The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

ability to stand the hot weather, arises from the fact that they live virtually in the dark. They feel “too languid " to go out early. “ It doesn’t suit them to go out before break- fast,” Sic. See. Then it is too hot to leave the cool house before sun-setting. So, as the house, for the sake of what is called comfort, is kept shut up and in semi-dai’kness all day, it often happens that the sun is never .s-ecn or fell. The w’riter believes that the forced inertia caused by living with- out light is responsible for many moral and physical evils among European ladies in the Tropics. In the chapter “ On the Plains ” more is said on the subject of making the sun youv friend. Let us now think of him as an enemy, in reference, first, to clothing. On this ])oint, also, details will be found in an- other chapter, that on Outfits. Flannel next the skin day and night is, of course, the shibboleth of doctors, and doubt- less they are right. The writer, however, never wore it day or night, and she never once went to the hills unless on leave with her husband, which means that two hot w'eathers out of ever}' three were spent entirely in the jilains. She wore kUIc, discarded stays, &c., and, as a rule, had her dresses of nuns- veiling or thin serge. And during the hot weather she used a thin white Rampore chuddar or shawl instead of a sheet. 'I'he aim and object is, however, to avoid chills and heats. 'I’o effect this, sound good sense and the energy which does not mind a little trouble are all that is necessary ; unless, in- deed, the claims of fashion are allowed to overbear those of comfort and health. Food and drink should be, as in other parts of the world, simple and digestible. Alcohol is certainly not required ; at the same time, its moderate use seems no more hurtful than it is in England. Some people complain of great thirst in India. Cold tea, without milk, and with lemon juice added to it, quenches thirst, but it is not a very wholesome drink, especially if tea is taken at other times. Barley water poured w'hile boiling on shred lemons is better. This can also be made with citric acid, or cream of tartar (see recipe for Im- perial). Ice should not be taken on trust and put into drinks unless it is known to be made in a machine from pure water. Food in the Tropics, doctors say, should be very nutritious and very cabundant. They also recommend early dinners. 173 Housekeeper and Cook The writer’s sole advice on this subject is to use common- sense. If you wake with a chippy mouth, and feel as if the whole woi'ld was hollow, and your doll stuffed with sawdust, j'ou may be sure your liver is out of order ; in which case don’t blame Providence and fly to a podophyllin pill, but think over yesterday, from morn till eve, and find out whether it Avas that greasy side-dish at dinner, or the delay in changing to a warmer dress Avhen you began to feel chilly, Avhich is responsible. In I'egard to bathing, few people can stand cold Avater in the Tropics, unless in a swimming bath.