The khilmidgdrs should, as before stated, have thin par-
titioned boxes for china. Toughened glass Avill be found an
immense comfort. Ihe silver should be carried in baize
or flannel hold-alls with flaps, like instrument cases ; eaeh
spoon and fork fitted into its oAvn band or pocket. Knives
in a separate case. In addition to the safety, this enables the
khil to see at a glance if the tale is complete.
The best lamps for camp are Hitchcock’s patent, because
150 The Complete Indian
they require neither globe nor chimney, though a shade
may be used. Kerosene oil is now to be had in almost every
village, therefore it is not necessary to take such elaborate
precautions against running out of it as in the old days. The
best way of carrying it is in regular tin canisters, such as go
with the D. P. W. lantern. It is a mistake, hoAvever, to go
into extravagance in the matter of lanterns, since admirable
ones, quite hurricane-proof, are to be had in the Delhi bazaar,
and it is to be presumed elsewhere, for three rupees.
A regular supply of bread, butter, and vegetables is apt
to be a common difficult}^ ; but as a rule the former can be
got out from headquarters at intervals, and at the worst bread
can be made which is more wholesome, if not quite so spongy,
as the baker’s efforts. Nor should butter fail, for if you keep
cows it is better to let them go into camp with you. If the
march is done in the morning it is best to send the cow on
half-way immediately after the evening’s milking, say, at half-
past five. By this means she gets over half the journey at
the best time, i.c., when the udder is dry, and rests and eats
all night. Next morning at six the cowman should milk her
and start off for the remainder of his journey, arriving about
nine o’clock, carrying the milk in the pail. Or, if the march
is done in the evening, the same plan may be adopted, begin-
ning in the morning. The object in a rest half-way is to give
the cow time to chew the cud, which she will never do unless
she is at rest ; indeed, it is a good plan to make the cowman
take a bundle or basket of prepared forage with him, and
feed the cow at least once on the road, halting for the pur-
pose for an hour. Treated thus, a cow will not go off her
milk at all, and of course it is not often that she will have to
march every day. It will be seen, therefore, that it is possible
to set half the day’s milk for twenty-four hours and half for
twelve, even when actually on the march, so there should, be
no difficulty in making butter ; but if the twelve hours’ stand
does not throw up sufficient cream, it is quite easy to set it
for milk butter in a jar. Swung to a camel, the butter will
often be found ready made in the jar at the end of the
march.
Vegetables are the chief difficulty, unless they can be had
regularly from headquarters ; nevertheless, they are not abso-
lutely unobtainable anywhere, and they are certainly a neces-
Housekeeper and Cook 151
Page 103
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
The khilmutgars should, as before stated, have thin partitioned boxes for china. Toughened glass will be found an immense comfort. Ihe silver should be carried in baize or flannel hold-alls with flaps, like instrument cases; each spoon and fork fitted into its own band or pocket. Knives in a separate case. In addition to the safety, this enables the khil to see at a glance if the tale is complete.
The best lamps for camp are Hitchcock’s patent, because
150 The Complete Indian
they require neither globe nor chimney, though a shade may be used. Kerosene oil is now to be had in almost every village, therefore it is not necessary to take such elaborate precautions against running out of it as in the old days. The best way of carrying it is in regular tin canisters, such as go with the D. P. W. lantern. It is a mistake, however, to go into extravagance in the matter of lanterns, since admirable ones, quite hurricane-proof, are to be had in the Delhi bazaar, and it is to be presumed elsewhere, for three rupees.
A regular supply of bread, butter, and vegetables is apt to be a common difficulty; but as a rule the former can be got out from headquarters at intervals, and at the worst bread can be made which is more wholesome, if not quite so spongy, as the baker’s efforts. Nor should butter fail, for if you keep cows it is better to let them go into camp with you. If the march is done in the morning it is best to send the cow on half-way immediately after the evening’s milking, say, at halfpast five. By this means she gets over half the journey at the best time, i.c., when the udder is dry, and rests and eats all night. Next morning at six the cowman should milk her and start off for the remainder of his journey, arriving about nine o’clock, carrying the milk in the pail. Or, if the march is done in the evening, the same plan may be adopted, beginning in the morning. The object in a rest half-way is to give the cow time to chew the cud, which she will never do unless she is at rest ; indeed, it is a good plan to make the cowman take a bundle or basket of prepared forage with him, and feed the cow at least once on the road, halting for the purpose for an hour. Treated thus, a cow will not go off her milk at all, and of course it is not often that she will have to march every day. It will be seen, therefore, that it is possible to set half the day’s milk for twenty-four hours and half for twelve, even when actually on the march, so there should, be no difficulty in making butter ; but if the twelve hours’ stand does not throw up sufficient cream, it is quite easy to set it for milk butter in a jar. Swung to a camel, the butter will often be found ready made in the jar at the end of the march.
Vegetables are the chief difficulty, unless they can be had regularly from headquarters ; nevertheless, they are not absolutely unobtainable anywhere, and they are certainly a neces-
Housekeeper and Cook 151