The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

Preparations for the hills must be carefully thought out — Avhat to take and Avhat to leave behind for the master of the house. It is Avell Avhen you have selected a house to make a rough plan of it, showing doors and AvindoAvs and sizes of rooms; so do not forget paper, pencil, and measuring tape. Carpets for the sitting-rooms and all curtains must usually be taken, piano, small tables, comfortable chairs, nicknacks, ornaments (many of these latter packed in among your dresses), chair backs, tablecovers, something to cover the mantelpiece, and jiossibly a feAv pictures. You might also, Avithout being accused of vanity, just see Avhat your landlord provides in the Avay of looking-glasses. They are marvellous sometimes, and it is best to take one’s oavii ; unscreAved from its stand, it can be packed amongst the house linen, Avhilst stand and sujjports can be stoAved aAvay inside the bundle of carpets, blankets, and rugs. I«imps, some crockery, house linen, and plate jnust be taken, also kitchen and pantry gear. Books must not be forgotten ; and it will be well to inquire from people Avith local experience Housekeeper and Cook 195 whether any stores^ winCj &c., should be taken up from the plains. The furniture provided in hill houses being of the scantiest, and wardrobes a luxury, a hanging wardrobe can be conveniently made out of a plank about three feet long and nine inches wide, down the middle of which insert some six hooks in a row ; bore two holes at each end, thi'ough which pass strong cords, and fasten the ends of each to hooks in the roof. Tack cretonne round the board a little full, and cross the ends in front. Towel-rails can be extemporised by fastening bamboos by'strings at either end to hooks in the wall. Some hill stations possess fair roads, in which case every- thing can travel all the way in country carts, while others are approached only by tracks fit for camels and mules. Packing arrangements must depend on the kind of carriage available. Excellent camel and mule trunks are often pro- curable, which are very roomy, and are useful for storing house linen and such like. Chests of drawers made in two parts are very useful to take. They can be packed full of things, and travel well on a camel, and on arrival add much to one’s comfort. They should be sewn up in sacking and roped, old rags being put under the ropes and at the corners. It is well to take your head servant into your confidence, and to talk over the state of the roads, the kinds of carriage available, &c., wdth him. Your servants will do all the j)acking and sewing up, under your superintendence, quickly and cheeriully. When all is packed, sewn up in bundles, and labelled, it is well to make out a list of the articles, and to give a copy to the servants, together with a plan of the house, showing for wdiat purpose each room has been allotted. When the time comes for loading up, retire gracefully. As has been said, ^dhe servants then become verv active, the bullock-drivers being passive, except perhaps to remark, as each box or load is placed, that their bullock will certainly die.” The following is a list showing the way in which the property of a family, consisting of a lady, three or four chil- dren, and an English nurse, might be packed and loaded 1st camel load: Two large trunks and two' smaller ones With clotlnng.