COOMES’ ACCOUNTS. 
menced, and, so exact and obstinate were they in paying 
into this rice fund, tliat during a scarcity they would 
rather starve themseives than fail or neglect to do so. 
However, in times of very “short commons,” weeks and 
months would someti nes pass of general scarcii-y of rice, 
but, when a full sup})ly d'd arrive, 'the coobes would 
present themselves amd ask for the rice that was due to 
then in the past month, or even the month before that. 
It seemed useless to tsy and explain to them that this 
arreir of eating vas not necessary, that their wages 
had been paid, and they had not been charged for it. 
tt seemed impossible to overrule their argiiment — were 
they not promised a bushel of rice a montli and they had 
not received it. “ Well, but you have received, or will 
receive, its value in additional money payments.” The 
cooly would walk away silent and thoughtful ; in deep 
consideration, evidently considering himself a very ill- 
used individual. Now, I think, the coolies of the present 
time are somewhat more reasonable and intelligent than 
they were in those times. They can, and do, com- 
prehend the ordinary transaction between themselves 
and the master much better ; they are not as “thick 
in the head.” They know very well when their pay is 
correct or if there is an error ; the modern pay-day is a 
very different one from what it was then. Now coolies 
will take their balance and walk off quietly without a 
word ; if they think there is any mistake or error, they 
will come up quietly next day, and have an explana- 
tion. A very different affair from the dreadful ordeal 
we had to pass through in olden times. Probably the 
first man you paid would immediately declare it was 
veiy short. You would ask him how many days he 
was absent. “Correct.” Rice received? “Correct.” 
“Well, you have worked 24 days at 8d. : that is IGs. You 
have had a bushel of rice at 8s. : and the balance is 8s.” ; 
all which he acknowledged toTie correct, but still his pay 
was short. Now, wRat was to be done with a fe low 
like this ? What could be done but to give him a cuff 
and a kick, and order him off ? The best plan is to take 
no complaints at the pay table, but give notice, that if 
there are any they will be attended to next day. You 
will then have few or none, for tbe coolies have cooled 
down and had time to calculate, I have known them 
have a string and tie a knot on it for every day they 
worked, as a check on the master. Others would tie up 
a small stone in the end of their cloth after the day's 
work was done, so that on, pay-day, if there was any 
question of short pay, he would, to prove his own argu- 
ment, unknot a piece of cloth and count out the stones, 
in proof of the number of days he had worked. My 
first experience of this plan was s mewhat ludicrous. 
