WHAT BECAME OF A YOUNG PLANTER'S OUTFIT^ 
these naked people ; but what was his surprise after a 
few^ days to see that the articles of clothing he bad 
so generously given aw^aj were passed into other bands, 
worn by coolies on other estates. One day a cooly 
stepped into his verandah with a letter frotn a neigh- 
bour about three miles off, and Mr Fresh at once 
recognized that he wore a flowered silk vest which a 
week before had been given to one of his own people, 
Karuppen kangani* He collared the man, called him 
a thief, and accused him of having stolen the vesi, 
ordered the boy to run off and bring the conductor and 
Karuppen kangani. When they arrived the supposed thief 
was pointed out, and an inquiry entered into as to 
how Karuppen had been robbed ; but Karuppen soon ex- 
plained the difficulty, and said he had not been robbed, 
that the vest was found not to be a suitable article 
of clothing, and so he had sold it to the supposed cul- 
prit for two shillings — it was all right.* ‘Two shillings!” 
screamed out Mr. Fresh, “why the vest is quite new, 
scarely ever been on, and cost in England twenty 
shillings !” Karuppen now looked foolish, said he was 
a fool, but had been imposed upon and cheated, and 
would master please consider his hard fate in having 
lost money to the extent of eighteen shillings, and 
give him another vest, a better and w’armer one than 
the one he had sold ! But Mr. Fresh was fast getting 
the freshness rubbed off him, and on his own 
responsibility, without even making reference to the 
conductor, positively refused even for a moment to 
entertain the very modest request. Audit was much 
the same way with all the other articles of clothing 
which he had given away in presents ; whenever he 
visited a neighbouring estate or walked alcng the 
public pathway, especially on Sundays, he was sure 
to meet and see strange coolies wearing his clothing, 
and the invariable reply he received to all questions 
and queries, as to where they had got them, was that 
they had been bought for some trifling sum from some 
of his own people; and the ultimate result of all these 
little experiences was, Mr. Fresh most decidedly re- 
fused to give away any more presents. Now, whether 
or not it arose from deepdaid plots and plans, result-, 
ing from consultations at the lines and working placts^ 
amongst the kanganis, or whether it was just a new 
turn in the kaleidoscope of native charater, is not. 
worth inquiring into. It is sufficient here to state, 
that as the people were quite determined upon getting 
presents, and the old method of asking for them be- 
ing found useless, they adopted the very natural pro., 
ceeding of introducing a new one, which was that 
master be forced — compelled — to give presents — to place 
him m a position that he must do so^ whether agree-, 
