The _Hirkarah_ was, formerly, a servant used solely for carrying expresses, or such letters, messages, &c. as were to be sent beyond the circle of ordinary, or daily, communication: he was, in fact, what is now commonly called a _cossid_. We have retained, however, the designation of _dawk-hirkarahs_ for those who convey the _dawks_, or posts. In every other instance, the duty of the _hirkarah_, as an attendant upon a gentleman in office, &c. is similar to that of the _peon_, or _piada_, or running footman. His pay is generally the same; but the former usually bears a lacquered walking-stick, armed at its extremity with a square spike, the ferule of which is ornamented with dark-colored fringe, or tassels. This stick is carried over the shoulder, and is the only distinction between the _hirkarah_ and the _peon_: but, though the latter has no such insignia, he frequently claims precedence, causing the _hirkarah_ to precede him in the retinue, while attending their employer’s palanquin.
Both these servants, whose capacities are now perfectly blended, when serving Europeans at least, receive from four to five rupees monthly. In every respect, beyond the foregoing exceptions, they dress much the same as _khedmutgars_, but generally have turbans and _cummer-bunds_ of the same color, by way of livery; and, when in the employ of great merchants, agents, and especially under the principal officers of the government, wear belts of colored broad-cloth, with metal breast-plates; bearing either the initials, or the arms, of their employers, or inscriptions stating the offices to which they appertain. The generality of such inscriptions have the English designation in the centre, with a translation in the Persian, or the Bengallee, language, (perhaps both,) around, on the margin, or _vice versâ_.
Many most extraordinary journies have been made by _hirkarahs_: instances have been adduced of their travelling full a hundred miles in the four and twenty hours.
The _Duftoree_, or office-keeper, attends solely to those general matters in an office, which do not come within the notice of the _crannies_, or clerks; such, for instance, as making pens, keeping the ink-stands in order, ruling account books, and perhaps binding them, preparing and trimming the lights, setting pen-knives, together with a great variety of little jobs, easily performed by an individual allotted thereto, but trenching deeply on the occupations of those engaged in more connected and important business. The pay of the _duftoree_ may be from four to six rupees monthly; though a few may receive rather more; but such is unusual. The dress depends on the _cast_ of the individual: if he be a Mussulman, it will correspond, in some measure, with that of the _khedmutgar_; but, if a Hindu, it will, probably, assimilate with that of the _cranny_.