PLATE I.

AN EUROPEAN GENTLEMAN WITH HIS MOONSHEE,
OR NATIVE PROFESSOR OF LANGUAGES.

As a knowledge of the languages of the East is certainly a
primary object with such gentlemen as resort to India in the
East India Company's service, or with the intention to reside there,
for the purpose of trading, &c. a description of the Moonshee,
or Linguist, may, with propriety, precede the other more menial
occupations.

This profession is not invariably filled by the Mussulmans,
though there are very few instances of Hindoos being Moonshees.
Nor is it an hereditary occupation, or confined to any particular
sect, or tribe, among the former. Moonshees, in general, take great
care that their sons become capable of teaching: but there are
numerous competitors for this distinguished employ among those
whose parents have the means of educating them in a suitable
manner. This, indeed, requires but little expense, and but a mere
trifle of assiduity. The learning of the generality of Moonshees is
extremely confined. Writing a fair hand, an acquaintance with the

PLATE II.

A GENTLEMAN IN HIS PRIVATE OFFICE, ATTENDED
BY HIS DUFTOREE, OR NATIVE OFFICE-KEEPER.

THE Duftoree is not an hereditary employment, nor is it confined to any particular religion or sect. Both Hindoos and Musulmans are to be found in this capacity. The duty of the Duftoree requires much regularity and great circumspection. He must see that every part of the office be clean, the ink-stands filled, the desks properly arranged, the papers dusted; and, in general, all in readiness for the clerks. However, it must not be understood that the Duftoree sweeps the office floor; that being the exclusive duty of a menial kept for such purposes only. Were the Duftoree to submit to such a drudgery, he would become an outcast from among his own tribe, and be subjected to the most mortifying insults and heavy fines.

A good Duftoree should be expert at making pens and ruling books; and I have seen some who could bind books so as to be ready for being covered with leather. That part, however, not one will undertake; it being held as unclean, and considered the business of a particular sect, with whom it is hereditary. In fact, all opera-

PLATE III.

A GENTLEMAN, IN A PUBLIC OFFICE, ATTENDED
BY THE CRANNIES, OR NATIVE CLERKS.

THESE are employed in all the offices under government, and in the several mercantile firms throughout India. They are, with very few exceptions, Hindoos, and obtain situations merely from an ability to write a clear hand with tolerable quickness. It may appear strange, but it is perfectly true, that many Crannies, who can read and write English with fluency and correctness, do not understand one word in ten! Some of them are mere copyists, and are utterly ignorant as to the sense or purport of letters they transcribe in the highest style of penmanship. Others, again, affect great erudition, which they are desirous of displaying on all occasions. They pore over dictionaries until they think themselves perfectly finished. The following note, copied verbatim from the writing of one of these pedantic gentry, may serve to show with what success he had thumbed Johnson's Dictionary. It was written to inform his master of a window shutter having been blown off by a north-wester:

"Honourable Sir,

"Last night monstrous breeze come, make all house palpitate. Window shutter very much agitated; and, after much

PLATE IV.

A GENTLEMAN DRESSING, ATTENDED BY HIS
HEAD-BEARER, AND OTHER SERVANTS.

A GENTLEMAN is here seen reading, while a servant washes his feet in a large vessel, made either of tutanag, copper, or brass, but generally the former; this may be about four inches deep, and from fifteen to eighteen in diameter. It has a broad rim like a plate, to which a strainer of corresponding metal is fitted, and may be removed at pleasure. This strainer is essential to comfort, as it conceals the water soiled by washing the hands, &c. the water being poured by a servant from an ewer, for the most part tutenag, or from an earthen soorie, or jug. A servant is seen holding a towel in readiness to dry the foot so soon as washed. It should be observed, that the balosoro-bearers, who in a manner monopolize that occupation in and about Calcutta, will not touch a chillumchee, or washing vessel, under pretence of being defiled, should they come in contact with the impurities washed from the skin of a Christian. And this prejudice (which is a famous tool in the hands of these crafty, lazy fellows,) extends so far, that the man who will pour the water from the ewer, will not, on any account, touch a chillumchee, even in the purest state of cleanliness. Similar

PLATE V.

A GENTLEMAN ATTENDED BY HIS HAJAUM, OR
NATIVE BARBER.

THE Hajaum, or Barber, is often a menial, receiving three or four rupees monthly, and attending at stated hours at his master's residence, having the rest of the day to himself. Those in the employ of the Europeans, are more cleanly and expert than the common village tonsors; who shave with a razor fixed to a piece of wood, and having a blade in shape somewhat similar to a hatchet. They are not very nice about the quality of their soap, which usually has a most offensive smell. Among such as officiate for the natives only, a brush is not to be expected: the face is previously moistened with water, rubbed on with the hand; after which, a lump of fetid soap being applied in the same handy way, a lather is raised, and the operator, totally regardless of the wincing and significant looks of the suffering customer, coolly removes, not only the beard, but often a large portion of the skin. It has frequently been my lot to submit, through positive necessity, to this dreadful havock; and to find, that at least a week or ten days were needful, to repair the damage done to my chin!

The natives have their ears pricked with a small steel instru-
ment; at the other end of which is a kind of chissel, about a line

PLATE VI.

A GENTLEMAN DELIVERING A LETTER TO A SOON-
TAH-BURDAR, OR SILVER BATON-BEARER.

THIS is a servant retained only by persons of rank, or in
office: he bears a short silver baton, of about two feet long, rather
thicker at the upper end, where it is ordinarily a little curved, like
the handle of a hanger, and is ornamented with a tiger's face, or
some such device; the other end is considerably smaller. These
batons are formed of solid silver cases, filled with rosin, the same as
many of our knives and forks.

The Soontah-Burdar, literally implying the stick-bearer, is
next in rank to the Chobe-Dhar, or pole-bearer: the latter has a
straight pole, of similar formation, about five feet long, and from
three to four inches diameter at the top, tapering down to about an
inch and a half at the bottom, where it is armed with a strong
ferrule of iron, or other substantial metal. Some persons of dis-
tinction retain both these classes of servants, which, not only attend
at the hall doors, to announce guests, and to deliver or receive
notes and messages, but attend the palankeen, by the side of which

PLATE VII.

A GENTLEMAN'S KEDMUTGARS, OR TABLE SER-
VANTS, BRINGING IN DINNER.

THESE are servants particularly employed in preparing all the
apparatus for breakfast, dinner, &c. and they occasionally assist
in the kitchen. It should be observed, that women are never
employed in any domestic situation, except in the *zenonah*, or
women's apartments, into which men are never supposed to obtain
admission. One or more *Kedmutgars* invariably attends each gentle-
man at table, during the hot season; and, when flies are troublesome,
all are provided with small hand *punkahs*, or fans, or with whisks
made of hair, feathers, or grass roots. Each *Kedmutgar* stands
behind his master's chair, and supplies him with every thing he may
require.

Very few but Mussulmans are to be found in this capacity;
the occupation being such as to disgust Hindoos, who are particu-
larly enjoined by their religion not to touch poultry, nor to kill any
animal whatever; consequently they are incapable of a thousand
duties to which *Kedmutgars* are subject. Many are excellent confec-
tioners and cooks, and rise to the superior distinction of *Khansammah*,

E 2

PLATE VIII.

AN ENGLISH FAMILY AT TABLE, UNDER A PUNKAH,
OR FAN, KEPT IN MOTION BY A KHELASSY.

THOSE who serve under this designation may be divided into
various classes; some being in the employ of gentlemen, others
appertaining more to the military, especially the artillery depart-
ment; and some being trained entirely to naval purposes. Though
all are to be found occasionally under the circumstances described
in the annexed Plate, yet we must rather confine our ideas to the
*Khelassy* retained in the service of European gentlemen for the pur-
poses of attending upon camp-equipage, pitching and striking tents,
with various other occupations in which this class of servants mix
with other menials. In point of utility and readiness, the *Khelassy*
is, perhaps, inferior to none. They receive from four to six rupees
monthly, and ordinarily are provided with a jacket of some dark-
coloured perpet, with contrasted facings; wearing blue turbans
and waistbands, with white under-vests, and drawers of the same,
or of striped gingham. A piece of red tape, or list, goes round
the edge of the turban, which is, for the most part, formed the
same as those in use among the *Sepoy* regiments.

PLATE IX.

A GENTLEMAN WITH HIS SIRCAR, OR MONEY-SERVANT.

It is devoutly to be hoped, that this very numerous and formidable gang of public and private dependers may speedily become extinct. To persons unacquainted with the customs of the natives of rank, and of the practices among Europeans some twenty years back, it might appear wonderful how such a race of miscreants obtained a footing among either. It would be going too far out of my limits were I to enter on a minute description; and, indeed, it may suffice generally to state, that these money-dealers were formerly in too general employ. Gentlemen in India rarely or never carry money in their pockets, except when travelling; and, until lately, each retained in his service a *Sircar*, whose business was to make all purchases, and to receive and disburse all monies.

The necessity of such a servant was first imputable to the great variety of coins, with the value and distinction of which they were supposed to be infallibly, and, in a manner, exclusively intimate; though the *Podars* are really the only connoisseurs in this difficult branch of business. The mints established by the Honourable East India Company, at their several presidencies and subordinate resi-

The office of *Hookah-Burdar* is common both to Hindoos and Mussulmans, though more prevalent among the latter. The dress is the same as that of the *Kedmutgars*, many of whom occasionally attend at table, and prepare the *Hookah*. The wages are generally from six to ten rupees monthly; many receive much more; indeed, I have heard more than one gentleman boast, that their smoking expenses did not come within an hundred rupees. Some even keep two *Hookah-Burdars*, to attend them by night as well as by day.

The *Hookah* apparatus consists of the glass, or composition bottom, equal to about two quarts, which should be two-thirds filled with clear cold water. The snake, or pliant tube, is about ten feet long, made of a particular kind of bark, resembling that of the plane, or sycamore, bound round a skeleton of pewter wire, and ultimately covered with calico and *cobbradool*, generally black or purple. At one end a mouth-piece of agate, or composition, fixes on a small wooden socket, and the other end fastens by the like means to a bamboo tube, which joins to another that is immersed in the water about three inches; on this last, which rises a foot or more perpendicularly, stands an earthen receiver, which supports a piece of tile, or *towah*, having on its bottom the tobacco, made into a cake by means of molasses, plantains, &c. This tile is kept a little above the edge of the receiver, or *chillum*, so that the air may draw freely through the water into the empty part of the *Hookah* bottom. On the *towah*, or tile, four half balls of a kind of charcoal, peculiarly prepared from burnt rice, are placed, red hot; these cause a smoke to arise from the tobacco on the bottom of the *towah*. A silver