HIlilNG COOLIES 41 



made arrangements to get as many thousands of the hirge 

 cash as T lliought T should require from the bankers 

 and merchants. Their weight was considerable, and 

 the cost of transport added not a little to the expense 

 of the journey up. 



I tlu'u saw to my collecting boxes, cases, &c., all of 

 which were made of teak, the only wood I found service- 

 able in the damp climate in which I was to live for four 

 months. For firearms I had a double 12, a small 

 collecting gun, a Winchester repeater, and a revolver. 

 I also laid in a stock of tinned provisions, as from former 

 experience I found that nothing eatable, except Indian 

 corn and millet, was to be had I was afterwards 

 much disappointed with these, as a large proportion 

 turned out to be bad. 



These things, together with my clothing, bedding, 

 nets, &c., made loads for fifteen coolies. It is never 

 advisable to hire these in the street, but to go to a ]iong, 

 where no doubt a little more has to be paid, Imt then 

 a written agreement can be made with the manao-er, 

 whereby he is made responsible for the honest}' of the 

 men he may send you, and be held liable in case of 

 theft. It should also be stipulated that a head coolie 

 is sent for every seven to ten men, who is, again, made 

 responsible for the men under his charge. He is paid 

 at the same rate as the others, but carries a lighter load. 



