166 ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 



over the land were acquired, not by my husband — he, as 

 a Government servant, being prohibited from engaging in 

 any commercial pursuits — but through others for me, and 

 not by any means for a ' mere song.' The reef was called 

 after me, and before long operations were in full swing. 

 Machinery for crushing was procured ; ' experts ' voyaged 

 from England to report on the percentage of gold ; shafts 

 were sunk, and gold was found ; but for the pounds dropped 

 into that ground not as many pence came out of it ! 



After a time the craze died out, but not till many had 

 speculated with their all. Estates were re-opened, and by 

 degrees The Wynad again prospered under the slightly 

 humdrum but pretty even sway of ' King Coffee.' 



** 



