Domnic may be right, however there is also another version which I heard from my village Chinchinim
Those days most of the Tarvottis(shippy) / Gulfies owned motor cycles. Tarvottis use this word 'PILOT' ( Navigator for the ship in port) very frequently.. Just as the Pilot steers the vessel to the port, without maps the motorcylists from Goa used to ride on rough roads, and the remote places much faster. Those days the Tarvottis used to be down for more then 6 months so they started this as part time biz, and when they joined the ship they would hand over their bike to locals in the village who was without job...so probably it was the Tarvottis who had kept the word 'PILOT'. The Motorcyle Pilots also had a very stong football team in Chinchinim which was sponsored by the tarvottis and the motorcyclists. Regards Edward Verdes Chinchinim/KSA From: "domnic fernandes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Just like the common expression “Baba!” which was very much in use among the > foreigners in Goa when addressing a local, the title “Motorcycle Pilot” was > also bestowed on the motorcyclists by the foreigners. >
