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. Locals were largely dependent upon water carriers who were called bhistees. Today while some of the population enjoys a steady supply of water, it is not uncommon to find bhistees still bringing water to the doorsteps of poor slum dwellers - often the majority of residents in subcontinental towns and cities.

Gobindram Oodeyram was the most prominent early photographer and postcard publisher in Jaipur. Note the man drinking straight from the bhistees water pouch.