Indian Stokers Feasting Today

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 675, 29 May 1929, Page 9

Indian Stokers Feasting Today

MOHAMMEDAN XMAS CITY SEARCHED FOR SHEEP OR CHICKENS Today is a feasting day for believers in the Mohammedan faith. Throughout the Mohammedan world a festival is being held, and the ten Punjab members of the stokehold crew of the cargo steamer Lawbeath. at present discharging sugar from Cuba at Chelsea Wharf, are not being left out of it. For them, today is ’Ramisani.'' a day of religious rejoicing. Three months ago they treminated a period of 17 days’ fasting during which time they neither ate nor drank during the day. What little eating they did was done at night. Not even water was drunk in the daj-time. Three months from the last day of fasting “Ramisani" falls, and there is much rejoicing and much eating.

This morning the “serarig,” or “head man,” made a trip to the city to obtain a live sheep to kill and eat.

Mohammedanism says that they must kill and cook themselves whatever meat they eat on the occasion of “Ramisani." What luck the “serang” had this morning is not known, but it was his intention to procure live chickens if a sheep could not be obtained. In India the “Ramisani" festival may last from three to six days, but when at sea devotees of the faith have thenreligious rejoicing reduced to the bare mimimum of one day. MONEY SPENT Today each of these men is departing from his usual thrifty methods and is spending anything from £1 to £2. Each is eating with gusto and rejoicing in the wisdom of the Koran. “Mohammedans will not drink beer or any other intoxicant,” said Mr. C. Whyte, chief steward of the Lawbeath, who has had a great deal to do with them in his sea-going life. “They won’t eat pork or bacon, and two dishes have always to be prepared for meals on board —one for the Europeans and one for the Punjabis." Their staple foods are curries, rice and fruit. They are very partial to curried fish. Every night they go through their Mohammedan observances in the forecastle. Each man washes for a start, as that is a rule of the faith. Then heads are covered, long ceremonial robes are donned, and the rites begin. An incessant drone issues from the forecastle door, broken by occasional cries. THRIFTY HILLME.v Punjabis provide an example of thrift. They leave their native hills, go to sea on a British boat for about five years, live earefuly. and save their earnings. They never bank their hoards —the bank is “not to be trusted.” They hide their money in tin trunks stowed away in the forecastle. At the end of five years the erg-eful Punjabi has accumulated about £450. With this wealth he goes back to his native hills.. The possession of such riches immediately stamps him a person of note. Cattle, sheep «nd a holding are acquired. Mercantile officers say they find these men good and reliable workers. Their chief pastime is the study and expounding of their beloved Koran. They also play some peculiar card game of their own. over' which they become unusually excited.