The 'perishing' little one, who acted as messenger, was offered some tea by way of cooling the burning without delay. She ate the bread and jam and drank the tea with no sign of voraciousness or starvation.
One more out of a large number of similar epistles may be given. There is a family likeness in them all, variety occurring more through eccentricities of spelling and grammar than in the matter. This came by the hand of a small boy whose appearance did not support his mother's statements.
'Reverend Sir,—I take the liberty of addressing your venerable honour with following pitiful lines, and hope my unfortunate condition will move your charitable com- passions. I have received from your reverence one rupee four months ago. And my poor young children are dying for food these two blessed days. I therefore beg to throw myself and four children before your pious footsteps for aid. In doing me this act of charity shall ever pray. I beg to remain, Reverend Sir, your Reverend's obedient servant
'Mrs. James, a poor widdow.'
The small boy on being questioned about his midday meal spoke of a salt-fish curry. Any chutney with it? No, mother had no money to buy chutney; the children had to eat it without.
The term 'starved' is not understood by the writers of such letters. With them starvation means to go with- out something to which they have been accustomed, the obligation of breakfasting off rice-cakes and water instead of bread and coffee, and of eating dhall curry when the more expensive curry of meat and vegetables would be preferred. In times of famine the Eurasian must of course feel the pinch of real privation; but in ordinary seasons the pangs of hunger can be assuaged for
