THE CEYLON MUHAMMADANS, 
peace ; if two of them began to plot, scheme, or put 
in practice mischief, the third would be sure to come, 
aud reveal everything to him. Now, was not this 
Hassan a man of great force and decision of character, 
for here had he laid all his plans, about building a 
house, and taking three wives, with only three-eighths 
of a penny in cash in his possession ! And the last 
thing he did, after revolving all these schemes in his 
mind, was, what the reader might naturally suppose 
should have been the first, to walk up to the bungalow 
and interview the master. There was no road up, 
only a steep watercourse sort of track, that led right 
up the grass hill, which, from the constant run of rain 
water in it, was more like a rugged rut, formed into 
steps and stairs, than anything else, but Hassan man- 
fully accomplished the climb, and cautiously approached 
tho bungalow. After peeping and peering through 
some shrubs, he said, “ Yes, master is in the verandah,’^ 
to v/hich he walked up in a timid respectful manner,, 
entered, and, after making a most profound obeisance,, 
said, “Allah be praised, I have found whom my soul 
loveth to honour, at last ! After a long and weary 
search, the desire of my heart is satisfied, ” and he 
clasped his hands under his long beard, and looked up 
into — the roof of the verandah. The master, a very 
young man, only a short time arrived, stared, in a sort 
of stupid astonishment, and said, “ What do you 
mean ? What do you know about me, or what have 
you been seeking me for ? ” So, after a few groans and 
invocations, Hassan bowed his head, and said, “ It 
was reported in my country that your name had been 
seen in an English newspaper, as having sailed for 
Ceylon. When I heard this, I said, ‘ This is the young 
man of whom I have been warned in a dream, that 
I was to be to him as a father, and he was to act 
towards me as a dutiful and loving son, ’ and now when 
mine eyes rest upon you, behold, I see the very face 
and figure. Lo, I hear the very voice, as I saw, and 
as I heard, in my dream. My son, comfort and support 
me, in my poverty. ” “ The man is undoubtedly mad, ” 
thought the young man : “I must try and humour him. ” 
“Well,” says he. “the best support in poverty is 
self-support, and the best comfort a good night’s 
sleep, after a hard day’s work. Go away, support 
and comfort yourself.” But Hassan replied, “A 
machine for pulping coffee may be exact, quite per- 
fect, in every respect, quite a model of .skilful engin- 
eering, but, for all that, is of no more use than 
an old barrel, if there is no propelling force to drive 
it, 1)6 it of steam, water, or hand-power. I am like 
unto a first-rate pulper, with teeth and chops all 
properly set, standing here on the pulping platform 
