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to which he is accustomed. Yet consideration will show that
this is far from being the case. The following are some examples
of changes which may appear trivial to some, but are really matters
of importance and affect the coolie to a far greater extent than might
at first sight be imagined.
(1) The coolie is either drawn from the ranks of (a) independent
cultivators or (b) landless labourers. In the one case he is accustom-
ed to depend upon a store of food stuff of his own growing, in the other
case he almost invariably receives his daily food ration as part of his
pay.
Under his new conditions he has to calculate and arrange to
purchase a weekly supply of food from the local market.
(2) In their own country the vast majority of the people from
whom the tea garden coolies are drawn are used to deal in kind, not
in coin. Dhan or rice is practically their standard of value and
many of their purchases are by barter.
In the Duars they are all forced to deal in currency and calculate
an expenditure upon an average wage which as we have seen allows
of no margin.
(3) The average coolie has in his own country been living in a
comparatively healthy climate, very dry for the greater part of the
year, and the house to which he is accustomed is usually both comfort-
able and substantial.
In the Duars he finds himself exposed to the discomforts of a
climate at one time excessively wet, at another dry and often cold
His house is usually as primitive and comfortless as it can well be,
and in addition in his new conditions he becomes subject to malaria,
if not to actual cachexia or anĉmia.
Settled coolies are generally fairly comfortable, but our impres-
sion is that for the first few years of their stay in the Duars the ordi-
nary coolie frequently lives in poor condition with a low standard of
comfort. They frequently have inadequate clothing and very often
their remaining worldly possessions are only a couple of cooking pots.