1 86 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



Yesterday, there were several hundred pounds 

 worth of coffee in the store, and it is still coming 

 in daily in large quantities. Where such 

 valuable crop is stored, an extra watchman is 

 put on, not only to keep the usual store watch- 

 man company, but as an extra precaution to 

 safeguard him from yielding to the temptation 

 of stealing therefrom ; a temptation which must 

 be very strong, when you consider the poverty 

 of these people, and the facility with which they 

 can dispose of stolen goods to the keepers of 

 village caddies (shops). 



In the afternoon we had a most exciting 

 episode. The English inpil had just arrived, 

 and I was sitting in the verandah enjoying my 

 budget, when, lifting up my eyes for a moment 

 I saw an astonishing procession. First came 

 our Appu in a great state of heat and excitement, 

 followed by the two watchmen with their guns, 

 driving in front of them a couple of wretched- 

 looking, half naked Moormen, with their hands 

 tied fast together ; a number of coolies bringing 

 up the rear. Rob was quickly on the spot and 

 ascertained that our servant when walking home 

 by a short cut through the village, had come 

 upon these men stealing cocoa. He tried to 

 seize the bags which contained the pods, upon 

 which a scrimmage ensued. He contrived to 

 knock two or three teeth out of the jaw 

 of one of the thieves ; they in turn tried to stab 



