FURTHER EXPERIENCES OF ME. FRESH. 
sum, and the carter went his way under a practical 
experience of the old saying, ‘‘ Perseverance overcomes 
all things.” But if he had known the truth, it was this : 
he got the hire in advance, which he demanded, not 
so much from perseverance on his own part as from 
a desire on the part of his employer to be relieved 
from the incubus or pest of his continual presence in 
the verandah. 
The dilatory debtor, escorted by the boy, ” now- 
makes his appearance, and master at once knows 
the money is not forthcoming because the 
cloth round his waist is quite flat and tight. He at once 
says, “ Master cannot have any of the advances,” for 
all the money he has taken from the coolies must be 
sent off, or is sent off, to the coast to “ prevent their 
fathers and mothers from starving. ” It cannot even 
be paid next pay-day, for the bazar man is very 
troublesome for his money, and was promised a set- 
tlement of his account next pay-day. The coolies must 
have plenty of curry-stuffsin order to cut proper holes, 
and very large ones too ; indeed, the bazar man had 
as much as said that if they could not settle the 
whole of his account he expected a portion of it, or 
no more supplies would be given, so that instead of 
paying up any of the advances, it was perfectly evident 
that more must be given ! And as “ master had no 
money in .the house, ” the dilatory debtor would take 
a cheque on the Kandy bank ; and if it was a Colombo 
cheque, the commission must not only not be charged, 
but allowed, and included in the cheque. Ten pounds 
was urgently wanted, the Colombo commission on 
w^hich at one per cent, would be two shillings ; and if 
master had no money in the bank, an order on the 
agency firm would do for ten pounds two shillings. 
But the two shillings of commission must not be 
charged against his advance account, only the ten 
pounds. The dilatory debtor was evidently sharp at 
and well up to all the rules of commissions and dis- 
counts, having no doubt previously, on other estates, 
come through many experiences on these important 
points. Indeed so very experienced had he become 
in the diplomacy of finance, that on taking his de- 
parture from the bungalow to which he had been 
summoned to pay up a debt, he not only managed 
to escapb paying it, but took away a further little 
accommodation in the shape of a Colombo cheque for 
ten pounds and two shillings, for which he was only 
debited ten pounds, the two shillings being charged 
in the monthly accounts as “ commission on cash.” 
Now what do you think the dilatory debtor did? 
He looked at the cheque, or if, as was very probable, 
he could not read figures, got some one who could 
