54 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



Mr. Smith — that name will do as well as another — 

 was the magistrate of the district in the early days of 

 our rule. When he was about to retire from the service 

 and return home, he proceeded to provide for his 

 servants. Some he pensioned ; some he gave money 

 to ; for the rest he had arranged Government appoint- 

 ments. Then Mr. Smith called before him these 

 servants, and asked what situation each would prefer. 

 One said he would be a thannahdar — that is, head of a 

 police district — another said he would be a jemmahdar — 

 that is, a chief officer of police — and so on. One servant 

 chose one appointment ; another servant chose another. 

 And whatever appointment they selected, that appoint- 

 ment they received. At length all were provided for 

 except the cook, and he as yet had not spoken. 



So Mr. Smith called him forward, and addressing him, 

 said, " Bawachee Sahib " (" My Lord Cook "), " and what 

 would you like to be ? " The cook answered, " I 

 would like to be nazir" (sheriff). "But," said Mr. 

 Smith, " you cannot read or write. How then will you 

 be able to do the work of sheriff?" Said the cook, 

 " By the blessing of Providence and the good fortune 

 of your honour, I shall do the work sufficiently well." 



Mr. Smith tried to dissuade him, and so also did his 

 fellow-servants, but without effect. The cook remained 

 obdurate to all the arguments addressed to him ; he 

 merely replied, " I will be sheriff, or I will be nothing." 

 So in the end Mr. Smith gave way, and the cook was 

 made sheriff. Soon after Mr. Smith retired from the 

 service, and Mr. Jenkins came as magistrate in his 

 place. Mr. Jenkins heard the story of the cook, and 



