liOBBEBY OF CASH 48 



mine was fairly lofty, I had a boarded floor put in, 

 about eight feet fi-oiii the oroniid, and ascended to it, 

 by means of a huhhn' from the outside. Tliis T made 

 mv bedroom, and when the arranijements were com- 

 pleted, found myself fairly comfortable. In the outer 

 room the cookinii' was done, and here the coolies, col- 

 lectors, &c.,. assembled. The outer doors were secured 

 on the inside by two stout pieces of timl^er sliding across 

 as a protecti(m against robbers, who are reputed to be 

 common in this particularly wild region. 



The day after my arrival I paid off and discharged 

 the Ichang coolies, keeping onl}' my cook and inter- 

 preter and a boy with me. Soon after their departure 

 I found that the large cash I had been to such trouble 

 to secure had all been changed for small, and ujjon in- 

 quiry discovered that the thief was a native of the dis- 

 trict, who had come down by arrangement to assist and 

 act as a guide to my coolies. I blamed myself very much 

 for having trusted him with such a valuable load, which, 

 if it had been taken by a coolie engaged from the hong, 

 would in all probability have been delivered untam- 

 pered with. The thief naturally kept out of my way, 

 and I was unable to afford time to trace him out and 

 have punishment administered, which was unfortunate, 

 as it set a bad example to the other natives, who might 

 think they could treat me in the same way. 



