124 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



meant for cocoa and coffee, and was much 

 interested in the work. This is the routine — 

 first the tract of land intended to be planted, is 

 cleared of jungle. The large trees being cut to 

 within two or three feet of the ground. The 

 whole is then set on fire, and allowed to burn 

 until nothing remains but a few stumps, these 

 disappear in the course of time by the help of 

 ants and natural decay. When the fire has done 

 its work, roads, and drains are traced and made ; 

 then an army of coolies set to work to make 

 holes for the future plants. These holes are 

 dug in regular lines ; in this instance coffee was 

 first planted, leaving space enough between for 

 cocoa which, however, is not put in until a year 

 later. Were the two planted simultaneously, 

 the more vigorous growth of the cocoa would 

 soon cause it to overpower and overshadow the 

 coffee, which requires quite a year's start to en- 

 able it to hold its own. Should it be intended 

 to add cocoanuts they would be planted at the 

 same time as the coffee. 



June 28th. — At last I have seen our kitchen. 

 Both the servants were seized with illness. I 

 thought it would be quite inhuman not to go 

 and see the little boy of thirteen, so I proceeded 

 to visit them ; heralded, unasked, by the kitchen 

 and tapal coolies as well as the horse-keeper, all 

 calling out in Tamil : " The Dorei Sani (lady) 

 is coming." " The Dorei Sani is coming." 



