KANDY IN EARLY PLANTING DAY^. 
the chimney -pot hat and kid gloves essential absurd- 
ities! We soon found ourselves in Mr. Rauxs 
shop- at the east corner of the esplanade, and purchased 
a good thick pith hat, shaped like an inverted saucer, 
also a paper umbrella. It was a fine cool morning, 
the sun was not out, nevertheless we unfurled the 
umbrella, hung it over the shoulder, and walked into the 
bazar streets, beginning to feel quite an old resident, 
or at all events being under tbe firm conviction none 
eould know that we were not. Vain delusion 1 We 
had nob proceeded far when the painful conviction 
vvas impressed upon us that a small crowd was 
following, and gradually increasing ; we Ccarn- to a stand, 
turned round, and valiantly confronted iheia — a lot 
of curious looking fellows with shaven heads and 
small caps on the crown of the head, so small that 
the wonder was they stuck where they did and did 
not tumble off. The question was put, “ What do 
you all want? Be off with you.’’ The answer was 
speedily given, “We want gold money — sovereigns”; and 
they looked fierce, and very determined, as they said, 
“ Master is a new master and got plenty of gold 
pounds.” The thought Sashed through our mind, What 
a barbarous place ! here, on the open streets, in broad 
daylight, are a pack of ruffians demanding your 
money, and not a policeman to be seen I What if we 
are attacked, robbed, and murdered, on the first day 
of our arrival? Dreadful! The paper umbrella was 
suddenly brought down from the shoulder, and pre- 
sented in front as a sort of shield from the supposed 
robbers, whom we again told to go away, that we 
did not carry gold pounds about the streets. But, 
instead of going away, they surrounded us and became 
more vociferouso At last one who could speak English 
very fairly explained ; Master need not be afraid, 
as they only wanted to buy sovereigns, gold was scarce, 
and their wives, sweethearts and children were fond 
of jewellery, and the sovereigns were wanted to melt 
down, and that for this purpose they were v/illing 
to pay or give more for them than they were worth 
as money. We reply, we quite understand, but we 
have no sovereigns to sell, the few we have being 
barely sufficient for our expenses, that' our object in 
coming to Ceylon was a hope to make rupees and 
not to sell sovereigns, Go away, we have no gold to 
sell,” But they only laughed and said, Master very 
cunning, and keep for a high price; all gentlemen 
eome from England plenty gold money got. ” This 
seemed to infiaioe their already excited imagination: 
one cried, “ I will give eleven rupees each sovereign ” ; 
another shouts out, Have nothing to do with him, 
he is a cheat. I will give eleven rupees and a-helf,' 
