CUMBLIES, 
there wa§ a bole in it, tbe rice bad fallen out. Of 
course this could not be permitted, and tbe deficient 
amount was charged against bis pay, but, wbat matter, 
fbe coolie had fcbe present use of its value, and, like 
all uncultivated people, they are but too apt to make 
a future sacrifice, for the sake of a present gratification, 
and it is not certain that this feeling is peculiarly 
applicable to coolies, for we meet with a go^ deal of 
it in more civilized life. 
The kanakappiBai was very useful in paying the 
men. He saved copper money or rather the use of it. 
Supposing a man’s pay was 8/7 — we paid him 8/6, and 
told him tbe kanakappillai had him written down 
for id. Soon with all the odd coppers. After paying 
was done, the master would sum up all the odd coppers 
due the coolies, and hand the total amount in rupees 
to the kanakappillai, desiring him to divide amongst 
them ; tlds he always did very exactly, and I never 
heard .any complaints . I on the contrary they always 
said they had been paid, but how so I never did 
properly understand. And it was the same way in 
issuing rice. We did not require small measures. We 
just measured out the total in bushels to the whole 
gang, directing or telling the people that the kanaka- 
pi llai would distribute correctly amongst the 
smaller measurements due to each — and this he always 
managed without causing any disputes or ill-feeling. 
So that thst tbe kanakappillai, if a sharp, honest and 
dever man, which they generally were, or they would 
not have been selected for the post, saved the master 
a very great deal of petty trouble, in fact did or maaged 
their little matters far better and more expeditiously 
than he could have done himself. But we are un- 
consciously lapsing into modern times and institutionsc 
In olden days, tbe bead kangani managed those things, 
managed them for his own interest, and mismanaged 
them to the loss of his master. The head kangani had 
also charge of the distribution of cumbliet. He 
was held responsible for their value, supposing they 
were issued through him He particularly paid tbe 
master for their value, say 28, each ; he would then 
let the account ruu on with the coolies, and even- 
tually charge them 2s. 6d, or Ss. each, he himself 
pocketing the difference. On this being sometimes 
brought to my notice, and on remonstrating with him 
on this extortion, his answer was fair and plausible :; — 
“Master holds me responsible for the cumbhes, or 
rather their value.. What if any one loses one, steals 
and «ells one, or rims away ? I must pay it. It is 
therefore only fair and just that I be fortified against 
any such losses. ” Let him alone for losses ! He took 
good care of that ; besides, if he did lose on rare occa- 
