SERVANTS 215 



are notoriously bad. If new to the country, do 

 not engage Burmans — your English-speaking 

 Burmese 'loogaleV or boy, is generally a scamp 

 — and if you cannot speak the language they will 

 have little respect for you, and you will fare 

 badly indeed. Good Madrassies are hard to get, 

 and they dislike the jungle intensely. But they 

 can speak a dozen different languages, vilely it 

 is true ; but still, so as to be understood. They 

 are clever at camp shifts and expedients. If 

 procurable, the best servants for a shooting 

 expedition in Burma are a couple of good 

 Punjabi Mahomedan servants. The cook will 

 not be so clever as a Madrassi, but he will be 

 able to cook well enough for camp. The Punjabi 

 is hardy as a rule, and very willing, if a good 

 man. He does not mind roughing it, and is less 

 likely to knock up than the Madrassi. A good 

 supply of * atta ' and ' ghi ' should be taken for 

 them, and, without pampering them, they should 

 be made as comfortable as possible. They should 

 be made to sleep off the ground whenever it 

 can be managed, and if during wet weather they 

 are in tents, it should be seen that they have a 

 waterproof sheet to lie on. A present of a 

 little tea or an occasional tin of milk will be much 

 appreciated, and as they cannot touch any 

 meat that has not had the throat cut while still 

 alive by a co-religionist, it is desirable to give 

 them a fowl now and again. Apart from any 



