FUETHEK EXPEEIENOES OF ME. FEESH. 
to read it for him, and his reasoning was : I am 
charged (whether I ever pay it or not is another 
question — I may be compelled to pay it — here he 
trembled and shuddered at the prospect of such a 
dire possibility) in my advance account with ten 
pounds, and for this hold an order for ten pounds 
two shillings ; why should this two shillings be paid 
in commission ? why should I not keep it myself ?” 
True, he could pay the cheque to the bazar man 
in settlement of his account, the very purpose for 
which it was given, and it was not likely he would 
make any charge in commission, as he had heard him 
say the other day, he wanted to send money to Co- 
lombo, and this cheque would just suit him. But no- 
thing was further from his mind than giving the cheque 
or the whole of its proceeds to his creditor ; he in- 
tended getting it cashed himself^ and reserving as 
much of its proceeds for himself and as little for the 
bazar man as could possibly be managed. How this 
was to be arranged required some degree of consid- 
eration. So he asks and obtains three days’ leave 
to go and settle some debts. At sunset that very 
evening he starts for Colombo by some short cuts 
via Gampola and Kadugannawa, presents the cheque 
at the bank office, receives ten pounds two shillings, 
and thus saves his commission. He is four days away, 
but gives some plausible excuse as to exceeding his 
leave, which is accepted. A very prominent feature 
in some of the peculiarities of native character is 
shewn forth in this anecdote, which is an intense 
dislike and aversion to part with money when they 
have it in their possession. If they would only shew 
the same diligence and perseverance in earning cash, 
in what much better circumstances would ‘’most of 
them be. The dilatory debtor would have his 
pound of flesh,” the full amount of cash, and also 
the commission, but never took into consideration 
the bleeding which attended the operation. 
Time is seldom or never balanced in the scale against 
money, their chief idea of time being to do as little 
as they possibly can in the way of work ; and of money, 
not to spend it. The dilatory debtor did not appear 
at muster on the morning after his arrival ; he was 
reported as very sick and unable to leave his room, 
just what might be expected after his absurd "journey, 
which had been a very hurried one from a cold moist 
climate into a dry warm one, and on his return vice 
versa; likewise without any proper food, for he did 
not sit down in any of the numerous roadside boutiques 
and polish off a good meal of curry and rice ; not 
be, catch him being guilty of this extravagance ; he 
purchased cheap, over-ripe mangoes and half rotten 
