BitIBEEY AND CORRUPTION. 
winked at all this j it paid them to do so, for report 
said each got a premium from the cooly for every day 
he was allowed to slink from his work without de- 
tection. The kangani appeared at the bungalow in 
the evening to check the morning muster; all were 
present, those who were absent tipped him. Those 
who did not agree to his extortionate demands were 
absent for half-a-day, no matter how hard they might 
have worked. The master took matters very coolly ; 
he marked down the names in the check -roll as repre- 
sented by the kangani, the principal sufferer in 
the matter being perfectly unaware of what had taken 
place, until the kangany told him he had punished 
him, and marked him absent. Perhaps he was not 
told at all. When pay day came round he then knew 
it, and was informed by the kangani, he had better 
pay a rupee or two, as perquisite or premium to 
prevent a recurrence of the action. This the coolie 
was fain to do, and lapse into idleness, because it 
did not pay him to work. 
The result of this would probably be coolies would 
run off. The master got a bad name ; he did not pay 
them properly. The kangani was never blamed, the 
coolie dare not do that ; he might require or desire 
advances at some future day, or very probably on the 
principle, that the “ kettle won’t cry black to the 
pot.” “ Ain corbie winna pick out another's een.” A 
common gang kangani could not weU go on this way 
‘for any length of time. He would soon be without 
coolies, and find it rather a difficult matter to pro- 
cure more. These remarks apply chiefly to what were 
then called head kanganies. The head kangani was 
the old substitute for a conductor, or assistant ; on 
some estates where he had acquired the ear or con- 
fidence of the master, his influence was immense, his 
word was taken for everything, and woe to the un- 
fortunate sub-kangani, or coolie, who came under his 
displeasure. During crop time, if a neighbour required 
assistance in labour, from another estate, say on a. 
Sunday, of course the master’s consent was first ob- 
tained, but this was merely a point of etiquette, no- 
thing would be done without gaining over the head 
kangani ; of course there was just one way of 
doing this ; tickle his palm with ^rupees. 
When on a visit to a friend, T have seen on pay- 
day, at the pay-table, the head kangani, dressed out 
for the occasion, any amount of red turban and white 
cloth. He had a bag in his hand, and a few of his 
admirers and parasites behind him, a clerk was 
at his side with steel pen and talipot leaf, for the 
head kangani could not write ; this was far beneath 
hia dignity. As the names were called out from the 
