The _dhobie_ or washerman is another important individual in the Anglo-Indian establishment. The great majority of _dhobies_ are Hindus; but in Eastern Bengal, Mohammedan _dhobies_ are often to be met with. Though given to assuming airs and importance, the _dhobie_ is of low caste, generally speaking; a mild inoffensive being, plying his trade industriously, and giving little trouble to his master. There is a proverbial saying that obtains among the Hindus which pronounces a _dhobie_ as untrustworthy; but in reality he is no worse than his brethren in this respect. The _dhobie_ is one of the first to bestir himself in the early morning, and accompanied by a small _bail_ or bullock, carrying his bundle of clothes, he may be seen making his way in the direction of some tank or distant pool on the river-bank. On reaching the scene of operations, he strips himself of superfluous clothing, girds up his loins, and proceeds to business. Soon the air resounds with the heavy thwacks of some article of raiment, which, twisted into a small compass, the _dhobie_ again and again whirls round his head, and brings down upon a flat piece of wood or stone placed on the margin of the water. Each blow is accompanied by a grunt from the operator, as if to give an additional impetus to the stroke. This somewhat rough treatment is liable to wear out fine linen all too soon, and to make buttons fly; but considering that the _dhobie_ has no mangle to assist him, nor any of the ordinary appliances of a laundry, and, generally speaking, only a small smoky hovel—probably filled to overflowing with his wife and numerous children—wherein to complete his work, it is astonishing how well he acquits himself of his task; the well-starched, snow-white shirt-fronts bearing witness to his skill and painstaking. Unless articles of clothing are plainly marked, the _dhobie_ has a tiresome habit of sewing coloured pieces of cotton into the corners of every shirt and handkerchief, to distinguish them from others, which practice has anything but a beautifying effect. The _dhobie_ considers himself so far independent that he need only appear at stated times, to receive or make over his master’s clothes from the hands of the _bearer_. He will never take service as an indoor servant in the house of a European. The duties of the _mehter_, sweeper or ‘knight of the broom,’ are so commonplace as to require only a brief notice. He is always of low caste; and though often addressed as ‘jemadar’ by the other servants, he is always looked down upon, more especially for his habit of eating or drinking anything left from the table of his master. It is his special duty to take charge of and feed his master’s dogs. He supplies them with food at a fixed rate, takes them in the early morning for a bathe in the nearest tank, and towards sunset, produces for inspection, in separate iron dishes, the food which he has provided for each one of his charges.