JUNGLE TAILORS, SERVANTS AND COURTS, 
a suspicion that we were in for another scrape now 
suggested itself, and we returned as far as the toll. On 
making enquiry there the information was given that 
the tailor and his party had all returned to Nu- 
wara Eliya. We had an idea what they , had gone 
back about, which afterwards turned out to be quite 
correct, for a few days after a summons was served 
to appear and answer for an assault committed 
upon the tailor. So back we had to retrace our weary 
way up that dreary dismal road during a pour of 
rain, to appear at the court-house, and the first per- 
son visible in the verandah was the pursuer, tailor ! 
He was safe enough there under the very roof of 
stern law and all its upholders, so he did not 
stand behind a verandah post or conceal himself 
behind a policeman as we dismounted from our 
horse and stepped into the verandah drenched with 
wet. It almost appeared as if he grinned a stern 
smile of intense satisfaction as he surveyed his per- 
secuted victim, standing there cold, wet, and shivering. 
The case was called — ‘‘ Assault on the highway” — and 
everything was admitted as the exact truth. The 
judge said it was a very petty affair, and he was sorry 
it had been brought before the court, but as we 
did not deny using a whip upon the pursuer, it was 
not a question as to whether the man was hurt or 
not (and he was glad to hear he was not) but a question 
of illegal assault, which was admitted, and there was no 
use in calling any witnesses in the matter. Decision — 
lined five shillings and costs, which was paid, and the 
bench hoped there would be no further appearance 
in this matter ; if so, it would not be treated so lightly. 
The tailor had gained an ultimate and decisive vic- 
tory, and looked as if he dared us to do our worst, 
and we well knew if any further assault was com- 
mitted what he. would do, and also that any fur- 
ther appearance in court in this case would 
be rather a serious affair, as regarded our own 
comfort and standing, and so had to swallow our 
pride, pocket the affront, acknowledge ourselves beaten by 
— a tailor ! which shews what even a tailor can do, 
when backed by the strong arm of the law ; shews 
also the strict sense of right and justice to all which 
governs the bench in dispensing to all, without any 
respect of race, colour, or station, law, which however 
is not always justice. For even at this remote period 
of time we are convinced, our every action in this 
matter, except applying the whip, was just. Perhaps 
it is best that the law does not recognize what some 
people’s idea of justice is. ^^Ithough it does seem 
rather hard and strict that an insolent cooly can go 
unpunished, for there are many quiet forms of insub- 
