The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

To turn to the minor duties of a mistress, it may be re- marked that she is primarily responsible for the decency jxnd health of all persons living in her service or compound. VVith this object, she should insist upon her servants living in their quarters, and not in the bazaar; but this, on the other hand, is no reason why they should turn your domain into a cara- vanserai for their relations to the third and fourth generation. As a rule, it is well to draw a very sharp line in tins respect, and if it be possible to draw it on the other side ot the mothers-in-law, so much the better for peace and quietness. Of course, if the rule that all servants shall live m quartei-s be enforced, it becomes the mistress’s duty to see that they are decently housed, and have proper sanitary conveniences The bearer should have strict orders to report any illness ot any kind amongst the servants or their belongings ; indeed, it is advisable for the mistress to inquire every day on this point, and as often as possible-once or twice a week at least —she should go a regular inspection round the compound, not forgetting the stables, fowl-houses, &c. With regard to the kitchen, every mistress woithy the name will insist on having a building suitable for this use, and will not put up with a dog-kennel. On this point the --‘uthore cannot refrain from expressing their regret, that where t power exists of forcing landlords into keeping their houses in repair, and supplying sanitary arrangements, as in canton- Housekeeper and Cook 5 ments, this power has not been exercised in regard to the most important thing of all ; that is^ to the procuring of kitchens, Avhere the refuse and otlal of ages cannot percolate through the mud floors, and where the drain water does not most effectually apply sewage to a large surrounding area. With existing arrangements many and many an attack of ty])hoid might be traced to children playing near the kitchen and pantry drain, and as in large stations the comjiounds narrow from lessening room, the evil will become greater. In regard to actual housekeeping, the authors emphati- cally deny the common assertion that it must necessarily run on different lines to what it does in England. Econom}', prudence, efficiency are the same all over the world, and because butcher meat is cheap, that is no excuse for its being wasted. Some modification, of course, there must be, hut as Utile as possible. It is, for instance, most desii’able that the mistress should keep a regular storeroom, containing not merely an assortment of tinned foods, as is usually the case, but rice, sugar, flour, potatoes, &c. ; everything, in short, which, under the common custom, comes into the khansamuh’s daily account, and helps more than larger items to swell the monthly bills. For it is absolutely impossible for him to give a trre account of consumption of these things daily, and so the item must in every case be a nominal charge far above actual expenditure. With regard to the best plan for keeping this storeroom, the next chapter must be con- sulted.