On first landing from the steamer at the end of the voyage, the young Englishman is sure to be met by numerous applicants for service. The door of his hotel will be thronged by eager candidates for situations; but unless under exceptional circumstances, such as a fellow-countryman travelling homewards, and anxious to obtain a place for a really good servant, he will act wisely to defer making a selection until he has reached his journey’s end, when, probably, he will have more time to look around and make his selection. The first and most important servant to procure is a _bearer_, and it is by no means an easy post to fill up satisfactorily. He should be a Hindu of not too high a caste; nor, on the other hand, of the opposite extreme, a very low caste. The latter is almost certain to prove a failure. There is much to be learned from the personal appearance and style of dress of native servants. Certificates to character should be carefully examined and received with caution; for not unfrequently these documents are forgeries, or borrowed for the occasion; sometimes copies from some genuine certificate supplied to another individual. The applicant for a place should also be questioned on the why and the wherefore of his quitting his last situation. As to caste, perhaps the _kahar_ is the best for a _bearer_. Taken generally, the _kahars_ are an industrious, quiet race of beings. One of their chief occupations is carrying palanquins; but the opening of railways throughout India has in a great measure done away with this mode of travelling. It may be mentioned that the title _kahar_ many years ago was also the distinctive appellation of a Hindu slave. As head-servant of the house, the _bearer_ should always be well dressed, more especially so as one of his chief duties is to receive visitors at the door. He should never appear without wearing a turban, nor ever enter the house with shoes on his feet. These two latter remarks apply to every class of servant. Nor should a plea of forgetfulness for neglect of the same be ever accepted. The _bearer_ is responsible for his master’s clothes; he has charge of the keys. He should be the first astir in the morning, and call the ‘sahib’ at the proper hour to dress for parade, the early walk, or ride. He dusts and arranges the different rooms while his master is out; and on the latter’s return has the bath in readiness. With the exception of an hour or two about mid-day, when the _bearer_ disappears for his dinner, he remains in the veranda or within call. He keeps account of small household expenditures, again attends his lord on the latter retiring to rest, when the _bearer_ makes his final salaam or obeisance, and takes his departure.