A WOULD-BE ESTATE PEOPEIETOR OF THE 
OLDEN TIME. 
Cejlon for the benefit of his health ? For it was just, 
to say the least of it, a harmless fib. What was the use 
of his saying anything about his health all ? Why did 
he not ask and obtain leave to visit Ceylon, without 
saying anything more on the subject? Who can tell? 
It is one of the mysteries of red type. We will skip an 
interval of travel, which has been so often described 
and travelled over often enough by many of our 
general readers. Suffice it to say, that in due course of 
time Mr Diddler arrived at Kandy. He was delighted 
with the place : all strangers are, for they only see the 
superficial beauties, drive round the lake, and 
other places, in the delightful cool of the early 
morning and evening. They know nothing at all of the 
attending at the courthouse all day during a broiling 
heat and then to be told the case is postponed, or the 
d^\‘fendant has appealed, ar must call another witness. 
They know nothing at all of the horrors one used to 
feel, on or after being written to that “ your money 
would be lodged,” and you being in a hurry to have it 
rode slap-bang into Kandy, and found the remittance had 
not yet arrived, had not yet been placed to your credit, 
and how, after you had retired disgusted to the 
hotel, you were met by four coolies lying in wait 
for you, starving with hunger, no rice, and wanting 
their batta, and you have to tell them you have 
no batta to give, for the money is not come yet ; and 
how they will persist in tormenting you whenever you 
appear in the verandah or walk out into the street, 
thereby making public to all and sundry that they 
have nothing to eat, and you have no money to 
give them, until in very shame you used to go into 
the hotel-keeper’s premises, borrow from him two 
rupees to satisfy the clamorous coolies, and tell him 
to put it down in the bill, which would be paid 
when our money “ was lodged,” Yes, a casual 
or passing visitor has generally very different notions 
and ideas of a place from one who has periodically 
to put np with all its disagreeables. And so it was 
that Mr Diddler was enchanted with Kandy. He 
then took and acted upon advice, as to the best 
method of having a look at his land. He hired a good 
stout pony, tw^o Sinhalese guides who knew the loca4 
lity, and sent them off in advance to await his ar- 
rival at a certain point on the high road, up to which 
he himself would drive. They were provided with bill- 
hooks, and carried a small stock of provisions, con- 
sisting of cold meat, biscuits, cheese, and a bottle 
of spirits. Shortly after they had gone, Mr Diddler 
arrayed himsielf in “jungle toggery,” a pith- hat, 
flannel shirt, loose linen coat and trousers, a paper 
