A Lady Resident

The Englishwoman in India A Lady Resident

This historical guidebook, published when the British Raj was at its height, instructs Englishwomen on how to run an efficient household in India.

Written by an anonymous longtime resident of the country, this book begins by offering readers instructions on what to bring on the long journey to India. As the voyage took weeks by boat, a specific itinerary is offered: unnecessary items and sundries are discouraged, as are things which would spoil quickly, or that can easily be acquired in Indian marketplaces or stores.

We then hear about the various attributes of a good household in India. Topics include acquiring a competent and reliable team of servants; making the home presentable, tidy and well-furnished; and establishing an environment suited to bringing up and educating children. We also hear of how a household must be ready for travel at short notice, such as on colonial business. In the case of rural dwellings, the need for a properly run stable and farmyard is also detailed.

The second portion of the book contains hundreds of recipes. Some of these, such as curries and certain meat dishes, are decidedly Indian while others demonstrate how to improvise popular European dishes from ingredients commonly found in the locality. This portion of the text concludes with a series of menus suitable for feeding the entire family in any given month.