To begin, however, systematically. The mistress will find
it convenient to have a pair of light camel trunks for clothe.s,
books, &c. A charming kind is made exactly like a chest of
drawei’s, the removable fronts being convertible into trestle
dressing-tables. It is a great saving of trouble only to have
to pull out your drawers instead of uprooting from the
bottom of a huge trunk. For stores she will find it best
to have a box made and fitted with square tin canisters. A
few cane chairs with wadded covers, little tables and table-
cloths, and a shelf or two will give a home look to the sitting
tent. It will be found also a great advantage to have strips
of matting for the verandahs. They weigh little and cost a
trifle. A square of mackintosh for soap, sponge, &c., is far
more useful than a sponge-bag, and it will be found a great
saving of trouble to have all these things — towels, basin, &c. —
j)acked in your bath, so that they shall be ready for you on
arrival.
If there are childi’en, iron cots will be found the best beds,
as by hanging shawls rouml draughts can be kept off. Bed-
149
Housekeeper and Cook
ding may either be rolled up in hold-alls, or, what is perhaps
more convenient where folding-beds are not used, left on the
bed and covered over with mackintosh sheeting. For com-
fort in marching in the plains a strong string charpoy is de-
cidedly the best bed, as it rests capitally across a camel’s load.
In the cook-room too much ingenuity in , devising little
conveniences cannot be employed. A pair of string kujdmars
is the best form of package, and should be ample for all re-
quirements. They should be double-storeyed ; that is, Avith
a removable shelf half-way down, and should have Avooden
covers that lock, and thus alloAv the kujdwarx to be used as
cupboards. Saucepans should fit in nests, and square tins
Avith lids should be used for all kinds of supplies.
The best oven for camp is a plain round sheet-iron drum,
Avith a lid like a frying-pan. Sup])orted by three bricks, and
Avith dry earth heaped round, it bakes admirably ; or an oven
can be made thus : Dig a hole of tAvo feet deep and one and
a half feet Avide in a dry spot. Half fill Avith sand. When
required, fill up with burning sticks and cover over Avith the
top of an ordinary oven. When sufficiently heated, remove
the fuel and put in the cake to be baked, the same fire Avill
do for laying on the top of the cover. This oven bakes a
three-pound cake in as many hours. Meat safes of mosquito
net Avith iron Avire hoops to keeji them expanded must not
be forgotten. An old umbrella covered Avith a bag of mos-
quito net does admirably. Hot water for baths only needs a
roAv of earthen choolds and ghurras. The great difficulty is a
larder, but a square framcAvork like a folding-bed, consisting
of four legs and four bamboos Avhicli fit into holes in the leo-^
Avill, Avith a Avell-fitting cover of mosquito net, be found very
useful. 1 laced on a table, and the net left long enough to
draAV in Avith a runner under the toj) of the table, it makes
an absolutely secure milk or meat larder.
Page 102
Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
To begin, however, systematically. The mistress will find it convenient to have a pair of light camel trunks for clothe.s, books, &c. A charming kind is made exactly like a chest of drawei’s, the removable fronts being convertible into trestle dressing-tables. It is a great saving of trouble only to have to pull out your drawers instead of uprooting from the bottom of a huge trunk. For stores she will find it best to have a box made and fitted with square tin canisters. A few cane chairs with wadded covers, little tables and tablecloths, and a shelf or two will give a home look to the sitting tent. It will be found also a great advantage to have strips of matting for the verandahs. They weigh little and cost a trifle. A square of mackintosh for soap, sponge, &c., is far more useful than a sponge-bag, and it will be found a great saving of trouble to have all these things — towels, basin, &c. — j)acked in your bath, so that they shall be ready for you on arrival.
If there are children, iron cots will be found the best beds, as by hanging shawls rouml draughts can be kept off. Bed-
Housekeeper and Cook
ding may either be rolled up in hold-alls, or, what is perhaps more convenient where folding-beds are not used, left on the bed and covered over with mackintosh sheeting. For comfort in marching in the plains a strong string charpoy is decidedly the best bed, as it rests capitally across a camel’s load.
In the cook-room too much ingenuity in devising little conveniences cannot be employed. A pair of string kujawars is the best form of package, and should be ample for all requirements. They should be double-storeyed ; that is, with a removable shelf half-way down, and should have wooden covers that lock, and thus allow the kujawars to be used as cupboards. Saucepans should fit in nests, and square tins with lids should be used for all kinds of supplies.
The best oven for camp is a plain round sheet-iron drum, with a lid like a frying-pan. Supported by three bricks, and Avith dry earth heaped round, it bakes admirably ; or an oven can be made thus : Dig a hole of two feet deep and one and a half feet wide in a dry spot. Half fill Avith sand. When required, fill up with burning sticks and cover over with the top of an ordinary oven. When sufficiently heated, remove the fuel and put in the cake to be baked, the same fire Avill do for laying on the top of the cover. This oven bakes a three-pound cake in as many hours. Meat safes of mosquito net with iron wire hoops to keeji them expanded must not be forgotten. An old umbrella covered Avith a bag of mosquito net does admirably. Hot water for baths only needs a row of earthen choolds and ghurras. The great difficulty is a larder, but a square framework like a folding-bed, consisting of four legs and four bamboos which fit into holes in the legs will, with a well-fitting cover of mosquito net, be found very useful. 1 laced on a table, and the net left long enough to draw in with a runner under the toj) of the table, it makes an absolutely secure milk or meat larder.