90 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



He found Raneetotem too dull, and hankered 

 after the gaieties of Kandy, these with the 

 added attraction of five rupees a month extra 

 pay, proved too much for him. In his place we 

 have a young Sinhalese "podian," fresh from a 

 neighbouring Rest House. J [He does not speak 

 English, so most of my orders have to be given 

 in dumb show. I am getting so expert at con- 

 veying my meaning by signs that I think I 

 must be unconsciously training for the post of 

 matron at a deaf and dumb asylum. The 

 few English words our " podian " does know 

 are obviously picked up from rather uncere- 

 monious young planters, who have frequented 

 the Rest House. I have been endeavouring 

 to-day to teach him that an off-hand "all right 

 is not exactly the most suitable way of signifying 

 he has arrived at an understanding of my 

 orders. However, he is very willing, and 

 active, and will doubtless in time become a 

 good servant. Sinhalese servants wear no 

 head covering, the younger ones and those of 

 low caste have their hair cut moderately short 

 like a little boy in England. The older men of 

 higher caste have circular tortoise shell combs, 

 and their back hair arranged in a knot high up 

 at the back of the head. Tamil servants wear 

 their long hair all tucked up under a large white 

 turban, while Malays wear a neat little round 

 cap something like a smoking cap, which they 



