FURTHER EXPERIENCES OF MR. FRESH, 
it must be done. The result of all this was, that 
instead of adyancing the moderate request of three 
pounds, which had originally been so gruffly refused, 
that evening saw another twenty pounds entered in 
the advance book! Next Saturday a great number of 
people were absent from work, and late in the evening 
they all made their appearance toiling up the estate 
roads to the lines, actually bending down under heavy 
loads, loads which if master had ordered them to 
carry during the ordinary working hours, would have 
created nothing short of a general rebellion all over 
the estate. They had likewise purchased some sheep, 
and so urgent was the haste, that instead of driving 
these animals in the usual manner they had tied their 
legs and slung the sheep over their shoulders with their 
tethered feet sticking out below their chin. By and 
bye, a few coolies carrying large earthen chattia or 
jars on their heads appeared, moving very carefully 
and slowly. This excited master’s curiosity, so he made 
inquiry, as to what it was, and was told “ Sarayam” 
(arrack), Mr. Fresh now began to have a glimpse of 
what was likely to take place on Sunday, and also what 
would be the certain result on Monday and Tuesday. 
For no chance of any holing : better go away and 
visit some of his neighbours. No, that would not do. 
In the event of any quarrelling or general disturbance 
his presence might be necessary. He would remain 
and, if possible, be a quiet observer of what was going 
on. Early on Sunda3/’ morning bands of men and 
women, from all the neighbouring estates, all dressed 
in very gay and brilliant-coloured attire, crowded into 
the estate. A band of trained tam-tam ” beaters 
arrived from G-ampola, and another of devil-dancers 
dressed in a hideous and grotesque manner, with 
masks over their faces and long horns on their heads. 
And it was perfectly apparent that if eating, drinking, 
and making a great noise with drums and trumpets, 
would drive away “ Mari,” that potentate’s power 
would soon be at an end. Mr. Fresh mused and moralized, 
and thought what an easy thing it was to drive away 
an evil spirit, if one’s heart is in the work and he 
sets to work with a determined will, especially if the 
task is a congenial one, in accordance with and 
suitable to one’s tastes and habits. We laugh at the 
absurd customs of the coolies, but are there not some 
curious customs, also in a more dignified degree, in 
a higher state of civilization, amongst ourselves ? Are 
there not Christian men in our own country who 
serve and worship the great deity Mammon, or some 
other great Mari, ” not at rare intervals but con- 
tinually six days in the week, and fancy they have 
quelled the evil spirit by putting on once a week a 
O 
