A BCAECITY OE SALT. 
possessor, ■ and creating or enlarging no useful or bene- 
ficent purposes to tlie world at large. These were the 
reflections of Mr. Brown. He did not trouble his mind 
at all now, about a ‘hiss of screw he knew this would 
in due course follow an increase of practical knowledgCi 
He frankly and freely told his employers, he expected 
to receive no advance of pay until they could conscien- 
tiously say he deserved it. What . he desired, and 
urged on their allowing, was a liberal amount of cash 
to bo spent upon the estate. Mr. Brown soon got the 
estate into very fine order. His neighbours began to 
isay, “It was an easy thing to be a good planter, on a 
good estate.” “It was an easy ibing to have every- 
thing in first rate order, wdien money w'as always forth- 
coming.” “He w^as in luck in having such easy liberal 
employers. If they could only get a place like this, 
wouldn't they shine too.” There was a good deal of 
truth in all this talk, because there can be no manner 
of doubt, but the genius of many a good planter is 
buried or nipped in tlie bud, from want of opportunities 
to draw it out and develope it. It is the same 
in every calling. But look on the other side. How 
many opportunities have some men had, who have 
proved themselves incompetent and incapable for the 
position, and who from their temporary elevation have 
Sunk even lower than they were before, never to rise 
again. 
CHAPTER XIII. 
The Uneasiness preceding the Rising of 1818; 
It is not thirty years ago, but soon will be, when, in 
July, 1848, a general feeling of uneasiness and insecurity 
began to pervade nut only the planting ^ but the 
entire European population. It was quite evident that 
the native population were in a sullen discontent. 
The cause of this was said to be the imposition of 
a dog tax, by the then Governor, Lord Torrington. 
Tumultuous meetings were held at Borella, which 
necessitated the calling out of the military; the ill- 
feeling spread up-country, and its chief centre was 
the district of Mataie. A military gentleman of some 
old experience in Ceylon, in riding rhinugh the Mataie 
bazar, remarked to his friend, “Something is going 
to happen, there will be an out-break amongst the Sin- 
halese soon,” His friend asked him why he thought 
80, “as everything seemed p ‘rfectly quiet. ” “Just 
note the bazar state,” says he, “and observe 
the scarcity of salt, and, where there is any, how 
eagerly it is all bought up. ” 
