MONEY IN DAYS OP OLD, 
journey, for they were generally sent off in advance. 
These trips to Kandy were generally looked forward to 
with pleasure, as being some relief to tlte monotony of 
jungle life, as also a change from curry and rice to a 
more gene !*ous and suitable diet. Having packed up the 
rupees in b igs, each containinj^^ £80 to £100, the hour 
of starting was fixed, ihe coolies, each with a bag of 
money on bis head, were brought up in the rear by 
the planter on horseback, and behind him were the 
liorsekt^ep r and coolie with the rice box containing 
a change of clothes. A pause was made for rest and 
refreshment at the Ganipola rest house, then kept 
by old Young. The journey was then resumed across 
the Gampola ferry, very frequen ly in the moonlight, 
for w^e had little or no fear of being attacked or robbed, 
but, to guard against this possible contingency, we bad 
generally pistols at saddle-bow. I recollect one fine 
moon light night starting from Gampola with four 
c.oolies loaded with rupees, in mat bags, on their 
heads. On reaching the descent of the A^abage Pass, 
towards the river, we went down the dechvity, men 
and horse, at. a good swinging trot. In rounding a 
sharp corner, one of the coolies stumbled and fell: crack, 
smash, tinkle, the mat bag had burst and the road 
was glittering widi rupees in the bright moonlight. 
Of course we all pulled up. The thought passed 
through my mind : “ What if it be a trick : are there 
a' y accomplices? What if some Sinhalese should pass 
round the corner and take upon themselves, and for 
themselves, the duty of collecting tho rupees ?” So, 
pulling the p'stols from their bolsters, Be sharp about 
it, ” said I, ‘‘and gather them up, quick” — which 
was done, the money tied up in the coolie’s cloth, 
and the journey lesumed. On reaching home, the cash 
was locked up and the coolies dismissed. I went to bed, 
but not to sleep. Calculations of what might be 
lost entered my brain, and how many months’ pay at 
£8 6s. 3d. it would require to make up the deficiency. 
To sleep was impossible, so, getting up, the money 
was counted and found perfectly correct, a pleasing 
trait of coolie honesty, for there was nothing to have 
hindered any of these men from concealing a few dozen 
of rupees, without being suspected; or, even if suspected, 
no action could have been taken against them. The 
going-to-Kandy-for-money system at last be^an to give 
way ; the Gampola coach was started, we left our 
horses at Gampola, went in by the coach, brought 
out the money by it, and then resumed our jou>nev 
on the old svstem. After this, the late Mr. J. 11. 
Tate commenced to supply money at the resthouse. 
Proprietors or managers forwarded their cheques tf> 
him, or sent him information of how much they 
