Page 25 - To Dragma October 1929

O C T O B E R , 1929 23

Character (§tudy—Jerusalem <^Money Qhanger

An interesting character study of a money changer in Jerusalem.

dishes and makes the beds, dusts and cleans the windows. The Boy or
Bearer acts as Butler and cares for the man of the house, his Sahib. H e
waits on table, washes the silver and glass and is in charge of the other
servants. T h e n the Sweeper does the d i r t y work, sweeps the floors,
empties the garbage and washes the dog's plate. Those are the main
servants, all men. Then there is the dhobie or washerman and the ntali
or gardener, who cares f o r the garden and brings fresh flowers f o r the
house every other day. I f there are children i n the f a m i l y , there must be
an ayah or nurse, a woman this time, to care f o r them. I f there is an
automobile there must be a cleaner, even i f there is a chauffeur f o r the
chauffeur is much too grand a person to wash a car. A l l these servants
live in the compound in quarters provided for them and are supposed
to feed themselves. Strictly speaking the food of an European is unclean
to the Indian, but somehow sugar, tea, milk, bread and many other things
disappear f r o m the house in amazing quantities. Servants all wear some
sort of head covering, usually a large white turban or pugri and go bare-
foot. I t is very disrespectful for them to uncover their heads or to wear
shoes in the house.

The houses are all large with high ceilings, thick stone walls, tile
floors, and usually have an enclosed verandah all along the front and
back with many, many doors and windows. A l l the main rooms have
large ceiling fans, so you see we are as cool as possible.

Our day starts rather later than yours. T h e cook goes off to market
for the day's supplies about six o'clock. The hamal comes about seven
and puts the bath water on to heat in a large oil drum, and lets the
sweeper i n to clean up the place. A t eight-thirty the boy (and by the
way, the boy may be and often is an old man) having laid out fresh