HOLING. 
sions the profits generallj realized by him amply made 
up for all or any such. Nothing was more common 
than for the head kangani to lament to his master 
on the losses he had suffered from a runaway cooiy, 
while it was more than probable his own extortionate 
demands, not his just debt, had caused the cooiy to 
bolt off, as his only chance of settlement ! 
The coolies of these times did not do nearly the 
amount of work that they get through now, although 
they received fully one-third more of a balance due 
than they do now. The work was also much deficient 
in quality. I have a very distinct recollection of my 
first experience in holing. We commenced tasking a 
raw set of incapables at twenty holes a day, eighteen 
inches deep. The first day they managed five or six. 
We kept them at work till dark, and got the length 
of seven ! The kangani was sent to a neighbouring 
estate, to satisfy himself that twenty holes was a very 
easy task, as there, on much more difficult ground, 
they were cutting twenty-five. This report had no 
effect. They did not care what other estates did, they 
could not do it. They were threatened with court ; 
“no pay, no rice” : all was of no avail, until at last 
one morning no one appeared at muster. On proceed- 
ing to the lines all was quiet. They were desolate, 
fires out, no inhabitants. The coolies had bolted dur- 
ing the night. It was in vain to seek them out. 
What was the use of them, wtth a hundred acres to 
hole, and within six weeks of the south-west mon- 
soon ? 
So, consulting with the Sinhalese contractor, we 
went down to the villages, and succeeded in procuring 
a number of Sinhalese, labourers at one shilling and 
one and sixpence a day. They worked very well for 
a week, and then asked for their pay, as they wished 
to go home, see their friends, and purchase rice — and 
would be back to work on Monday. This, being a 
very just and reasonable request, was granted. They 
went off, and never returned. There was nothing forti 
now but to take a trip down-country to try and getsome 
responsible Sinhalese man to take a comtract.. It was 
no use the master and conductor living on the estate 
without labour. So off we went to Gampola : we soon 
got a man who 'promised to do all tliVfc was required. 
He could undertake the holing of the clearing, but he 
must have twenty pounds, advance to bring <^ooiies. 
I knew nothing of the man, and asked for some securi- 
ty. The Sinhalese conductor and he then commenced 
a long talk, without which nothing can be done. 
However, the conductor persuaded me that he knew 
him, he was a “very g'od man,” &c. Knowing their 
characters as I do now, there was no manner ol d)ubt 
D 
