WHAT BECAME OF A YOUNG PLANTER'S OUTFIT, 
were the questions put as to how he had procured this 
fine present. Of course it was all told. It was likewise 
related how the fortunate possessor of the coat had 
seen into master’s boxes, and there were plenty more 
.coats, just as good as the one he wore. That very after.- 
noon, Mr. Fresh suddenly became aware that he had 
become a great favourite amongst the people, for they 
all commenced to bring him an infinite variety of pre- 
sents. Bunches of plantains, plates filled with eggs? 
oranges, dates, cakes of jaggery rolled up in dry leaves, 
pounds of soft sugar wrapped up in very dirty blue 
paper, hoppers, coconuts, and all sorts of small articles, 
quite filled the table standing in the verandah, so that 
there was no more room to hold any more- They then 
boldly went into the room, placed them down on the 
dinner table, on the sideboard, and even on the chairs. 
The boy could not get the table covered for dinner ; 
it was laden with, groaning under presents ; there was 
not a single chair available, even the couch was oc- 
cupied. But the crowning stroke of all was yet to 
come — the master-piece of policy — which was the 
head kangani, assisted by two coolies, dragging a thin 
lanky sheep or goat into the verandah, and tethering 
it tight up to the corner post. Mr. Fresh protested, 
that really this was too much, the sheep when turned 
into mutton would not possibly keep more than two 
days, if so much, and although he had a very good 
appetite yet the consumption of a whole sheep in 
that period of time was a good deal more than he 
could manage. But although he declared he could 
not manage the sheep, the head kangani and all his 
squad most successfully managed him. He was troubled 
no more, for his trunks were empty ! But Mr. Fresh 
had a reserve stock. A very large chest with three 
hinges and two locks had been left in the rice store, 
at the termination of the cart road ; as it was so heavy 
it was impossible to carry it by coolies along and up 
the narrow, rugged jungle path that led to the estate. So 
he resolved todraw upon this reserve stock, and to prevent 
any further spoliation just to take out a change or two 
for ordinary wear. It was a general custom in these 
times to make Saturday a sort of half-bohday, and it 
originated in this way, that all the able-bodied men 
were despatched to carry rice to the estate, and as 
the superintendent of course went with them to 
measure and issue the rice, it was not thought worth 
while to retain the women and children at work with 
no one to look after them. 
So the next Saturday afternoon, when Mr. Fresh 
went to issue rice, he took his keys with him, and. 
some men with bags to carry up clothes from his 
reserve chest, and replenish his empty trunks. The 
