£40, accumulated by driblets. They are ignorant of savings banks or interest, and are content if they see their own money in the original rags and papers. The Kafir, on demand, must behold his coins just as he handed them in, wrappings and all. Sometimes the superintendent will have as much as £1000 of savings in his care.
On leaving, the men generally draw all their savings, and it is not uncommon for a grateful Kafir to press £2 or £3 on Captain Dallas in recognition of his trouble. They are astonished when their offerings are declined ; still more so when it is explained that if they would put their savings in a bank they would have a few extra pounds given to them for the privilege of taking care of it.
A shrewd young Pondo, who had been coming year after year, applied for some of his savings, and gave as a reason that he wanted to buy a wife. "But you said the same thing last year," replied Captain 42
