Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/135

Rh (house-servant) was all life, activity, and zeal, seeing that each cooley had a fair load, so that “master might not be cheated.” Soon all were off, laughing, talking, and joking, happy to earn five cents each by carrying their burdens three miles in a broiling sun; a sum, small though it be, sufficient to support a Hindu family for a day. Following the coolies, we took possession of our new home. After turning out a scorpion or two, some mammoth roaches, and a goodly quantity of dust, we installed our goods in their proper places, and entered upon the duties of housekeeping at our own station.

Royapooram is the most northern suburb of Madras. It lies without the city wall, and upon the sea. Through its centre runs an Englishmade road, on each side of which are densely-packed masses of houses, threaded by narrow lanes. At the extremity of this road, and facing you as you pass out from the walled town, stands our neat little church, with a belfry near it, in which is hung a good church bell. Close by is the mission-house, in the centre of a compound prettily laid out with flower-beds. The house is one story in height, with a brick-paved verandah, and a flat roof guarded by a ballustrade. Back of the house,