THE CEYLON MUHAMMADANS. 
guessing at the number of miles they must have tra- 
velled, also made a guess at what the number of the 
mile-post, ought to be. When these posts got very 
rotten, a passing coolie would give it a good shake, 
and, if it gave way, he would shoulder the mile-post, 
and carry it off for firewood ; and we have a very dis- 
tinct recollection of once, when riding along, seeing a 
coolie with a heavy load of bottles on his head, prob- 
ably beer, or brandy, for master’s use, approach a 
Inile-post upon which to rest his burden, and so ease 
his load for a little time. Both his hands were raised 
to each side of the load ; slowly he bent his head 
towards the top of the mile-post, upon which the load 
recbned, his hand and arm resting on the top, and 
probably his own weight also, when smash went the 
mile-post, given way at the bottom, where it was 
rotten, and the road was strewed with broken bottles. 
^^Swamie !” screamed out the coolie, “whatever shall I 
do?” and he sat down on his hind-legs, and buried his face 
in the palms of his hands. Being moved with compas- 
sion at his disconsolate state, we drew bridle, and 
spoke to him. He said, his master had sent him to 
Kandy for supplies of liquor, he believed for a social 
gathering, that would take place on the estate that 
very evening. When he told the sad tale, he would 
not be believed, he would be beaten, his pay would be 
stopped, and three months were due him. Here, he 
became so overcome, that he lay down in a temporary 
faint, but whether it was the idea of there being no 
liquor for the social gathering, or the loss of three 
months’ pay, that so severely affected him, was 
doubtful. Upon being asked who was his master, he 
mentioned the name of an intimate acquaintance, so, 
having compassion upon the poor man, we pulled out 
a pocket-book, and wrote on a blank leaf the statement 
of the whole occurrence, as it was personally seen, 
handed it to the coolie, explaining to him what it meant, 
and that upon his presenting it to his master he vfould 
be exonerated from ail blame, without the shadow of 
a suspicion ; and the grateful light that gleamed in 
that coolie’s eyes gladdened our heart, on proceeding 
on our way. These wooden mile-posts, instead of 
guiding the traveller as to the distance he had to go, 
would sometimes deceive him : if a part had fallen 
down, and been concealed in the long grass, or, if it 
had been pulled up and carried away, the stranger 
would begin to think the miles very long, until, 
■suddenly coming upon one in good order, he would 
find he had travelled two or three miles, during the 
time he had been under the impression he had not 
gone over one. As times improved, more attention was 
paid to these mile-posts, and when signs of decay com- 
