Chapter IV: Preface: Of My First Edition

By A. Egmont Hake, Esq.

[_TRUE COPY._]

The author of this little work has asked me to write him a Preface, and I gladly do so, especially if it will help to find him buyers, as well as readers, who will put into practice the admirable receipts he offers to gourmets and others. For my own part I can speak with some authority--indeed the best--as to the excellence of Santiagoe's Curries, for I am among the fortunate few who have tasted them in England.

I was particularly struck by a remark which Santiagoe made when I asked him what he would like me to write in his little book. Some authors might have replied "Speak up for my Curries!" others might have said, "Say a good word for my book;" but he, in the fulness of gratitude, said, "Praise my Masters." He then went on to speak of how Mr. Shand and Mr. Haldane had brought him and his fellow-servants all the way from Ceylon to England.

It is only fair to point out that the English of this little book is not "English as she is spoken," but represents the expression of Santiagoe in its native costume--it is Tamil Anglicised by Santiagoe himself. As Santiagoe says, "I like broken English, because ladies gentlemen like that." The author is a native of Trichinopoly. His grandfather and uncle were distinguished drummers in Indian infantry regiments--in other words, they were masters of the tom-tom. He has lived all his life in Ceylon,[2] and for the last seven years--that is, since he was sixteen--has been in the service of English residents, of whom he appears to have nothing but pleasant recollections. It would seem that this will be the case in his experience of England, whither he has come with others as waiter at the Ceylon Tea Rooms in the Liverpool Exhibition--though he told me with much modesty that "people were very kind, but he supposed the Ceylon servants were a novelty."

[2] In 1879 have been to Maldive Island, or Minicoi Island, with my
master, to a wrecked steamer of "Bird" Line.--Ed.

Please to read the article of _Saturday Review_ of 22nd October, 1887.

It is, to say the least, highly creditable to Santiagoe that, with many duties to perform, and these amid the distracting influences of our Western civilization, he should have compiled this useful little guide to the art of Curry cooking. The spirit of Brillat-Savarin and of Soyer is stronger than the ephemeral attractions of an exhibition. Let us hope Santiagoe's enterprise will be more lasting than these; that it will achieve its aim in popularizing Ceylon Curries in this country; and that his "Book on Curries" will pass through many editions, and bring him the "little fortune" he deserves.

(Signed) A. EGMONT HAKE,

_Author of "General Gordon's Journal at Khartoum;" Editor of "The Story of Chinese Gordon," etc., etc.; Commissioner of War Trophies, Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Liverpool, 1887._

COPY OF THE NOTE OF MY FIRST EDITION ON CURRIES.

I beg to bring the following Receipts to Curries, etc. I hope it will be handy to ladies, housekeepers, cooks, etc. I only mention the easy way of making it in England, for scarcity of fresh and pure Curry stuffs none procurable. Still, it is very troublesome to grind the Curry stuffs without a Curry stone, which is very common to a native Cooly of India. No native houses without a Curry stone. The way the native girls, etc., grind the Curry stuffs will be an astonishment to European ladies. The best way to grind the Curry powder in England, by hard stone made mortar or pounder, but the best and easy way is to buy from your respected grocers, which, I should say, ought to be of two colours, one is brown and the other is yellow, and the red is cayenne pepper (if required hot Curries).

With regard to above, if care should be taken and make the Curries with any of the following meat:--Beef, mutton, chicken, fish, etc., etc., and vegetables, you will find it an economical dish for an English meal to have an Indian dish; if little care and attention is given to it, will find it as a relish. The same time I must say, many parties visited our Indian continent will know the taste of a Curry as well as my own experience. I have been instructed by several head cooks of India and Ceylon. My own people are cooks under several respected gentry of Ceylon and India. Now, I must say, it is a national food to natives of India and Ceylon as beef and bread to Europeans. With attention to this I myself am a servant of gentlemen as approved cook, second boy, dressing boy, house and general servant, and will answer to several other capacity, as clerk, store-keeper, etc., etc. I only thought of publishing this little work by request of several parties requiring me to write some good Curries.

So just the same time I may have the chance of printing it and make a small fortune by the favour of customers, and by their favouring me to sell these few hundred copies, will be highly thankful; but I regret to say that I should have written large and more recipes, but my time is very little to spare to attend to this work.

With regards I hope the lovers of Curry will be satisfy with these accompanying recipes, which, I should say can be made in England with Curry stuffs and provisions procurable here. The fact is I myself have tried several of these Curries in England during my short visit in England, and found to be a good result, in fact, not in its original taste, but only second to it in my opinion. If carefully prepared will find it as a economical dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Only little time and attention is required. I wish the reader will have the pleasure of reading this book right through first.

Another matter to point out, that in Madras cooks make Curries with or without cocoanut, but in Ceylon no Curries without cocoanut, neither any vegetable Curries without Maldive fish. For this point I have given recipes to make with milk, cream, and gravy; and to every vegetable Curry add a spoonful of chopped ham or corned beef; this for imitation of Maldive fish.[3] Still it is much richer to vegetable Curries than Maldive fish.

[3] Dried shark, prepared in the Maldive Islands.--Ed.