*C ON THE STAFF.” 
used for a very long time. It is, or was, a very ex- 
pressive term, and simply meant, a superintendent out 
of a berth. It has, in a previous chapter, been remarked 
that, on making inquiry as to the whereabouts of some 
old acquaintance, the reply has been, “ Gone home,” 
but in these times it vas much more frequently “Gone 
on the staff”; “promoted to a staff appointment”; 
not the sort of promotion to provoke any emulation, 
or to give the authority at head-quarters a plain hint, 
that one was neglected in the calling, and you were 
expecting to be presented, on the very first opportunity, 
with the staff — in other and plainer words, with your 
walking-stick. Like many old sayings, this has a 
meaning, one which perhaps not all of our readers can 
comprehend in its full signification, but lh3 explanation 
is easily given, and it is this. When a superintendent 
lost his situation, he set about visiting all his friends 
and acquaintances in the various planting districts. 
He visited and remained with one friend until they got 
mutually tried of each other’s company. He would then 
“ cut his stick,” took his staff in liis hand, and started 
off to some other bungalow, where he would be received, 
and lounge about, on the look-out for any opening 
that might present itself, and, if no situations were 
vacant, or likely to be, many a bungalow in many 
a district w^as visited by the gentleman “ on the staff.” 
Now, the hospitality of planters amongst themselves 
and towards strangers always was, and still is, quite 
proverbial, but it is a very different case altogether, 
when a gentleman on the staff visits you for some 
indefinite period of time, not for the sake of social 
friendship or regard, but merely for the sake of board 
and lodging. He does not come to see you out of 
any regard for your friendship : on the contrary, no- 
thing would give him greater pleaoure than to take 
his departure, take a final leave of your bungalow, 
your hospitality, and yourself, at the earliest possible 
notice, provided he had the chance of securing a bun- 
galow for himself, in having the offer of another 
situation. If he remains in your bungalow for any 
length of time, he becomes indolent and lazy. When 
you come in for breakfast lie will be just getting up, 
or half dressed, in shirt and trousers. He may have 
made an inroad to your bedroom, for the benefit of 
your razor, hair oil, combs, or brushes ; he will remove 
your soap, take your towels, go out, have a bath un- 
der the spout, and, after scrubbing himself well with 
them, hang them up on your rack, and you, quite 
unconscious of what has taken place during your ab- 
sence, when washing before breakfast, and attempting 
to dry your hands and face with a wet towel, will 
ilot be successful, and go out into the back verandah 
