J^UETHm EXPERIENCES OF MR. STARE. 
baskets at the corner of the back verandah, to be 
ready for use next morning. As master come behind 
a string of ooolieSj each an empty basket resting over 
the back part of bis head, forming a somewhat ludi- 
crous head covering, or hood, a sudden idea struck 
him, as they were passing an immense heap of charred 
timber. He ordered them all to stop, and fill their 
empty baskets with charcoal, which was not so easily 
done as one would imagine, because they seemed to, 
have a decided objection to fill the baskets even half 
full ; they thought if they just put a couple of hand- 
fuls in, the load would be quite sufficient *4t was 
past 4 o’clock, why should they carry charcoal.” So 
master had to coax them | it was no load at all, char- 
coal was very light weight, and he would let them 
off a little sooner from work to-morrow afternoon. 
They paused, and eorisidered, but while doing so, the 
kangani came np, and threatened them all, with his 
long stick, speedily lifted the baskets off the heads 
of some very small boys, and very old women, filled 
them half full, placed them on their heads^ and sent 
them off. Then turning round to the able-bodied men, 
said, ‘^Now, lazy fellows, are you not ashamed to be 
beat by the boys and WQinen ?” But the lazy fellows 
did not seqm one bit abashed, only after some muttur- 
ing they at last stooped down, and put about two 
handfuls of charcoal into each basket, after which they 
tried to lift it, but pretended they could not, so the 
kangani bad to fill the baskets half full, and lift them 
on to their heads himself. After this was done, they 
all gave a heavy groan, and commenced to totter down 
the hill, but when they came in sight of the lines 
and bungalow, they all commenced to run, as if their 
heavy load had all suddenly become very light. 
Arrived at the back verandah of the bungalow, of 
course they made a very great noise and chattering, 
as they heaped up Ihe charcoal into a corner. This 
noise, of course, disturbed the boy prematurely 
out of his afternoon’s sleep ,* in order |o avenge him- 
self, or probably thinking there was some row, he 
seized hold of an old cofr besom, and came rushing 
out of the cook-house, in order to drive off the rude 
disturbers of his slopibers. B it seeing at a glance 
what was the broom dropped from his hands, and 
he actually exerted himself, taking the baskets off 
the heads of the coolies, and emptying them himself, 
up against the verandah corner. He even became very 
, vociferous, abused the people, saying, the baskets were 
not nearly full enough, and they must bring more 
tp-morrow, and it was quite evident he took all the 
credit of the scheme to himself, as he very compla- 
cently said, Now, master can" always havp a fire.’^ 
But master, in a rather sarcastic way? saidg I;® 
