82 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



This morning finds me the fortunate 

 possessor of a pair of very fine Minorca fowls, 

 won in a raffle which a lady got up to help 

 a poor widow in Kandy. The cock and hen 

 have just arrived, and there has already been 

 a skirmish between our own Minorca cock 

 and the newcomer. With the result that the 

 homebird had an easy victory. We find 

 Minorcas a very useful kind of poultry to 

 keep, they are hardy, good layers, and pro- 

 duce fine large eggs. Raffles are frequent in 

 Ceylon, and I have known two different 

 people who have been fortunate enough to 

 win a carriage and horse. I suppose the love 

 of chance is engrained in the English character, 

 for even I must plead guilty to finding great 

 pleasure in winning a raffle. 



Amongst our pets has long been a small 

 Wanderoo monkey. The poor little thing 

 was so timid that she never seemed particularly 

 happy. Therefore, on hearing that a native 

 had a monkey for sale I determined to buy 

 her a companion. Jacko duly appeared. 

 Such a grotesquely human-looking little beast. 

 In one ear he wears a gold earring; and ear- 

 ring and all only cost five rupees. At first 

 he was very shy and made us all shriek 

 with laughter at the way he put a sack over 

 his head like a shawl, wrapping it round him 

 just like any old woman. He is now getting a 



