The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

Ceylon. — Newera Elliya Hills — Rail goes within a few miles’ easy drive of the principal sanatorium, Newera Elliya, which is a plateau with an artificial lake. It is only ten hours’ journey from Colombo, and in consequence travellers must be prepared for sudden and rapid changes from heat and cold ; such as leaving a temperature of 90° to find themselves by evening in sharp frost. The manner of living is much the same as in any part of Ceylon, but fewer servants are required, and provisions are slightly more expensive owing to their having to be brought up by rail, &c. Dress : what would be required in April or September in England. Madras. — Ootacamund and Coonor. — Rail runs from Madras to Mesapolium, where there is a small hotel. Dhoolis, ponies, or tongas can be hired there for Coonor and Ootacamund. Coonor can be reached by breakfast time, and Ootacamund a full 1½ hours farther. Rail is in process of construction all the way to Coonor. Coonor has the milder climate, and is suited to invalids who could not stand the climate of Ootacamund. Houses in both places are hired by the season, and are distinctly cheap for hill stations, being Rs. 50 to Rs. 80 per mensem. Food is good and cheap, excellent markets in both places, English churches, doctors, libraries, all kinds of amusements, most hospitable society. Kodai Kalnal, in the Pulney Hills, is a resort which becomes more popular every year, especially to those who have children. Rail to Ammani Kamir, where there is a rest house, thence by transit vans drawn by bullocks at a charge of Rs. 10 ; each contains two passengers, with their baggage. House rents, Rs. 75 per mensem during season, less it taken by the year. Housekeeper and Cook 43 Living rather more expensive than at Ootacamund. Perfect climate. Bengal, Darjeeling.— Access very easy. Railway runs right into the station. This is the dampest of all hill stations, and care is needed for the preservation of clothes, &c., and a suit of good waterproof is almost a necessity. Most excellent hotels. Both living and house rent are dear, and the place is apt to be over-crowded. Society very gay. Leeches and ticks are a perfect pest. Scenery finest of all the hill stations. Upper India. — Naini Tal, Ranikhet, Landour, Mussoorie, Kasauli, Simla, Dhurmsala, Dalhousie, Murree. The resident in Upper India has all these hill sanitaria to choose from. The mode of living in all is nearly the same, and for this the chapter “On the Hills” can be consulted. Choice will depend on requirements of the individual in regard to society, cheapness, accessibility. The most accessible of all these, now that the railway is opened, is Kasauli. To invalids who cannot stand a long fatiguing journey this is a great desideratum. It is not pretty, but is fairly healthy, though, owing to its being a sanatorium for British troops, outbreaks of cholera have taken place from time to time. Simla is nearly forty miles farther, and can be reached by tonga. It is a very large place, very expensive, very gay, very pretty. Educational advantages good. No one should go up that has not a bag of rupees and many pretty frocks. For the North- West Province Naini Tal is perhaps the most accessible ; a charming place, but somewhat shut in. Mussoorie and Landour have practically the same route, the pony track diverging about 8 miles down the hillside.