The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

The Madras Presidency is distinctly a cheap place to live in. Houses in up-country stations may be had from Rs. 25 to Rs. 70. These are very generally double-storeyed, and contain in the centre a drawing-room, and dining-room separated by a big arch ; on either side, bedrooms and dressing-rooms with bath-rooms (not filled bath-rooms) ; upstairs, either one or two bedrooms for hotter Aveather, with bath-rooms. Tlie fewest number of servants comj)atible with comfort are cook, Rs. 10 ; boy, Rs. 10 ; matey, Rs. 6 ; tunny ketch, or cook’s help (a Avoman), Rs. 4 ; Avaterman, Rs. 5 ; SAveeper, Rs. 5 ; AA'asher- man, Rs. 6 to Rs. 8 ; tAvo punkah coolies, at Rs. 4 each. These are full Avages. A number of the Madras servantsare Christians. The bazaar account should never be more in economical houses than Rs. 1 each per diem, but this can be reduced. The authors are decidedly of this opinion, as tlie prices given from reliable sources are, if anything, cheaper than the Punjab. Beef is 3 seers per rupee, or 6 annas a seer; mutton, slightly cheaper; milk, 10 quarts per rupee in the country, 8 quarts in Madras; eggs, 3 or 4 annas a dozen; chickens, 4 annas ; Avood or charcoal is used in the cook- room, and is contracted for at prices varying from Rs. 6 to Rs. 10 a month; butter, 10 annas a pound. The keep of horses is distinctly cheap. They get a grain called koollrie, and as a rule the syce’s Avife acts as grass- cutter, just as the cook’s Avife acts as luuny ketch or kitchen slave. Cooking in Madras is largely done in earthen ]iots or chatties, and the general life is more Oriental in its Avays tlian in the rest of India. Wages are Ioav, and it is necessary to Housekeeper and Cook 31 guard against the importation into the compound of assistant relatives at almost nominal wages. . . Punkahs in most stations are required all the yeai lound during the day, but from 1st November to 1st April may be dispensed with at night. Two pullers are generally required for ni«-ht work. The commonest plan, hoAvever, is to ariange a contract with a family, say for Rs. 8 a month. Meat wil not keep more than a day. . , i ■ 4. Madras furniture is famed, and it is a mistake to bring out anything except as a pattern. As elsewhere, sales constantly take place, and all common things can be had in the bazaar. Some enamel, Berlin black, or varnish soon makes the shabbiest things smart. The floors are matted, and the matting costs about 2 annas a square yard. Carpenters and smiths wages are from 8 to 1 2 annas a day ; tailors, from 6 annas to 8 annas. It is advisable to bring out linen, glass, crockery, lamps, cretonnes, and ornaments. The native furniture makers are venf clever, and can copy anything even from a drawing, and upholster well. Briefly, the chief points in which intending settlers in Madras may have to modify advice given in other parts of this book is in regard to climate. Prices and customs appear much the same as in the Punjab. If anything, the former are cheaper, the latter more Oriental. Those going to Madras itself should apply to the registry of servants kept at the club, and beware of vagrants. Estimate foe Ceylon. House rent • • • • Servants— four indoor, one outdoor, and washing at Rs. 5 a head Stable servant Keep of one horse and carriage . . . . • Daily bazaar account House account, firewood, &c. ..... Baker .......... Milk Furnishing six-roomed house ...... Rs. 60