FURTHER EXPERIEMCES OF MR. STALE 
on in the afternoon, the kitchen cooly, being iindet* 
the impression that his rough work for the day had 
come to an end, would be sitting in a corner of the 
cookhouse, in a way peculiar to himself, neither on 
his “hind legs,” nor his “twa soft cushions,” but 
somewhat in a position resembling both of these 
graceful attitudes, or partaking partially of both. He 
was washing rice or pounding curry-stuffs between two 
stones, in fact, preparing his own dinner, and as the 
pungent flavour of the condiments entered his nostrils 
he would turn his head to one side and sneeze oc- 
casionally, after which, he would put his fingers to 
his nose, which just made him sneeze all the more, 
upon which the boy would make a dart and 
remove to a safe distance some dishes that were 
preparing for master’s dinner ; it might be, he had 
removed them in time, or what was more probable, 
after the damage was done. The cooly was fast 
getting into a happy frame of mind, passing his hands 
at times across his indented stomach, which was so 
very soon to change its shape and become in a very 
alarming appearance to all, except its happy owner, 
frightfully distended. The boy would suddenly 
start up as if he had forgotten something, seize hold 
of a grass-cutting hook, push it into the hands of 
the astonished cooly, and exclaim, ‘ ‘ I forgot, no grass 
for the horse, master will be here directly and kick 
up a row, off with you and cut a bundle.” From 
past experience the cooly knew remonstrance was 
useless, he also well knew that, if there was no 
grass, would not he catch it ? So, his half-cooked 
dinner was removed from the fire, until he had time 
to attend to its completion. It was a heavy rain, 
so he threw off the whole of his clothes, except the 
crupper, knowing well, that during the monsoon rains 
it was much easier to dry his skin than his clothes. 
H e took hold of this grass knife and a piece of rope to 
bind up the grass, placed an old mat bag over his head 
and shoulders, and went down into the swamp, from 
whence he soon returned with a load of grass, but also 
wit h something else, for his legs were streaming with 
blood, as the swollen and distended leeches dropt off them 
on the kitchen floor. J ust as he got them all picked off, 
and the flow of blood from their bites somewhat staunch- 
ed, he proceeded to renew the process of cooking his 
dinner, but the fire was low, and had to be kindled up. 
As it commenced to crackle and throw out some heat, 
the curry chatty was again placed on the top of the red 
sticks, but again as suddenly rem oved, as the sharp pace 
of a horse is heard approaching the premises, for he knew 
what was sure to be the result of this, knew correctly, 
from many a former experience. “ Boy,” shouts the 
