THE CEYLOT^ MUHAMMADANS. 
of tlie verandah, quite ready to take in any amount 
of ripe 'palain, throw off all the skin and refuse into 
master’s pulp-pit, and stow away all the good heavy 
coffee into my own receiving cistern, but am of no 
use at all, until master puts forth his hands, and 
turns round the handles !” “But what is the use of 
me, or to me, in driving a pulper, if I am to re- 
ceive nothing for my trouble but useless pulp, and 
all the fine coffee is to drop into your receiving cistern, 
which, it is very evident, will entail an infinite 
amount of work, in order to fill, if indeed it is 
possible ever to fill it?” very reasonably asks the 
young man. “Your fine flowery- worded oriental 
simile s quite untenable and absurd.” “Mot so,” 
gravelyireplies Hassan, “ the young man looks mainly 
to the present, the future is yet a far way off, but 
every day becomes nearer, until it not only supplants 
the present but lapses into the past. Then, if it 
has been neglected or held in small estimation, it 
cannot be recalled, even as coffee pulp washed down 
the stream can never be gathered up again. Do not 
let your pulp run down the stream, save it up in 
heaps for manure, and when, with other composts, 
it is applied to the trees, you will have to increase 
and enlarge the receiving cistern.” For your special 
benefit and profit,” grimly replied master; “but if 
you will not tell me at once what you want, and 
be quick about it, just you be off out of this, for 
I have neither time nor inclination to spend in listen- 
ing to all this rubbishing talk.” So, Hassan, seeing 
that the turning-point had come, cleared his throat 
and said, “There are a great many coolies on the 
estate, and no bazars near at hand to supg)]y them 
with curry- stuffs and other necessaries, and I am 
ready to start a bazar down at the road- side. I 
will be at all the expense of building it myself ; all 
that will be required from the estate is leave to do 
so, also leave to carry sticks from the new clearing, 
and cut mana grass for thatch, and, master know 
very well, both sticks and grass are so plentiful, as 
to be no object at all. I must have a few of the 
estate coolies to assist me, but, of course, will pay 
them myself. Mor will the benefit be wholly on my 
side : just see, how conr^enient it will be to yourself. 
The post-runner from Kandy to Miiwara Eliya passes 
the very place, so, instead of sending to and bring- 
ing from Pussellawa post letters, a distance of seven 
miles, they will be delivered at and taken away 
from the estate. Then, you can build a rice store, 
and, when carts come with rice, I will measure in, 
and report the full amount received, and what is 
deficient, as also, on the day of rice issue to the 
