average from Rs. 40 to Rs. 60 a month ; though witli very little
more to show for it, Rs. 100 will not cover the bill. Provi-
sions are still cheap on the whole ; indeed, when beginning
to housekeep last winter the revising author was immensely
struck by the fact that the rise in the cost of actual food bore
no relation whatever to the increase in the general cost of
living. As an instance, fuel had not advanced a cowrie, but
cooks were asking double for the charcoal contract. The
author did not give it. Nor would she take joints of meat
for 5 and 6 rupees, when, by weighing them, it became
evident that the price per Ib. was half as much again as she
gives foi the best meat in London. She did without them.
Roughly speaking, prices are now, in one of the dearest
stations in the NorUi-West, as follows : Meat, from 3 to 6
annas a seer/ milk, from 8 to 12 quarts or seers per rupee;
vary very much, from 3 annas to 6 annas a dozen ; butter,
which is now mostly bought from central dairies, is R. 1 a
lb., but from the bazaar it is cheaper; while vegetables, if
they have to be bought, are most reasonable. Bread is
absolutely unreasonable. Its cost, taking wheat at 12 seers,
should be less than one anna a pound. It is nearly three,
or, roughly speaking, tenpence halfpenny a quartern. The
usual practice is to subscribe for a basket of vegetables every,
oi every other, day from the public gardens. There is a
fixed price for this, varying from Rs. 2 to Rs. 4 per month.
It is also usual to join a mutton club. This is a joint-stock
feeding company of any number of members divisible by four,
who agree to divide a sheep into four quarters and take their
share, hind and fore, and the appurtenances thereof, in turn.
One member is secretary, and is responsible for the manage-
ment and quality of the meat sent out. This can be done by
private feeding under private shepherds — the total cost per
month being divided among the shareholders — or by contract,
the object being to secure wholesome, well-fed meat. This
is a plan adopted in many small stations, but not so necessary
in big ones. It is very generally adopted in regard to beef,
especially about Christmas time. Fowls are cheap, but not
as a rule good, unless fattened at home. Small chickens cost
about 4 annas, large roasting ones 12 annas. The fuel used
is charcoal. This should be contracted for with the cook, and
from Rs. 10 to Rs. 12 a month is ample, including hot water
Housekeeper and Cook
39
for baths. In like manner, is called in Lo^
the “cruet” should be contracted for, and Rs. 1 ^ 4
a month is ample for salt, pepper, spices >
ft annas a month for oil; and 1 anna a piece for the tinning
of cooking pots. It is a mistake to get
as the tinman in that case only uses pure lead. As
inferior alloy has to be guarded against. A good ^Jl J
fino-er; a perfectly clean one, newly washed, and
should show no suspicion of black on it if rubbe p y
on the newly-tinned vessels. Some housekeepers buy then
Slaicoal in b'iilk and give it out daily This - -ly ^
plan in out-stations, where it is possible to f
burned for you by contract. The custom of giving a daily
fixed sum for soup is iniquitous and absurd.
very strong, clear soup meat may
Page 25
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
average from Rs. 40 to Rs. 60 a month ; though witli very little more to show for it, Rs. 100 will not cover the bill. Provisions are still cheap on the whole ; indeed, when beginning to housekeep last winter the revising author was immensely struck by the fact that the rise in the cost of actual food bore no relation whatever to the increase in the general cost of living. As an instance, fuel had not advanced a cowrie, but cooks were asking double for the charcoal contract. The author did not give it. Nor would she take joints of meat for 5 and 6 rupees, when, by weighing them, it became evident that the price per Ib. was half as much again as she gives foi the best meat in London. She did without them. Roughly speaking, prices are now, in one of the dearest stations in the North-West, as follows : Meat, from 3 to 6 annas a seer/ milk, from 8 to 12 quarts or seers per rupee;
vary very much, from 3 annas to 6 annas a dozen ; butter, which is now mostly bought from central dairies, is R. 1 a lb., but from the bazaar it is cheaper; while vegetables, if they have to be bought, are most reasonable. Bread is absolutely unreasonable. Its cost, taking wheat at 12 seers, should be less than one anna a pound. It is nearly three, or, roughly speaking, tenpence halfpenny a quartern. The usual practice is to subscribe for a basket of vegetables every, oi every other, day from the public gardens. There is a fixed price for this, varying from Rs. 2 to Rs. 4 per month. It is also usual to join a mutton club. This is a joint-stock feeding company of any number of members divisible by four, who agree to divide a sheep into four quarters and take their share, hind and fore, and the appurtenances thereof, in turn. One member is secretary, and is responsible for the management and quality of the meat sent out. This can be done by private feeding under private shepherds — the total cost per month being divided among the shareholders — or by contract, the object being to secure wholesome, well-fed meat. This is a plan adopted in many small stations, but not so necessary in big ones. It is very generally adopted in regard to beef, especially about Christmas time. Fowls are cheap, but not as a rule good, unless fattened at home. Small chickens cost about 4 annas, large roasting ones 12 annas. The fuel used is charcoal. This should be contracted for with the cook, and from Rs. 10 to Rs. 12 a month is ample, including hot water
Housekeeper and Cook
for baths. In like manner, is called in
the “cruet” should be contracted for, and Rs. 1 ^ 4
a month is ample for salt, pepper, spices >
ft annas a month for oil; and 1 anna a piece for the tinning
of cooking pots. It is a mistake to get
as the tinman in that case only uses pure lead. As
inferior alloy has to be guarded against. A good
finger; a perfectly clean one, newly washed, and
should show no suspicion of black on it if rubbed by
on the newly-tinned vessels. Some housekeepers buy then
Charcoal in b'iilk and give it out daily This - -ly ^
plan in out-stations, where it is possible to f
burned for you by contract. The custom of giving a daily
fixed sum for soup is iniquitous and absurd.
very strong, clear soup meat may