There can be no doubt, however, that where the climate
ranges between such extremes of cold and heat, as it does in
many parts of India, it becomes necessary to yield to it in the
matter of dress, unless fashion is to be set before health and
comfort. And there is really no reason why the English-
woman in India should burden herself with the same number
of petticoats, shifts, bodices, and what not, that her great-
grandmother wore in temperate climes. We do not advocate
any sloppiness in dress ; on the contrary, Ave would inveigh
against any yielding to the lassitude and indifference Avhich
comes over the most energetic in tropical heat, but we Avould
have people as comfortable as they can be under the circum-
stances. And any multiplicity in under-garments, no matter
how thin they may be, keeps in pei'spiration ajid conduces
fatally to pifickly heat. For hot-Aveather nightgowns nothing
is pleasanter to Avear than fine nuns-veiling. To have them
Avith short, open sleeves and Ioav at the throat sounds cooler
than it is in reality, and gives mosquitoes and sandflies a larger
area for exploration.
The fcAver frills the better for Indian underclothing, as
the dhobi is relentless; and it is a great saving of bother to
do aAvay Avith buttons altogether, and substitute studs in their
place. For trimming, torchon lace is incomparably the best,
but even here it is well to choose a strong, rather coarse-
212 The Complete Indian
threaded, but closely-woven lace. Where decoration is liked,
hand embroidery on the cloth and coral stitches may be
employed, but any attempt to combine the Indian dhobis
prejudices with fine Madeira edgings will be disastrous to the
lattei'.
In regard to the quantity of each article, we have already
remarked that a round dozen should suffice. In the matter
of stockings, however, much will depend on the number of
dresses, since it is always nicer to have them to match. It is
also advisable to buy a cheap quality, as the colour goes with
the strong sunlight. If double-woven heels are not bought,
it is best to run the heels with spun silk of the same colour.
The gritty sand of India gets into the shoe and acts as a
regular sandpaper on the heels of one’s stockings. It is a
good plan never to wear stockings more than once without
making the ayah rinse the feet out in lukewarm water.
I'his removes the grit. Dirzies, too, are very bad darners,
and the effort to make expensive stockings last a reasonable
time is greater than the result warrants. For print dresses,
tan stockings and shoes are infinitely the best, as they do not
show the dust. Whilst on the subject of stockings, a word of
warning may be given as to open-work decoration; mosquitoes
are very prevalent in most parts of India. At least four pairs
of stays (if worn) should be taken, as in hot weather they
get sodden and require drying and airing.
From the above remarks it will be seen that the question
of underclothing differs little in its bearings from its English
aspect, save in regard to the difference in stuff and the quan-
tity worn during the hot weather. In the cold season the
clothing necessary for an English spring is suitable.
Page 147
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
There can be no doubt, however, that where the climate ranges between such extremes of cold and heat, as it does in many parts of India, it becomes necessary to yield to it in the matter of dress, unless fashion is to be set before health and comfort. And there is really no reason why the Englishwoman in India should burden herself with the same number of petticoats, shifts, bodices, and what not, that her greatgrandmother wore in temperate climes. We do not advocate any sloppiness in dress ; on the contrary, we would inveigh against any yielding to the lassitude and indifference which comes over the most energetic in tropical heat, but we would have people as comfortable as they can be under the circumstances. And any multiplicity in under-garments, no matter how thin they may be, keeps in perspiration and conduces fatally to prickly heat. For hot-weather nightgowns nothing is pleasanter to wear than fine nuns-veiling. To have them Avith short, open sleeves and low at the throat sounds cooler than it is in reality, and gives mosquitoes and sandflies a larger area for exploration.
The fewer frills the better for Indian underclothing, as the dhobi is relentless; and it is a great saving of bother to do away with buttons altogether, and substitute studs in their place. For trimming, torchon lace is incomparably the best, but even here it is well to choose a strong, rather coarse-
212 The Complete Indian
threaded, but closely-woven lace. Where decoration is liked, hand embroidery on the cloth and coral stitches may be employed, but any attempt to combine the Indian dhobis prejudices with fine Madeira edgings will be disastrous to the lattei'.
In regard to the quantity of each article, we have already remarked that a round dozen should suffice. In the matter of stockings, however, much will depend on the number of dresses, since it is always nicer to have them to match. It is also advisable to buy a cheap quality, as the colour goes with the strong sunlight. If double-woven heels are not bought, it is best to run the heels with spun silk of the same colour. The gritty sand of India gets into the shoe and acts as a regular sandpaper on the heels of one’s stockings. It is a good plan never to wear stockings more than once without making the ayah rinse the feet out in lukewarm water. I'his removes the grit. Dirzies, too, are very bad darners, and the effort to make expensive stockings last a reasonable time is greater than the result warrants. For print dresses, tan stockings and shoes are infinitely the best, as they do not show the dust. Whilst on the subject of stockings, a word of warning may be given as to open-work decoration; mosquitoes are very prevalent in most parts of India. At least four pairs of stays (if worn) should be taken, as in hot weather they get sodden and require drying and airing.
From the above remarks it will be seen that the question of underclothing differs little in its bearings from its English aspect, save in regard to the difference in stuff and the quantity worn during the hot weather. In the cold season the clothing necessary for an English spring is suitable.