The Washington times., 1901-08-18
ICE IN INDIA.
The Factories, the Tricks of the
Trade, and the Consumers.

| InGia-ice The one does-and yet does
| not-suggest the. ether. But from the 18th
| of April till the CORE spending day of Oc
| tober ice is added to the Anglo-1udians
whisky and soda in two-thirds of the In
| dian stations. r In the remaining por-
| ton il is required all the year round, with
/ the exception of December and January:
while IN Bombay and Madras-month in
and month out-a long drink to which
lump of ice has not been added is ex
| ceedlngly unpleasant. In SimIa. Naini
Tai. Mussoorie. Darjheeling, and other
hill stations" as well as in Bangalore.
Sccunderabad. and one or two other
| places possessing civilized climate. ice,
if not unknown. is but little used.
Although almost every known town,
| large small, on the plains" of India is
supplied with ice, there are but few fac
| tories OF Importance. Calcutta possesses
couple owned by European firms, and
| Bombay and Madras are blessed with a
| like number, while Kurachee, Lucknow,
Allahabad, Cawnpore, and Meerut are
provided with one or two establishments
of semi English origin. Eurasian and ma
tive factories, of a not very reassurins
appearance, are scattered about. But
their output is not large. In the small
stations where no factory exists, ice is
imported from the nearest town, and,
though carefully packed in sawdust and
many blankets. much of it is wasted en-
route for its destination. In connection
herewith the wastage allowance ques-
ton is somewhat a bone of contention.
The native not being. like Brutus a
strictly honorable man. is said to resort
to many Illegal devices to escape having
to supply the full amount inyoicec: In
deed, correspondence of arr acrimonious
nature is frequently exchanged between
Aryan firms and their esteemed clients.
Thus:
The Hinslayan Hotel. Dehra Drn.
July /, 90.
To Messrs Ram Dam Co. Cawnpore:
Dear Sirs-The 100 seers (l00 lb) ice arrived
less 20 scers From this think you cannot
have packed the 100 agreed upon
former experience shows that not than
90 seers should waste on the juorney. We must
deduct the price OF 80. seers from your account.
Yours faithfully, Manager.
The Himaiayan Hotel, July 3. 90.
Dear sir-You make a mistake We are quite
honest chaps; not sending shorts quantities.
You must pay up, dear sirs Yours, faithful,
RAM, DAM COMPANY.
The Himaiayan Hotel, July 4. 90.
Dear Sirs-In reply TO yours of the Sd instant,
decline to pay for than the amount
Ceived plus 20 allowance. Herewith cheque
which have the goodness to acknowledge. We
are, yours, faithfully, ----, Manager
The Himalayan Hotel! July g. 90.
Dear Sir-What you meaning % high hand. you
must pay OF we bring suit. This Is not like
English hotel custom. We are much surprise and
ashamed, this being dishonest. Come and
pay the due amount not like THIEF
tricks. RAM DAM & COMPANY.
Many purchasers arrange with the sup
plying firm that they are to receive GER
tain number of seers, and this is by far
the most satisfactory plan, since it cannot
lead to disa greements, unless the buyer is
dishonest and misnforms the merchant
as to the amount received. But such is
not often the case. The Anglo-Indian, as
a type, is distinctly honest and reputable.
Soldiers are large buyers. Atkins the
warrior is invariably thirsty, and is Keen
ly alive to the advantages TO be derived
from mixing ice with his drinks. His Of
fcers' mess is plentifuIly stocked with ice.
while the large clubs. such as those of
Calcutta. Bombay. Madras. Kurachee,
Poonah. Whow, Meerut, Allahabad,
Cawnpore, Lucknow, and Rawalpindi, are
excellent customers to both the Anglo
lndian and Indigenous ice factories. Res
idents of a station frequently obtain
their supplies from the local club or from
the Parsee village stop; and in the mo-
fussil (out-of-the-way) places the half a
dozen European inhabitants club together
and order up a tri-weekly or even daily
consignment Occasionally native OFF,
cial of Anglicised tendencies is invited to
join the syndicate or neighborfng ''Ra-
jah''-for the looks of the thing-puts his
name down for "A daily dole. The Eura-
sian element are not at all averse to the
use of ice, and should their means permit
of the luxury in question, it will be OBJ
tanned in small quantities-second- hand II
possible.
The Calcutta hotels are specially desira-
Bile customers. During the hot weather
of an evening-for in India S metropolis
the evening corresponds to the Partisan
abSinthe hour-a colossal consumption of
ice takes place. Warriors from Fort VIII
liam, DUN DUN, and Barrakpore, togeth-
er with sailors from the innumerabe YES
sells lying in the harbor, merchants, clerks
of all nationalities, and nondeScriptS.
foregather in the dozen or so hotel bars
appertaining to the City of Palaces-as
the unreliable guide book takes upon it
self to describe it. Iced drinks abound.
Bombay and other seaport towns provide
clients Of 4 like description. while the up
country" hotels give substantial orders.
The Eurasian and the native hotels also
are among the ice factory's list of Gus
toners; hut their orders are comparative |
ly smalr-the proprietors of such hotels |
are not generously inclined toward their
guests. Those Anglo-lndians who are of
a luxurious nature ice their fruit thereby
enhancing its indigenous charms. Cham
payne, beer, and soda water are also iced
by those who can afford the necessary
outlay.
The native who in Calcutta sells ice at
the corner of the street does a strictly re- |
tail business. Sheltered in a little hut, he |
doles out pcnnyworths to those who are |
suddenly thirsty. Even pice-a frac-
tional part of a acknowledgements its |
purchasing power as applied to ice. Con !
tinually during the long, long Indian |
day the ice stall is besieged by the AIRY I
an menials of the neighboring houses. |
The retailer obtains his stock in trade |
from the nearest factory. the terms on |
which he is supplied being spot cash.
There is one section OF the Anglo-lndan |
community lacking ice-the tea planters |
living in the Duars. The indigo planters |
of Bihar are mostly in the same straits. |
To a few of them the train brings daily |
supply. but as rule ice is unknown in |
this region Of Bengal. Necessity results |
in the following inventions for the cooling |
of the sahih'S soda water. The bottles |
may be placed in basket filled with wet |
branch Of tree. What breeze there is
partially cools the soda water. Or the |
basket. with its freight of liquid refresh |
ment, may be placed in a tub OF cold wa |
ter This system results in its being |
rather less than partially cooled. The |
third method is distinctly the most sue /,
cessful number of hollow pieces of |
bamboo being obtained, a few handouts |
of Glaubors salts are introduced. and the /
bottles being inserted the ends are plug !
grd. After an hour ; shaking the liquor is |
cooled. Much work is thus entailed upon
the indigo planters menials. hut the end |
most certainly justifies the means. while
the domestics are able to reflect upon the
fact that labor omnia Vincit
From the railway frefreshmcnt rooms
ar a va i.s.