REFUSING TO EETUKN TO DUTY. 
'iflaiTne. We then pulled from under the bed, which 
was the general ?t'ore room, a black Pottle ! Keaders, 
don’t start, and ntter some exclamation or denuncia- 
tion about what we were about to do. The black 
bottle was half full of — coconut oiL Having poured 
some of it into a cracked tea-cup it was set on the 
table, taking a new cotton pocket handkerchief from a 
box (for there were ^ono old nes) a strip was torn 
ofFt, wisted uf) like a paper match, and soaked in the 
‘oil. A “ wick ” was now found, w^hich was placed in 
the tea-cup amongst tiie oil, the top of it projecting 
slightly over the rim of the cup. A piece of paper 
was then lighted at the flame on the floor, then applied 
to the wick, and our lamp was lit ! A very good one 
it was, and gave a '^capital light.be tter, very much 
better, than the lamps Periya Karuppen trimmed. The 
next morning, of course there was no coffee, so we had 
to proceed to muster the people without the usual 
material refreshment. Before calling the roll, w^e looked 
-curiously for Periya Karuppen, and at last perceived his 
two eyes looking over the shoulder of a great big fellow, 
behind w^hom he stood, very probably for protection, 
in case of a sudden assault. The roll-call being done, 
before commencing to distribute the labour, Periya 
Karuppen was ordered to go back to the bungalow, 
light a fire, boil rice, and make coffee for master’s 
breakfast. He at once stepped boldly out from the 
hind rank, and stated most decidedly, that he would 
not, he would do nothing of the sort. No, he would 
^rather submit to have “ his throat cut.” A number 
■ of the coolies etaxed in utter amazement at this bold 
and daring breach of ' discipline. They caught hold of 
him by the shoulders and said “ VaiUyan ” (madman). 
’We then very calmly took a pruning-knife, and 
sharpening-stone from a kangani, felt the edge of the 
knife with the thumb, rubbed it on the upper leather 
'of our shoe, said it was very sharp and it would do ! 
“ Now you are all witnesses of the decision Periya 
Karuppen has himself come to, of the alternative he 
has himself proposed. Catch hold of him., bring him 
forward, in order that he may have his throat cut ! 
Quick about it ! and have it over at once 1” Ihe coolies 
: seemed quite to understand the joke, put the palms 
-of their hands before their mouths, and turned away 
■their heads, for they consider it improper, undignified, 
or even wanting in respect, to laugh in presence of a 
superior. There was now some motion made to collar 
Periya Karuppen aud bring him foiwurd, but it was 
;altogether unnecessary.. For our "worthy servant made 
a sudden rush, threw himself down in frontof “ master,” 
where he lay stretched out a full length each hand 
^grasped one of master’s, ankles, and his face lay flat on his 
