COMMISSION. 
had a bank account, and could draw a cheque, was 
a novelty ; and, however reluctant, he was obliged 
to explain his position to the carters, who again 
retired and had another long talk. They again re- 
turned and said they would take an order on the 
Colombo firm, Messrs. A. B. C. & Co., and they 
would manage to get it cashed somewhere on their 
way down. The difficulty seemed cleared up, so Mr. 
Brown brought out paper, pen, and ink, balanced 
hiiiiself on the three-legged chair, and wrote : — 
“Messrs. A. B C. and Co., Colombo. Pay to 
Juanis Appu, or his order, the sum of ten pounds 
sterling, charging the same to the crop transport 
account of this estate, as per waj^^-bill No. 4. 
“Andrew Brown. 
“ Peela Tottam Estate, 10th Nov. 1844.” 
1 his he read to the cartmen, who expressed 
themselves satisfied, signed the cart-note, and went 
off, and Mr. Brown internully ejaculated: “Joy go 
Vvith you.” Mr. Brown was just sitting down to his 
dinner : he was hungry, and in good humour, and 
had quite forgotten all the horrors he had endured 
from the cartmen, when he saw two heads peeping 
in at the door ; the heads were immediately with- 
drawn!, for the natives have generally as much polite- 
ness as not to disturb a man when be is eating, but he 
had seen enough to spoil his appetite : it was the 
cartmen, back again ! He laid down — not his knife 
and fork — his spoon ; went out and asked what was 
wanted now. The cartmen produced the money order 
that had been given them, stating that master had 
forgotten the commission. Master must be aware 
that the Kandy bank charged one per cent on Co- 
lombo orders, and therefore for this order for £10 
they would have to pay two shillings, and tfeey 
wanted the cash. Mr. Brown declared he had not 
two shillings in the house, and said he must write 
out another order, when a bright idea seized him. 
*‘Boy!” he shouts out. “ Sar ?” is the echo. “Send 
down to the lines and tell the head kangani to lend 
me two shillings.” After a time the head kangani 
makes his appearance, to see whether or not the 
master’s message was true, for it might be a dodge 
on the part of the kitchen people to borrow for 
themselves. On Ixung told it was all right, and the 
exigency was great, he unrolled a piece of cloth 
from round his waist, and after about five minutes of 
difficulty unties a knot and from a quantity of rupees 
takes out one, and lays it on the table, which was 
handed to the carters, and again they take their 
departure. 
But Mr. Brown’s curry and rice are quite cold, and 
