Thomas Williamson , ( 1810 ), East India Vade-Mecum, VOL I. , London , Black, Parry, and Kingsbury ,
p. 334
334 purposely made the last among the male ser-vants, it may be as well to offer a few hints regarding European servants, and English cattle. It might be said, in brief, that neither the one, nor the other, is found to answer in India. An European servant must have nearly as many natives to attend him as an officer requires ; he must have a house; and a million of indulgences, such as nearly abrogate his services, must be shewn towards him. Many have been taken to India, but the result has generally been, that, after saving a little money, or making a few friends, especially by farriery, they have set up in some business, and with very little warning, or ceremony, quitted their masters; who, on the other hand, were usually far from desiring their continuance. I think my own memory would furnish sufficient instances to warrant the assertion, that few, if any, of this class, can be ex-empted from the charge of ingratitude. Really, when all things are considered, it must be owing to excess of vanity. Or to some kindred folly, that any gentleman would retain an Euro-pean coachman, or postilion, at full two hundred rupees monthly, all items included, when an excellent substitute may be found, among the many natives who follow those professions, and to whom a twelfth part of that sum is a little fortune. As to an European butler, steward, &c., the same objection exists; with the addi- |