CHAP, xu GOVERNMENT BEARERS EXEIVJPTED FROM TAXES. 293 



which they consequently expected to receive no pay. I 

 requested the chief, who provided their rice, to write down 

 the names of all those who remained, and to tell them that, 

 whatever they might receive from others, I would pay every 

 one who should continue with me until we reached the 

 capital. I had proposed to do this before, but the officers 

 objected. I had also heard that the districts around Tama- 

 tave, from whence bearers for the government are taken, 

 were, in consideration of this service, exempt from certain 

 taxes which are levied on the others. Whenever any of the 

 bearers absconded, the chiefs of the place provided other 

 men to carry the packages which had been left, to the next 

 post, or government station. 



The weather improved during the forenoon, and I vralked 

 through the village, which stands on the top of a hill of 

 stiff yellow cla}'. The ground immediately around is wet 

 and swampy, having considerable portions cultivated with 

 rice. The country beyond appeared more woody, and the 

 prospect on every side was bounded by high land, or distant 

 mountains. Gardens belonging to the villagers covered the 

 sides of the hill, and their houses were in tolerably good con- 

 dition. Many of the women were employed in weaving, 

 others in dyeing their materials ; but I noticed in two of the 

 houses, a barrel of arrack, with, a brass tap in the end of it, 

 standing near the door, and a number of natives sleeping 

 on the gi-ound round about it. These houses are the native 

 grog-shops, which have been recently established, and seem 

 likely to prove prolific sources of idleness, poverty, and 

 wretchedness to the people. I was informed that, after the 

 killing and the distribution of the bullock on the previous 

 day, some of the bearers had bartered their beef for arrack, 

 and this it was which had made them so noisy during 

 the night, and so disinclined to move forward the next 

 morning. 



u 3 



