Bullock with water-skins & Bhisti. Jaipur
Bullocks and bhistees served an important role in transporting fresh water to city residents.
Ensuring fresh water supply to the residents in a desert region was always difficult.
Domestic Help
Bhistee (Water Carrier)
One could argue that the bhistee was the most common male postcard type at the turn of the 20th century.
The Bhistie
A contemporary artist's rendering of one of the most popular postcard subjects, the all important "bhistie" who brought water in an animal skin to the thirsty.
Malee. (Gardener.)
The word "mali" apparently comes from the Sanskrit "mala" or garland via Hindi. Malis seem to be generally shown crouching on postcards.
[Verso, handwritten] "Upper Burma, May 8/[19]18 My dear Annie, I am pleased to hear from Mother that you got some
Bearer
Although Hobson Jobson (1903, p. 77) defines Bearer as, besides a palanquin carrier, also as "b. (In the Bengal Presidency) a domestic servant who has charge of his master's clothes, household furniture, and (often) of his ready money.
A Bhistee [Watercarrier]
![A Bhistee [Watercarrier]](https://www.paperjewels.org/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/slides/a-bhistee_0.jpg?itok=DCLgU_Ef "A Bhistee [Watercarrier]")
One of the most popular subjects of early postcards was the water-carrier, shown here together with a buffalo. Perhaps Hobson Jobson's definition for what it spells as "Bheesty" helps to explain why (1903, p.
Hindoo Ayahs
An early court-sized card made from an albumen photograph with the studio inscribed in the glass negative at the bottom.
Hobson-Jobson defines "AYAH, s. A native lady's-maid or nurse-maid.
An Ayah
[Original caption] An Ayah - The term ayah may be applied both to nurses for children and for ladies maids.
The Ayah
This postcard shows a nanny with a pram on the “Queen’s necklace” of Malabar beach in Bombay. The artist Dhurandhar and other fellow J.J.
An Indian Washing Day
One day was often fixed each week or fortnight for washing a complete household's clothes. The concept of a washing day is said to have reflected a family's social status.
