HIRING COOLIES 41 
made arrangements to get as many thousands of the large 
cash as I thought I should require from the bankers 
and merchants. Their weight was considerable, and 
the cost of transport added not a little to the expense 
of the journey up. , 
I then saw to my collecting boxes, cases, &c., all of 
which were made of teak, the only wood I found service- 
able in the damp climate in which I was to live for four 
months. For firearms I had a double 12, a small 
collecting gun, a Winchester repeater, and a revolver. 
I also laid in a stock of tinned provisions, as from former 
experience I found that nothing eatable, except Indian 
corn and millet, was to be had I was afterwards 
much disappointed with these, as a large proportion 
turned out to be bad. 
These things, together with my clothing, bedding, 
nets, &c., made loads for fifteen coolies. It is never 
advisable to hire these in the street, but to go to a hong, 
where no doubt a little more has to be paid, but then 
a written agreement can be made with the manager, 
whereby he is made responsible for the honesty of the 
men he may send you, and be held liable in case of 
theft. It should also be stipulated that a head coolie 
‘is sent for every seven to ten men, who is, again, made 
responsible for the men under his charge. He is paid 
at the same rate as the others, but carries a lighter load, 
