useless: but, when I suggest the means of avoiding those difficulties,
or any portion of them, attendant on arrival in a foreign land, it must
be understood, that I consider the stranger to be possessed of pecuniary
means: that is, that he can pay his way. Without this, he can do
nothing; and must undergo all the afflictions and miseries attendant
upon despised poverty, in every part of the globe. It may be proper to
point out in this place, that what might here appear to be liberal
calculations, will not suit the East; where every article of European
manufacture bears so enormous a price, where house-rent is so expensive,
and where it is indispensably necessary to retain so many servants. The
first thing to be done, (setting a letter of recommendation out of the
question,) should be to report arrival at the secretary’s office,
depositing the certificate of the Court of Directors’ licence to proceed
to India; without which, the party is treated as an alien, and scarcely
considered entitled to British protection. This does not arise from
ill-will on the part of government, or of the inhabitants; but from that
strict attention the politics of the country imperiously demand to be
paid to the several characters, and descriptions, of persons residing
within our territory.
The above relates equally to all persons in the civil or military
branches; the certificate granted at the India House must be produced,
in order to identify the party; but if it should have been lost, he
himself, together with the commander who received the order to take him
on board, must attend, to make affadavit to that effect, before the
appointment can be admitted upon the registers in India.
Such as appertain to the civil service, being always strongly
recommended and often finding many old acquaintances of their families
on the spot, require but little advice; nor does the cadet stand much in
need of instruction, as to the manner in which he should provide himself
with a home. All he has to do is to wait upon the town-major, at his
office in Fort-William, when he will receive the necessary order for his
admission into the Cadet Corps, at Baraset, about sixteen miles from
Calcutta.
He who has not these advantages, must do the best his circumstances may
afford; he will find temperance to be not only cheap, but indispensable;
for, if he should act so indiscreetly at the outset as to injure his
health, a thousand privations, and a certain encrease of difficulties,
must follow. The first point must necessarily be to get under cover.
This will not be found so easy, as those who have never quitted England
may suppose. It will be after much research, that a small house will be
had, and then only the bare walls; for no such thing is known in India
as a furnished house to be let; and lodgings are, if possible, still
more out of the question. Fortunately, there are, among the European
shop-keepers in Calcutta, some most respectable characters; men
distinguished for their urbanity, philanthropy, and generosity.
Application should be instantly made to one of these firms, for aid, and
advice. The case should be candidly stated; and, in order to insure
confidence, a deposit of money should be made, either with them, or at
one of the Banks. The consequences will be, that, in a few hours, some
small tenement will be obtained, either on hire, or granted as a
temporary accommodation, and the whole of the articles really necessary
will be provided, at some one or other of the auctions which daily take
place within the central parts of the town.
The appointment of proper servants will be a matter of importance; but,
under the auspices of any old resident, by no means difficult; such will
be not simply the most expeditious, but the safest, way of proceeding;
since those who recommend will, in all probability, be expected,
according to the custom of the place, to become sureties for the honesty
of all persons hired through their means. One servant who can speak
English, or at least, an underling _sircar_, deputed from the warehouse,
will prove a very agreeable resource, on all occasions of difficulty;
but I cannot too forcibly inculcate the good policy, or rather the
absolute necessity, of immediately studying the language: till that is
acquired, to such an extent as may remove the necessity for an
interpreter on ordinary occasions, no person can be deemed independent;
far less, capable of acting in any civil, military, or commercial
capacity, with effect.
Strange to say I have known gentlemen to be resident from ten, to
thirty, years in India, without being able to summon resolution to
acquire sufficient of the Hindui language even to take their accounts!
With such the _sircar_ was every thing. The consequences were,
invariably, that he was rich, and master ever in distress!
Without pretending to make a very accurate estimate, I shall attempt to
give an outline of those expences to which every person keeping house,
though in the most retired manner, and on the most economical plan, must
be subjected. In doing this, I consider the instructions given for the
outfit to have been duly attended to; and, that wearing apparel, plate,
bedding, blankets, sheets, and pillow cases, have been provided. If they
have not, the whole of those articles may be rated at from fifty to a
hundred per cent. more than they would cost in England. The following
brief catalogue will be found to contain only those conveniences which
are indispensable.
Rupees.
One dozen of chairs; say at four rupees each 48
One dining table for six, say 25
Two tepoys (tripods) 3½ each 7
One writing-table, with drawers 25
One bedstead of 6 feet 4 in. by 4 feet 6 in. 30
Curtains to ditto; those for the exterior of chintz 20
Inside ditto, of gauze, to keep out musquitoes 10
Bookcase upon chest of drawers 100
China and glass-ware, say 100
Shades to put over candles, one pair, say 40
(Those with wooden pedestals to be preferred.)
A chillumchee (or metal bason) for washing hands, with its 25
tripod, &c.
A palanquin and bedding 100
Table cloths and towels 50
One large, and one small, satringe (cotton carpet) 25 and 10 35
Various culinary articles, say 40
A variety of small articles in cutlery, &c. say 45
———
Making in all, on a rough estimate 700
———
In this I have not included a horse, because it is not every body who
keeps one, nor is it peremptorily needful; but, both as a convenience,
and as tending to health, I recommend that a cheap, safe, and quiet
poney be provided: numbers are sold every week, at all prices; but I
should think that, including the saddle and bridle, from 250 to 300
rupees, would be going far enough: say the whole expence should be 1000
sicca rupees, or £125; which will, I apprehend, be as little as any
person can expend, so as to be either creditable or comfortable. The
necessary stock of wines, spirits, wax-candles, sauces, sugar-candy,
tea, coffee, salt-petre, and a number of lesser items, would require
full 600 rupees more; under the supposition that a year’s stock were
laid in. At that rate we may compute £200. to be necessary to establish
a gentleman at his residence, supposing it to be fixed. Travelling makes
quite another concern, and will be found to encrease the disbursements
considerably.
A comparison with the prices of those articles we, in Europe, consider
to be requisite for the furniture of two or three rooms, will shew that
Calcutta is by no means a favourable market for the purchase, either of
furniture, or of wines, cattle, &c.; and should at once satisfy every
free-mariner, free-merchant, &c. proceeding to India on speculation,
that he must be provided with at least six hundred pounds to answer the
demands of his outset, including house rent, which cannot well be taken
at less than £150. per annum; his servants will amount to about as much
more; and his table expences, pocket-money, &c., on the most moderate
scale, will demand one hundred, after laying in his stock of wines, tea,
&c. So that, in all, we may think he does very well on the £600. If,
indeed, he should be so fortunate as to make numerous respectable
acquaintances, at whose tables he may frequently become a guest, a
considerable portion of the expences, stated at £100. may, perhaps, be
retrenched; but such good fortune does not happen to all; and, when it
does, rarely comes at once; it requires some time to gain that footing
which may relieve the pressure of table charges; and when that footing
has been gained, it may not be attended with more than common civility,
without the smallest prospect of being served.
I say thus much with the view to correct an opinion known to prevail,
that it is easy to get into society in India; and that then a gentleman
may put his hands in his pockets, while his friends forward him rapidly.
Such, assuredly, was the case in days of yore; but, within the last
twenty years, there have been so many retrenchments in all the public
offices, so many young men have gone to India with the hope of being
engaged in merchants’ houses, and so many have failed in those
prospects, that I should omit a very important branch of that duty I
have imposed on myself, in offering my advice to those who are about to
proceed to India, were I to encourage the idea of such supposed
facilities being realized. It should never be forgotten, that all
persons who are ignorant of the language spoken in common, namely, the
Hindui, (vulgarly called the _Moors’_,) are incompetent to any duty,
beyond what may relate to making out copies of accounts-current, and
registering correspondence: even these demand some local knowledge, to
be performed with correctness. This consideration will lead to the
conviction, that full one year must be provided for before any
employment, on which dependance can be placed for a livelihood, and
affording the prospect of future rise, should be expected.
Of such importance does this appear, that, were I to advice any young
friend, about to proceed to India, as to the manner in which he should
pass his first year, it would be nearly in the following terms: ‘Rise at
daybreak, and ride gently for one hour in the hot season, and two hours
in the cold season; make a moderate breakfast, avoiding melted butter,
salt meats, salt fish, sweetmeats, &c., good tea or coffee being
assuredly the most wholesome; study the language for an hour; attend
some office gratuitously, with the view to become acquainted with the
accounts, price-currents, markets, provisions, commodities, &c.; about
two o’clock retire to rest; about an hour before sun-set bathe, by means
of three or four large pots of water poured over the head; put on clean
linen, and dine moderately upon plain viands, taking care never to
exceed four or five glasses of the best Madeira; proceed for two hours
with studying the language, and, after taking a cup or two of tea, or of
coffee, or a crust of bread and a glass of Madeira, go to bed, avoiding
to sleep in a strong current of air.’
Possibly, it may be urged, that a person intent on learning the Hindui,
so as to be competent to transact business in the course of twelve
months, would not attain that object by three hours only of daily
assiduity. I am, however, completely satisfied, that such a portion of
time, appropriated under the guidance of an intelligent linguist, may
enable the student to make a wonderful progress; especially when
combined with the resolution to enter as much as possible into familiar
colloquy in that language.
An old friend, long since gone to ‘kingdom come,’ began the study of
Persian at rather an advanced age; which caused many to rally him on the
new turn he had taken. He, however, persevered, and, in the course of
two years, made himself more than commonly proficient. The explanation
he gave, regarding the plan he had laid down, was such as convinced me,
that any person, with a tolerable memory, may, in a moderate time,
acquire any regular language. His mode was, for the first month never to
retire to bed until he had learned twenty words perfectly by heart, so
as to explain them with promptitude, however catechized: after that
first month, he was master of no less than six hundred words. During the
next month, finding that former acquirements greatly facilitated his
progress, he made a point of gaining twenty-five words daily; therefore
that month gave him seven hundred and fifty words; which, added to the
six hundred of the preceding, made a total of thirteen hundred and
fifty.
In this way he added five words every month, until he found, that, by
aid of derivations and compounds, he was well grounded in the language.
His computation was, that, as few languages contain more than forty
thousand words in common use, when ever he should be able to learn fifty
words daily, he might, to use his own terms, ‘make the language fall
before him in two years.’
This is an arithmetical demonstration of the powers annexed to
persevering regularity, and ought to induce every youth, for that is the
season for acquirements, to adopt such a system as should insure the
great object in view. So steady a mode of carrying on a pursuit, cannot,
however, be expected in young folks, many of whom have just escaped from
the trammels of parental vigilance; and who, having passed so many years
at their studies, rarely feel much disposition to prolong academic
labors; while, at the same time, the pleasures of society are open to
their participation. Still, I feel a hope that this volume may prove
intrinsically beneficial to a large portion, by pointing out the means
whereby preferment may be obtained, and by shewing with what facility
the foundation may be laid for a most superb superstructure.
The number of servants, and the amount of their wages, forming so
conspicuous an item in domestic economy, cannot fail to attract the
attention, not only of persons proceeding to India, but of their
parents, and friends, who often express much surprize at the apparent
extravagance of the young _debutants_ in this particular. Such notions
of improper indulgence in retinue, though perfectly natural, as
resulting from long habits, and the little necessity felt among us in
Europe, for keeping many servants, even in large families, by no means
find a sanction when transplanted beyond the narrow limits of our own
island. In many parts of Europe, custom has rendered permanent various
practices which, no doubt, had their origin in the purest motives, and
did not, in the first instance, appear likely to serve as the basis of
future excesses and encroachments.
Thus we find that, in Spain, no old servant is ever discharged by any
person of rank; in such families the domestics of deceased parents are
invariably retained. The obvious consequence is, that a young man, on
coming to his title, often finds himself burthened with some scores of
the aged, and of the idle; to discharge any of which would be not only
disgraceful, but deemed illegal; they being considered as heirlooms, by
the rejection of which, the rest of the inheritance would be virtually
forfeited. Here we see an excellent, and meritorious act, converted into
a nuisance, that proves highly injurious, both to the interests of the
successor, and to the morals of the pensioners. But who shall lead the
way to break through so formidable a phalanx!
The multiplicity of menials employed in the houses of European gentlemen
in Bengal, results from a cause very different from that above
described: it is founded on the tenets of religion, especially among the
Hindus; and is by no means likely to be abrogated within our time. What
may be effected by a relaxation of their present rigid principles, and
by the further extention of our customs, cannot be foretold. Our
situation has ever been critical; now is more so than ever; and we may
be deprived of the opportunity of judging what would have resulted from
the silent operations of succeeding ages, by some sudden burst of
revolt, occasioned by the intrigues of petty rajahs within our own
territory; fomented by the animosity of the native powers on our
frontier, and by the intrigues of French emissaries.
It being my intention to treat separately of the religious tenets, and
institutions, both of the Mussulmans and of the Hindus, little need be
said in this place, further than, that, owing to the division of the
latter into sects, called by us _casts_, which render the occupations of
all perfectly distinct, a necessity exists for hiring such of each
_cast_ as may attend to those duties they undertake, without becoming
subjected to the animadversions of their priesthood, or to those
penalties attendant upon even the most trifling deviation from the
marked path. Add to this, that the climate arbitrarily imposes the
necessity for retaining some classes of servants, unknown in England;
or, at least, supposed to be exclusively attached to the convenience of
ladies, and of sick persons. When all matters are considered, it will be
found, that that host of domestics appertaining to the establishment of
a gentleman in Bengal, proves, in the aggregate, little, if at all, more
expensive than the ordinary number retained by families of
respectability in most parts of England. What with wages, liveries,
lodging, board, washing, waste, negligence, and, I am sorry to say,
pilfering, we shall find the one man servant, and the two maids, fully a
match, in point of expence, with the whole body of those in the pay of
one of our countrymen abroad.
A gentleman in this country never can guess at the ultimate of his
disbursements, where his domestics are concerned either in the
appropriation, or in the expenditure: in Bengal, &c. the uttermost
farthing is known; each servant receiving a certain sum monthly, in
consideration of which he is in attendance during the whole day, finds
his own cloaths, provides his own victuals, and pays for whatever cabin
he may build or occupy. As to purloining victuals, there is little
danger; for, with the exception of some of the lower _casts_, which are
held in a state of utter abomination, no native of India, by which I
mean either Mussulman or Hindu, will so much as touch those viands which
an European has partaken: or which have been served up to his table.
In this I must be understood to speak generally, and without any
reference to those few deviations that have at times been discovered;
being sensible, that some instances could be adduced of servants,
particularly Mahomedans, having so far trespassed against the doctrines
of their religion, as absolutely to eat of _ham_, and other viands, in
secret. Such anomalies must be abstracted from my main position; which
is well known, by all who have resided in India, to be perfectly
correct.
So strict are all the _casts_, however much the one may be below the
other in a religious point of view, regarding the preservation of that
conspicuous distinction laid down by their sacred code, that,
notwithstanding they may worship the same deities, under the same forms,
and with the same ceremonies, yet will they not allow of participation
at meals; nor even of contact, at such moments. The stranger will, no
doubt, be greatly surprized on his arrival, to see during the evenings,
about sun-set, each individual, or, perhaps, here and there, two or
three, if of the same _cast_, squatting on the bare ground, within a
small space levelled for the purpose, of which the limits are marked out
by the line of dust, or rubbish, moved from the centre towards the
exterior. In such an area, each man, or woman, cooks and afterwards
eats, the principal meal of the day. In fair weather, these areas are
made under the canopy of heaven; but during the rainy season, and
perhaps in winter time, they are made within the huts of the persons
respectively.
So extremely scrupulous are the natives, in respect to the preparation
of their victuals, and to their consumption, that, if any person not of
the very same _cast_, with the reservation of the brahmans, or priests,
were to touch their bodies, or their cloaths, or any one article within
the area, or even the surface of the area itself, the whole meal,
together with any earthen ware, standing within the circumvallation, (if
it may be so called,) would be instantly thrown away, as being polluted.
Nay, whatever portion might be in the mouth, must be ejected; and the
party be obliged to perform an ablution, before he could attempt to
resume his culinary labors, or to join in society with his compeers. Nor
will either a Mussulman, or a Hindu, drink water out of any vessel
touched, while in a state of repletion, by a person of inferior cast, or
by an European. Earthen ware of every kind, though new, or empty,
becomes defiled by such contact, so as to be utterly useless to the
proprietor.
Knowing such to be the case, it must be both cruel, and impolitic, to
trespass on a prejudice in itself perfectly innocent, and by no means
interfering with the rights, or the convenience, of others. It is true,
the patient Hindu, even while suffering under those privations attendant
upon the destruction, or at least the disqualification, of his meal,
will rarely proceed to extremity against any European, who may occasion
such an inconvenience and loss: because, under a supposition of the
trespasser’s ignorance, he, in his mind, finds an excuse for, and
pardons, what he mildly terms ‘the accident.’ But, should any native
offend in a similar manner, a war of words would exhibit the irritation
of the Hindu’s mind! Nor would he be passive were one of his countrymen
to step over him while asleep; that being considered not only
indelicate, but productive of serious mischiefs; inducing the
visitations of evil spirits, thereby causing disease, and, at no very
remote period, death. This strange infatuation must appear perfectly
ridiculous in any civilized being, but especially among a race of people
who are, one and all, predestinarians. The European should be careful
not to stride over any of his domestics who may occasionally lay down in
the veranda, &c. of his house: such an act on the part of an unbeliever,
(applying the term to ourselves,) being considered doubly laden with
mischief.
The servants, whether of Europeans, or of natives of consequence, are
divided into two classes. The first class, which is known by the
designation of _nokeron_, (plural of _noker_,) includes such as, either
from the important, or confidential, offices they hold, are, in general
estimation, judged exempt from all menial duties. They are as follow.
The _Banian_, or money agent.
The _Darogah_, or _Gomastah_, or factor, or superintendant.
The _Moonshy_, or linguist.
The _Jemmadar_, or chief of the retinue.
The _Chobe-dar_, or silver-pole bearer.
The _Soontah-burdar_, or silver-baton bearer.
The _Kansamah_, or chief table-attendant.
The _Sircar_, or immediate agent for receipts and payments, and cash
keeper.
The _Cranny_, or clerk, or writer in the office.
The second class comprises the _Chaukeron_, (plural of _Chauker_).
The _Khedmutgar_, or table-attendant.
The _Mosaulchy_, or flambeau bearer.
The _Hookah-burdar_, or preparer of the _hookah_, (pipe).
The _Bheesty_, or water carrier.
The _Babachy_, or cook.
The _Durzy_, or tailor.
The _Doby_, or washerman.
The _Mohote_ or _Mohout_, or elephant driver, who has always one or
more _Coolies_, called _mates_, to assist.
The _Surwan_, or camel driver.
The _Syce_, or groom.
The _Gaus-kot_, or grass cutter, dependant on the former.
The _Chaubuck-asswar_, or horse breaker.
The _Mauly_, or gardener.
The _Aub-dar_, or water cooler.
The _Compadore_, or purveyor, under the _kansamah_.
The _Hirkarah_, or messenger.
The _Piada_, (or _Peon_,) nearly the same as the _hirkarah_.
The _Hajaam_, or _Nye_, or _Nappy_, _i.e._ barber.
The _Duftoree_, or office-keeper.
The _Fraush_, or furniture keeper.
The _Mater_, or sweeper; a female for the same duties being termed
_matranny_.
The _Dooreah_, or dog keeper.
The _Kalashy_, or camp-equipage keeper.
The _Berriarah_, or shepherd.
The _Chokeydar_, or watchman.
The _Durwan_, or gate-keeper, or porter.
The _Cahar_, or palanquin bearer.
The _Coachman_, or postilion.
The _Ayah_, a female attendant in charge of children.
The _Dhye_, a ditto attendant on a lady.