The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

In regard to furnishing, it is wise to take out ornaments, house linen, crockery, and cretonnes. Furniture is good and cheap. Sales go on constantly, at which the whole fittings of a house may be bought at half the cost price of new things. Wire mattresses and a few light chairs and tables might be imported. In regard to carpenters’ and masons’ work, whitewashing, &c., it is far cheaper to get it done by contract. The climate of Ceylon varies much, but is damp throughout. Fires are never required in Colombo, or anywhere but in the higher hills ; but, on the other hand, punkahs are seldom used except at meal times. You require no special servant to pull them, as in India. In furnishing, the damp, heat, and the redundancy of insect life must be considered. Draperies should be dispensed with as miich as possible. There are capital shops of all kinds, and the hotels are excellent. The rest-houses throughout the country provide everything, including bedding and sheets. Keep for yourself and horse about Rs. 7 a day. The estimated expenditure for furnishing a six-roomed house is by three authorities placed at between £80 and £100. As stated before, life assimilates itself to the European fashion despite the heat, even in the matter of calling. The hours are from two o’clock till five o’clock, and new-comers do not call first. The Complete Indian Estimate for, Rangoon and Burmah. House rent, Rangoon Rs. . 100 to 150 ,, up country t • • 4 Servants as in Madras, double the wage, say stable servant. one for two ponies Keej) of pony 4 4 , • • « 4 Economical bazaar account . Estimate for furnishing • . 1200 The prices of furniture in Rangoon Central Jail are — Dining tables Rs. Rs. . 40 to 120 Wardrobes . . . . . . 45 ,, chairs . • 4 „ Hanging wardrobes . . . 40 Arm-chairs • 4 „ Chests of drawers . . 30 Easy-chairs . . • 10 „ Bedroom chairs . . . 5 Whatnots . • 12 „ 2.5 Dressing-table . . . . . 10 Couch .... . 18 „ W ashstand .... . . 8 Sutherland hibles • a ,, Beds . . 18 Camp tables, 4 x .3 . 10 Commodes . . . . Cane chairs . • 1 ,, Canvas chairs . . . . . 7 Bamboo matting, li annas per square yard. Cane ,, ‘3% ,, ,, foot. Covi „ l| „ Co VI mats, 4 annas each. Tlie life in Burmah is absolutely different in many wavs. The houses are two-storeyed, of wood, and are largely built on piles, because of the insects and the damp. Under any circumstances the lower rooms are seldom used except as dining-rooms. The ujiper verandah, especially that over the portico, is generally fitted up as a sitting-room. The servants are all imjiorted from Madras or Bengal, and when asked to go up country insist on very high wages. The Madrassi is often what he is pleased to call ‘‘ Romukatlick ” (Roman Catholic); he almost always speaks English. The Bengali is nearly always Mahomedan. It is advisable to keep the household of one nationality or the other. Horses are seldom kept in Burmah, the native pony being an admirable animal. A fair price for one is Rs. 250. They are fed in Rangoon on “crushed food,” which is sold in bags at Housekeeper and Cook