And then as to suitable clothing. It must be remem-
bered that on the hills the sun’s rays are very powerful, and
the changes of temperature great. Children should not be
allowed to go in the sun without some protection from its
rays, and should always be in the house shortly after sunset,
and this especially during the damji weather of the rainy
season. It is a pity that more mothers do not go out with
their children early in the morning ; those who do this look
healthy, while the others sleep heavily and get uj) feeling as
sleepy as ever. The children are better looked after, and on
her return tlie mistress will probably have time before break-
fost to see that the house has been well swe])t out, and to
take the cook’s account. We blame India for all our ail-
ments, forgetting to accommodate our habits to its climate.
Instead of taking exercise, we drink hot tea on an empty
stomach, and follow this by a hot bath, which relaxes the
muscles and enfeebles our nervous system, and then we try
to remedy this with beer or wine, which only irritate the
nerves more !
Pardon this digression. The rains, which commence about
the end of June, too often bring in their train diarrhcea,
dysentery, colds, and chills; special precautions are needed
to guard against these. It will be necessary to light fire.s,
not for heat, but to keep everything dry and to dispel musti-
ness. An incessant downpour lasting nearly three months
naturally renders maintenance of health a difficulty ; but man
possesses capacity for living in all climates, and by adapting
ourselves to the conditions of the rains we can get accus-
tomed to them. The hardihood of hill races is proverbial.
Look at the sta.\wi\rtjJia7iipamiis-; they do not fear the rains ;
but then they do not go about in cotton clothing. Light
woollen clothing, even on days when the sun shines brightly,
is always safest ; above all, wear thin woollen stockings and
be well shod. We all know the valuable properties of H.-uincl
worn next the skin ; warm in structure, and possessed of
water-absorbing property, it is the very protcefion we need
Housekeeper and Cook 193
to ward ofF the evils of excessive damp and changes of tem-
perature. For children, night and day, it is indispensable.
Other disagreeables inseparable from the rainy season
must be cheerfully met by wise forethought. Woful is the
delay in the washing of clothes ; but pity the dhobi a little ;
his wits are sorely taxed to accomplish his task at all. And
be careful to air everything he brings. Now is the time to
give out warm coats to tlie servants and blankets to the
cowman and the stablemen, who are much exposed to the
weather in their avocations. The jhampannis are dressed as
their mistress’s taste dictates ; but be merciful in the display
of it. Choose good sensible material and trimming that will
stand a good soaking; remember that the wearers never use
soap, and that a wetting in the rain is their only experience
of w'ater.
Page 133
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
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And then as to suitable clothing. It must be remem-
bered that on the hills the sun’s rays are very powerful, and
the changes of temperature great. Children should not be
allowed to go in the sun without some protection from its
rays, and should always be in the house shortly after sunset,
and this especially during the damji weather of the rainy
season. It is a pity that more mothers do not go out with
their children early in the morning ; those who do this look
healthy, while the others sleep heavily and get uj) feeling as
sleepy as ever. The children are better looked after, and on
her return tlie mistress will probably have time before break-
fost to see that the house has been well swe])t out, and to
take the cook’s account. We blame India for all our ail-
ments, forgetting to accommodate our habits to its climate.
Instead of taking exercise, we drink hot tea on an empty
stomach, and follow this by a hot bath, which relaxes the
muscles and enfeebles our nervous system, and then we try
to remedy this with beer or wine, which only irritate the
nerves more !
Pardon this digression. The rains, which commence about
the end of June, too often bring in their train diarrhcea,
dysentery, colds, and chills; special precautions are needed
to guard against these. It will be necessary to light fire.s,
not for heat, but to keep everything dry and to dispel musti-
ness. An incessant downpour lasting nearly three months
naturally renders maintenance of health a difficulty ; but man
possesses capacity for living in all climates, and by adapting
ourselves to the conditions of the rains we can get accus-
tomed to them. The hardihood of hill races is proverbial.
Look at the sta.\wi\rtjJia7iipamiis-; they do not fear the rains ;
but then they do not go about in cotton clothing. Light
woollen clothing, even on days when the sun shines brightly,
is always safest ; above all, wear thin woollen stockings and
be well shod. We all know the valuable properties of H.-uincl
worn next the skin ; warm in structure, and possessed of
water-absorbing property, it is the very protcefion we need
Housekeeper and Cook 193
to ward ofF the evils of excessive damp and changes of tem-
perature. For children, night and day, it is indispensable.
Other disagreeables inseparable from the rainy season
must be cheerfully met by wise forethought. Woful is the
delay in the washing of clothes ; but pity the dhobi a little ;
his wits are sorely taxed to accomplish his task at all. And
be careful to air everything he brings. Now is the time to
give out warm coats to tlie servants and blankets to the
cowman and the stablemen, who are much exposed to the
weather in their avocations. The jhampannis are dressed as
their mistress’s taste dictates ; but be merciful in the display
of it. Choose good sensible material and trimming that will
stand a good soaking; remember that the wearers never use
soap, and that a wetting in the rain is their only experience
of w'ater.