CHAEACTER AND CREDIT. 
became intense here we sat a show and subject of laugh- 
ter to all bazar residents. We dismount, get him out of 
the drain, but he won’t lead ; w® mount again ; round and 
round he goes on the road, gradually and turely ap- 
proaching the road up to the resthouse, until, quite 
before we are aware, down goes his head between his 
legs, and off he goes up to the restliouse, at a sharp 
canter. We never knew him canter before, and were 
quite taken aback, so jouch so, that, before onr pre- 
sence of mind was restored, the pon}^ was into the open 
stables, that stood on the right hand of the resthouse, 
up into a stall, and buried his mouth iido some 
refuse grass, left by a previous occupant just as if he 
was starved and, instead of having finished a large 
bundle of grass at Gampola, three hours b; fore, had bad 
no food for three days. Seeing we were fai^ ly in for it, 
or rather be ng ashamed to have it even suspected 
that the pony had run off wdtli liis rider up to the rest- 
house, we enter the verandah, and sit down just as 
we had purposely ridden up to have a rest. Theappu 
comes up and asks, if master will take any dinner? 
The reply is “No, not hungry — have dined,” or something 
to this effect. We may mention, however, now, at 
this remote period of time, that all these replies were 
simply untrue, because we would have liked very 
much to have dined, we were very hungry, and 
ought to have said yes, and the reason we did not 
say what we did was, there were only two rupees in 
onr pocket, and we had correct idea, that 
next day would find our little account very consider^ 
ably overdrawn ; true, credit would have been given, 
but we had not then got hardened, and were afraid 
and ashamed, in case it might be suspected we were 
not worth five shillings. This sort of feeling however 
soon wore off, and a year or so afterwards we would 
go in for “tick,” just the same as all the rest of thefts, 
with this difference however, that we always i3aid the 
very first subsequent opportunity, and thus at an eaiiv 
period of life established a character for punciual and 
correct payments.* Many young men starting in life 
* It would have been well for another young Scotch 
planter, who came to Ramboda as Mr. Millie was 
preparing to leave it, if he had acted on like 
principles. NTothing would serve this unprincipled 
scamp, wdio had probably never tasted wine in Scotland, 
but to ran up long bills for champagne. The resuit was 
a disgraceful bolt, the Pussellawa resthouse-keeper alone 
being cheated out of £30 to £40. The difference be- 
tween Mr. Millie and this man was that beiwa-en an 
honest man and a rogue. — E d. 
