CONDUCTORS AND THEIR WIVES, 
polite to the women who passed by the bungalow 
road, and she said appoo-ayah-what o’clock is that 
struck, he went and looked, and replied, three ; 
no, no, master was not coming out again to-day. After 
this question was settled, some previously understood 
communication took place between some of the women 
in the lines, and a working party not far off. The 
result of which was, that most of the working party 
sat down, and those who did not, did no more work,, 
By and bye coolies were seen singly leaving the 
working place, and making for the lines by a quiet 
circuitous route, into which they entered, and did 
not come out again. The women knew all about this 
also, but they never spoke about it, and if master 
was suspicious and questioned the ladies, they would 
declare they saw no one come to the lines from the 
working place, which statement doubtless was per- 
fectly true and correct, but for all that, they knew 
well all about it, because it was they who gave the 
signal, “Master housed.” 
Gossipping and small talk amongst servants and 
subordinates about the habits and doings of their su- 
periors in position, or masters, is just human nature^ 
and 60, is just the same in every country and clime, 
the coolies are not singular in this respect, it is just 
the same way amongst employers and employed, in 
the old country, with perhaps this difference, that 
in the old country there is more privacy of life, but 
still, perhaps not so much as is thought ; also, inferiors 
in station and position, have minds considerably above 
the status of the Tamil, and thus while indulging in 
their gossip about the master, it is very probably not 
so harmless, or innocent and superficial. 
Besides, it must be remembered, that master on a 
coffee estate, is just a small king on a small king- 
dom, except when he gets the sack, which shews to 
the astonished coolies, that there is some hidden power 
more supreme still. But even this may sometimes be 
doubted. For the master when reduced to this pass, 
always told the coolies he was going away of his 
own free will, that he could not stop any longer on 
this mean shabby estate. He was going to look out 
for a situation where his abilities would be appreciated. 
The coolies would then say, Master was wise, and 
they were all going too. For if master’s abilities were 
not appreciated'^ and understood, neither were theirs, 
how could they ? Master would feel that he was ap^ 
predated now, these coolies were knowing fellows, 
but, as in duty bound, he would impress upon them 
the necessity of remaining where they were, but they 
said they would not, no. not a single day after 
master went. So when the time came, when master 
departedj of course they were all very sorry, and came 
