KANDY IN EARLY PLANTING DAYS, 
“ And I, ’’ cries another, will give twelve rupees (24s.) 
if the sovereigns are kudirai pounds.” What was 
called the kudirai pound was the old George the Third 
sovereign, stamped with the dragon ; as kudirai 
means “horse,” instead of calling them “the dragon 
sovereign” they were was called “horse sovereigns.” This 
sovereign was always in great request, and fetched a 
much higher price than any others ; it was said the 
quality of the gold was purer, but perhaps the true 
reason was the colour of the gold, which was of a 
very dark reddish yellow, quite a different hue alto- 
gether from the brass-like appearance of the Australian 
sovereign. At all events their taste for gold jewellery 
preferred the dark gold to the light, and so it was 
that tbe competition for the old dragon sovereigns was 
great. Seeing no chance of getting quit of the 
torm enters, we retraced our steps and so also did they ; 
they pursued us into the very verandah, chattering 
and offering twenty-five shillings for an old dragon 
sovereign, until our worthy host had to make his 
appearance and order them off, and as it was now 
too far on in the morning, and too hot to go out 
again, our intended exploration of the town of Kandy 
was deferred till the cool of the evening, and we 
lounged about the verandah all day. But the news 
had spread that a new master had arrived, and had 
kudirai sovereigns, and quite a crowd collected out- 
side the gate, watching for master coming out. 
But master did not go out; so whenever they could 
manage to catch him looking, the old cry would 
be resumed, and in case the distance was too far to 
hear one or two of them would hold up bags, which 
evidently contained rupees, and in a mournful manner 
touchingly exclaiui, “ Master please take. ” The news 
soon spread, “ Anew young master in this house with 
plenty of gold pounds in his pocket,” and the crowd 
outside the small front garden, on the roadside, soon 
increased. But they did not come inside, just merely 
loitered about, or sat down under the shade of the 
trees ; time was no object to these gentlemen, except, 
it might be, to ‘‘bide their time.” “ Master might 
come out,” or “ The old master would go out.” They 
were no doubt quite sure that he would, nor were 
they disappointed. Our host’s carriage drove round 
from the back stables, and stood all ready at the 
front gate. Then, the eager looks and stretching of 
necks to watch and see if the young master was 
going too ! And the intense feeling of satisfaction 
which diffused through the whole assembly outside, 
when the host came hurriedly out, all dressed in white, 
stepped into his carriage, and drove off alone. No 
sooner had the carriage rounded the corner of the 
