Indian Antiquary Vol 11

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 58

44
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
BOMBAY BEGGARS AND CRIERS.
BY K. RAGHUNATHJI. (Continued from p. 24.)
CRIERS.
It is difficult to draw the line between the vagrant and the petty hawker, as the pursuits of the habitual vagrant are of the most varied character. One day he is a beggar, another he is a crier. To deal comprehensively with all the deceptions and designs of these rascals, there is hardly any human suffering or passing calamity of any magnitude which they do not endeavour to turn to advantage.
LEECH SELLERS.
These are Mahars, Mângs, or Musalmans. They hawk about the town or squat by the wayside. When on the move they cry aloud Lagáv jalu jokh, meaning 'Apply leeches.' When a person requires leeches he purchases them from the hawker at the rate of from two to three annas per dozen, and applies them either himself or with the aid of a servant or relative; meanwhile the hawker goes away for a time, or waits till the leeches have dropped off, and been returned to him; he then draws off the blood by pricking them with a needle, washes them, and replaces them in a piece of cloth containing wet earth. When this is done, he buries the blood in the ground, receives his payment, and departs. People of the higher castes, or in easy circumstances, do not use leeches that are hawked about by the street criers, but obtain them from a Muhammadan who keeps a shop on the Kâlkâdêvî road, and pay about an anna for each. This shop has been here for upwards of 50 years, but the business dates from the time of the present owner's great-grandfather-now 108 years ago. When a Hindu female requires leeches, a Muhammadan woman. applies them, if she objects to a male doing so, for a Hindu has no objection to a Muhammadan touching him. The Muhammadan leech-seller follows the same course after they have been made over to him as his fellow professionals the Mahârs and Mângs, for no Hindu will allow his blood to be thrown to dogs or on the road.
LEMONADE AND SODA-WATER HAWKERS. These are both Muhammadans and MarâṭhaHindus. The time of hawking is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The most favourable time for them
[FEBRUARY, 1882.
is the hot season. They make from two to four annas per day as gain, and on this they maintain themselves. Carrying their baskets on their heads, they sell the contents of their bottles at half an anna each. Each Muham. madan hawker takes a tumbler in his basket. The Hindu hawker scarcely ever does so, since Hindus object to drinking from tumblers polluted by the touch of others. The hawker uncorks the bottle and hands it to his customer, who empties it without touching his lips with the bottle, for if it did so, the bottle would be polluted, and not fit for another Hindu to use. COCOANUT SELLERS.
These, male and female, are Marâțhâs by caste, and start on their selling expedition early in the morning. Amongst them are Salsette and Bandora Christians, known as Gâondekars, or villagers. The Gâondekars come from Mâhim, and the Mâhim cocoanuts which they sell are considered superior to those brought from other places. The cocoanuts are fresh, and the rind is removed before they are hawked for sale in the baskets which the vendors carry on their heads. These baskets contain from 20 to 50 cocoanuts, and the price of each cocoanut varies from 8 pies to one anna. The Gâondekar cries Zia ré Máimi náról, 'Have Mahim cocoanuts.' The cry of the Hindu hawker is Ghyd ré Nárél, or simply Nárél. When the vendor is called to a house, the purchaser selects the largest and best of the cocoanuts, then he shakes each close to his ear, in order to hear the sound of the water within, which is always distinctly audible when the cocoanut is good. If no noise is heard it is pronounced to be muka dumb,' and jad 'heavy,' is returned as unripe, or as not having attained the desired perfection. The selected cocoanuts having been paid for, and the basket put on his head, the hawker is off again with the usual cry for further sale. The Gâondekar's labour stops by 10 or 11 o'clock, as by that time she has disposed of all her goods.
The Marathas purchase cocoanuts from vakhars or stores in different parts of the market. The vakhárs contain both Mahim and Kâlikoti (Calicut) cocoanuts, but the Maratha