CEYLON COCOA ESTATE 79 



lived here ever since, and is therefore a very- 

 valuable help to the superintendent. In 

 spite of his very good wages, and the head 

 money of a large gang of coolies, his wife 

 goes out cocoa and coffee picking, but the 

 daughter has never been allowed to work 

 in the field. The wife is usually distinguished 

 by a profusion of handsome gold jewellery, 

 earrings, nose-ring, bracelets, anklets, and 

 necklaces. We gave the bride a present 

 of ten rupees, which seemed to give great 

 satisfaction. I cannot help feeling sincere 

 pity for the poor ignorant child going to face 

 a new world, and to marry a man she has 

 never seen, and who may prove a most undesirable 

 husband. 



On returning last night from my evening 

 walk, I saw Rob standing outside the 

 bungalow, laying down the law, surrounded 

 by a number of angry men, all gesticulating 

 at once, whilst the servants were peeping 

 round the kitchen, craning their necks to see 

 what was going on. I am by this time too 

 much accustomed to scenes to be frightened, so 

 went into the bungalow another way, and 

 waited to hear the story. It was this — one 

 of our coolies protested he had been attacked 

 by the " Arachi " of a neighbouring village, 

 had been beaten and had had his earrings 

 stolen. The u Arachi " on the contrary 



