THE KABULIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 19

THE KABULIS.

MONEYLENDERS OP INDIA. They aro sons of Anak, all of them stand 6R or over, and thev carry sticks as high as themselves. They are muscular and quite fearless. They wear bright velvet waistcoats beneath long heavy coats, and they have largo clog-shaped shoes with spiky, turned-up toes. They are Kubulis—tho moneylenders of India. 13v twos and !bi-no* A. Claude Brown in tho London Daily Mail) they have drifted down to tho plains from their far-away mountain country, and now in Calcutta alone the colony numbers thousands. The native of India is always wanting money. Ho has a daughter to get off his hands; money is necessary with which to procure a husband. He has borrowed from a friend and must repay or disgrace threatens him. The only certain lender 1$ the Kabuli, so, with tho knowledge that all other channels are closed to him, the humble clerk, the small native shopkeeper, the operative in the mill, alike fall easy victims to the great black spider. ' A sum of :jo mures is required; only too easily it is obtained by the giving of a piece of paper promising to repay 50 rupees on demand and in tho meanwhile to pay interest at the rate of 2 annas in tho rupee per month. The first month’s interest is deducted in advance from the capital lent, and tho balance paid over to the unfortunate borrower.

Tho first eff tho following month sees the Kabuli waiting outside the office or mill where his victim works. With him aro othojg of his tribe, for they hunt in couples even if no other clients aro within. From the man’s meagre wage a payment must be made on the first of each month when wages aro drawn, and woo betide any defaulter.

Tho Kabulis live together and shelter themselves and their wealth behind a strong trade union They meet each week in some sheltered spot and discuss their clients. The enemy of one is the enemy of all, and woe betide any defaulter who fails to pay interest due.

A group of Kabulis visit and threaten him; if this fails and he does not pay up when hia wages are received, a deputation o-f Kabulis hang round his house or at the gates of the mill and, as a convenient opportunity, attack him with their long sticks.

Money lending in India is widespread, a hopeless disease for which, no cure has yet been found. The Kabuli is at the bottom of all the trouble. Banish him from Britis 1 ’ India and the benefit to the country .would bo incalculable. Allow him to remain and commercial integrity will go from bad to worse.