I always felt that historical translation from Portuguese to English is very different from modern language translation. Words differ and context also makes a difference. Caixeiro is not cashier for definite, despite the fact that one partly handled cash in some instances. Back in the day, one has to take into the equation the fact that there were mobile salespeople who carried their 'belongings' in a carry box/case (medicinal sales reps, stamp sellers, religious artefacts, etc.) that looked more like a briefcase in shape and there were others (accountants, clerks, etc) who had a flat wooden box on the table where they kept their papers and cash as well. Ever since I had started digging deep into Portuguese India postal history over 25 years ago, I had met older folk to ask more about life at those places in East Africa (I myself was born to Goan parents in West Africa - Angola) to know more about daily life there - trying to tie up postcard text and facts. It was a common mention by the people I had interviewed (many of them clerks of various levels of seniority), that due to racism, Goans were not allowed to climb up the ladder in British Government establishments in East Africa. PA was the maximum a woman would reach and senior clerk was the highest one would reach as a male. Interestingly, it was not the same in all Portuguese ex-colonies, where some people in Goa did climb up in higher positions, but I have never seen a black person in a senior position in any Portuguese ex-colony. Having lived both in Angola and Goa, I think it was not due to skin colour but due to lack of education. It is hard to change the past, when it is already engraved in books and postal history. Goan tailors, even those remaining today in places like Nairobi, Kenya were highly valued and cherished by the local population purely for their skill. I for one, would not try to change history but instead not look it as a stereotype but take it as a compliment. Kind regards, Joao Paulo Cota ________________________________ From: 'Carvalho' via Goa-Research-Net <[email protected]> Sent: 31 October 2023 22:19 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Responder: [GRN] caxineiros
It did occur to be that the etymology of the word caixeiros was caixa, and that the word had something to do with cases. I just needed to confirm that the word also means clerk and not just cashiers, because in the Goan East African context it does not make sense as cashier, only clerk. The reason I started writing this book and synthesising 15 years of research on the subject was precisely because I want to incinerate this stereotype of Goans in East Africa as clerks and tailors :-) Judging by the success (or lack thereof) of my translators, looks like I am more likely to prove they were all cashiers. Warm wishes, Selma On Tuesday, 31 October 2023 at 22:03:20 GMT, Joao Paulo Cota <[email protected]> wrote: Catholic Goans in ex-British colonies in Africa were well known for two specific professions: office clerks and tailors. I did come across these plus other specific Goan professions on letters and postcards in postal history examples of Portuguese India, besides other professions like railway clerks, post office master, tailors, etc. I had chats with elderly folks who had migrated from East Africa to the UK and was told by one such clerk, that the British establishment valued Goan clerks with high regards over anybody else. Apparently their accounting skills were second to none. Zanzibar was mentioned on these chats. Since the olden styled cash machines were huge box types, and table document storage units were also box types, hence the word 'caixeiros' probably derived from 'caixa'. This has nothing to do with Portugal, but it is pure Goan migration to East Africa at the time. Good luck on your work. Joao Paulo Cota ________________________________ From: 'Carvalho' via Goa-Research-Net <[email protected]> Sent: 30 October 2023 14:59 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Responder: [GRN] caxineiros Sorry, my error, Sandra, it is caixeiros, which was translated by my translator as cashiers, which I thought was strange. I've just looked it up again, and the translation is 'clerk' which would be the more appropriate translation. Warm wishes, selma On Monday, 30 October 2023 at 13:58:34 GMT, sandra lobo <[email protected]> wrote: Hi Selma Are you sure it is caxineiro and not caixeiros? In Portuguese it refers to the people of a particular land, Caxinas, in North Portugal, who was by tradition a fisherman community. It is not a dictionary word and it was not by that time, as far as I know. Best wishes Sandra Sandra Ataíde Lobo [X][X] [X] [X] https://giepcip.wordpress.com/ https://praticasdahistoria.pt/ tmn. ++351 930690459 ________________________________ De: 'Carvalho' via Goa-Research-Net <[email protected]> Enviado: 30 de outubro de 2023 13:00 Para: Goa-Research-Net <[email protected]> Assunto: [GRN] caxineiros Dear members, in a 1889 document, there is a notation of 33 Goan caxineiros in Zanzibar. Could this word be interpreted as anything other than cashiers. It's just that for a small community it seems an unusual number. I don't want to prompt with what I think it may mean. Many thanks, selma -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Goa-Research-Net" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. 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