayor of Kochester, 

 just at the commencement of an elaborate address, 

 was accompanied by the loud braying of an ass, only 

 that she had not the ready wit of his Majesty, who- 

 exclaimed, " One at the time, gentlemen, one at the 

 time." However, the remembrance of this anecdote 

 could not well be expected to have disconcerted the 

 excited gardener, who, eschewing all obstacles, 

 managed, by dint of perseverance, to make his mistress 

 at last understand that an old cow having died over 

 night, it was certain the evil spirit had done it in 



