One story more to teach us to judge charitably of Domingo. A lady
was inveighing to a friend against the whole race of Indian cooks as
dirty, disorderly, and dishonest. She had managed to secure the
services of a Chinese cook, and was much pleased with the contrast.
Her friend did not altogether agree with her, and was sceptical about
the immaculate Chinaman. "Put it to the test," said the lady; "just
let us pay a visit to your kitchen, and then come and see mine." So
they went together. What need to describe the Bobberjee-Khana? They
glanced round, and hurried out, for it was too horrible to be endured
long. When they went to the Chinaman's kitchen, the contrast was
indeed striking. The pots and pans shone like silver; the table was
positively sweet; everything was in its proper place, and Chang
himself, sitting on his box, was washing his feet in the soup tureen!



THE MUSSAUL, OR MAN OF LAMPS



The Mussaul's name is Mukkun, which means butter, and of this
commodity I believe he absorbs as much as he can honestly or
dishonestly come by. How else does the surface of him acquire that
glossy, oleaginous appearance, as if he would take fire easily and
burn well? I wish we could do without him! The centre of his
influence, a small room in the suburbs of the dining-room, which he
calls the dispence, or dispence-khana, is a place of unwholesome
sights and noisome odours, which it is good not to visit unless as
Hercules visited the stables of Augeas. The instruments of his
profession are there, a large handie full of very greasy water, with