Page:On the Coromandel Coast.djvu/116

 'Krishna Moodelliar's house, sir.'

'Oh ! Why is that woman wearing that bright - coloured cloth ? ' inquired the Duke pointing to a native in a garment stained with brilliant aniline dye.

'Because she is out on a holiday to see you, sir ' and so on.

It happened that they returned by the same route. The Duke still persevered in his questions :

'Whose house is that ? ' he asked, pointing to the same house that had raised his curiosity at starting.

'Ramaswamy Moodelliar's, sir,' was the unwary answer.

'Oh!' rejoined the Duke quickly, 'I thought you told me that it was Krishna Moodelliar's.'

Born and brought up a peer of the realm he possessed a certain amount of imperiousness in his nature, which occasionally showed itself in spite of his casual manner and disregard of ceremony. One day in council he took up a document, saying:

'About this letter ; I see it is from Kuff.'

One of the Members of Council ventured to correct him : 'He is called Keough, sir.'

'I call him "Kuff," ' replied the Duke decisively. And Kuff he remained all through the sitting of the council.

The old story about the three-chatty filter is well known to Madrasees. I have been assured more than once that it is true. For the benefit of those who have not been in India I venture to repeat it.

It must be explained that just before the Duke began his reign there was an agitation over the water-supply in many parts of the Presidency. Although Madras itself was well off in that respect, the towns in the Mofussil had only their wells and tanks to rely on. These sources might have been pure had the people been cleanly ; but from time immemorial villagers have been in the habit of