PEDLARS AND COOLIES. 421 



white dressing-gown -looking affair, smooth head, 

 and long pigtail, weighing down one side of a small 

 pony gig, and driven by a smart Javanese boy, in 

 his native dress, and a round japanned thing on his 

 head, like a china punchbowl. This japanned 

 punchbowl- shaped hat, by the by, seems to be almost 

 peculiar to the coachmen. 



The lower class of Chinese frequently act as ped- 

 lars. With two wicker-cases slung on a bamboo 

 yoke, they are always to be seen traversing the town, 

 selling drapery or cutlery, or else fruit or eatables. 

 Towards evening many of these pedlars, both 

 Javanese and Chinese, carry edibles, with a stove 

 to keep them hot, and every here and there may be 

 seen a group squatted round one of these portable 

 kitchens, eating their suppers. Multitudes of coolies 

 or porters are always to be got, principally Madu- 

 rese, ready to carry anything, or go anywhere. You 

 may get a little boy, with two small baskets sus- 

 pended from a small bamboo, who will follow you to 

 market, or go shopping with you, or two great stout 

 fellows, who can carry heavy weights between them 

 slung on a strong bamboo pole resting on their 

 shoulders. In all the places of business you have 

 but to shout " coolie," and you are immediately sur- 

 rounded by a host of all descriptions, quarrelling 

 for your custom. Here and there, under the shade 

 of a tamarind-tree, may be seen seated one or two 

 men, generally Chinese, with piles of copper money 

 before them on mats, or little heaps of silver coin, 



