June 1st.—Finding myself ill for want of exercise, I commenced rising early; dressing by candlelight, going out by moonlight, and mounting my horse at half-past 3 A.M.! What an unnatural life! The buggy is always sent forward to await my arrival at a certain spot; I never draw my horse’s rein until I arrive at the place, the heat is so much greater when you walk your horse. I return in the buggy at 6 A.M., go to bed for a couple of hours, bathe, and appear at breakfast.

How often “Chār vajr, barī fajr,” i.e. four o’clock in the early dawn, sleepy and unwilling to exert myself, have I thought of the proverb:—“Oh, thou who art so fond of sleep, why don’t you die at once[79]?”

To-day the heat is dreadful; 89° even at the mouth of the thermantidote, and in the other parts of the house six degrees higher! After my early canter, I did not quit my chārpāī until 3 P.M., so completely was I exhausted by the heat.

Although by nature not inclined to the melting mood, I felt as if I should dissolve, such streams from my forehead, such thirst, and lassitude; I really “thaw, and resolve myself into a dew.” The call all day is soda-water, soda-water.

To the 21st of June, this oppressive weather held its sway; our only consolation grapes, iced-water, and the thermantidote, which answers admirably, almost too well, as on the 22nd I was laid up with rheumatic fever and lumbago, occasioned, they tell me, by standing, or sleeping before it after coming in from a canter before sunrise.

22nd.—Heavy rain fell, the thermantidote was stopped, and the tattīs taken down; nor were they replaced, as the rain poured down almost night and day from that time until the end of the month.

30th.—We had a party at home: the thermometer during the day 88°; after dinner it rose to 91°, in consequence of the numerous lamps in the rooms, and the little multitude of servants in attendance.

A LIST OF SERVANTS IN A PRIVATE FAMILY.

No. Wages.
Rupees
per month.
1 A khānsāmān, or head man; a Musalmān servant who purchases the provisions, makes the confectionary, and superintends the table 12
2 The ābdār, or water-cooler; cools the water, ices the wines, and attends with them at table 8
3 The head khidmatgār; he takes charge of the plate-chest, and waits at table 7
4 A second khidmatgār, who waits at table 6
5 A bāwarchī, or cook 12
6 Mate bāwarchī 4
7 Mashalchī; dish-washer and torch-bearer 4
8 Dhobee, or washerman 8
9 Istree wālā, washerman for ironing 8
10 A darzee, or tailor 8
11 A second tailor 6
12 An ayha, or lady’s maid 10
13 An under woman 6
14 A doriya; a sweeper, who also attends to the dogs 4
15 Sirdar-bearer, an Hindoo servant, the head of the bearers, and the keeper of the sāhib’s wardrobe; the keys of which are always carried in his kamarband, the folds of cloth around his waist 8
16 The mate-bearer; assists as valet, and attends to the lamps 6
22 Six bearers to pull the pankhās, and dust the furniture, &c. 24
23 A gwālā, or cowherd 4
24 A bher-i-wālā, or shepherd 5
25 A murgh-i-wālā, to take care of the fowls, wild-ducks, quail, rabbits, guinea-fowls, and pigeons 4
26 A mālee, or gardener 5
27 A mate, do 3
28 Another mate, or a cooly 2
29 A gram-grinder, generally a woman who grinds the chanā for the horses 2
30 A coachman 10
38 Eight sā’īses, or (grooms), at five rupees each, for eight horses 40
46 Eight grass-cutters, at three rupees each, for the above 24
47 A bihishti, or water-carrier 5
48 A mate bihishti 4
49 A Barha’ī mistree, a carpenter 8
50 Another carpenter 7
52 Two coolies, to throw water on the tattīs 4
54 Two chaukīdārs, or watchmen 8
55 A durwān, or gate-keeper 4
57 Two chaprāsīs, or running footmen, to carry notes, and be in attendance in the verandah 10
57 total. Rupees per month 290
or about 290l. per annum.