Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 4.djvu/83

 BHEESTIES. (189)

HEESTIES are of two classes. That shown in the Photograph carries Avater in a skin bag, called a mussuk, on the hips. The other uses a bullock for the purpose, over whose back is suspended on each side a pair of much larger skin bags, called "pukkal." Men who carry water in skins are invariably Mahomedans; but there are other water caniers who are Hindoos, and serve Hindoos only, who use large copper vessels, slung at either end of an elastic bamboo staff. Water carriers of these classes are found all over India. The Mahomedan Bheesties can hardly be said to form a caste or sect; but they rarely, if ever, marry out of their own class, and a Bheestie's son is a Bheestie, for the most part, as his father was before him. For the mussuk, or hand bag, the skin used is that of a goat or sheep. It is carefully tanned whole, and closed in a peculiar manner, the neck or one of the legs being left as an aperture to let out the water. The larger bags are made of buffalo or bullock hide, and are much stronger. If of sheep skin, they are pieced very strongly and ingeniously. In both cases they are carefully prepared for use by a mixture of lime, sweet oil, sour curds, and turmeric, which removes all taint of the tanning process. These skin bags, and a small leathern bucket for filling them, forms the equipment of the Bheestie.

A Bheestie or Pukkalli is a domestic servant in every Mahomedan household in India which can afford to keep one. In wealthy families several may be kept, and in English families, regimental messes, and the like, the same custom prevails. Where a special servant cannot be afforded, Bheesties deliver as many potsful or skinsful as may be needed during the day, and are paid in proportion. They also serve in the regular army, both in the infantry and the cavalry, &c. In the infantry one or two are attached to every company, European and native, as it has also its barber and washerman. They accompany the regiment on its march, filling their bags from running streams or cool wells as fast as they are emptied by the thirsty soldiers. They also go into action with their corps, supplying water under the hottest fire. Many a wounded or dying soldier has been relieved in his