Every _puckaully_ carries also a small bag, that he may serve as an ordinary ‘_hand-bheesty_’, when required. This is made of the skin of a goat, taken off in a particular manner. Being put into a solution of lime, the hair soon quits; when the inside fleshings are carefully scraped off. A tan is then made of the bark of _baubool_, (mimosa), _khut_, (catechu,) and alum.
_Bheesties_ are, with few exceptions, Mussulmans; it being contrary to the Hindu code to touch either the carcases, or the skins, of animals killed in any way. Hence, a Hindu of this profession is extremely rare, and will seldom be discovered; owing to the necessity for change of name, so as to pass for a Mussulman. Hindus will, nevertheless, drink of the water supplied from the _mussock_, (or _bheesty-bag_); though they are extremely partial to such as they can draw themselves, by means of a line and metal pot, with which most travellers are provided. Some few are, to be sure, extravagantly scrupulous, and will undergo excessive thirst, rather than partake of the _bheesty’s_ supply. Dust, heat, and fatigue, however, rarely fail, after a while, to overcome such ill-timed fastidiousness. The _puckaullies_, or, as they are usually called, the _bullock-bheesties_, replenish their bags by driving their cattle into some _tank_, or pond, up to their knees, or even deeper, then baling in the water, by means of a small leather bucket, holding about two quarts, or more. The _hand-bheesty_ usually sinks his bag under water, when it soon fills. When drawing water from the wells, the leather bucket, called a _dole_, is used by both the _puckaully_ and the _hand-bheesty_.
The constant application of a wet skin to the cloaths on the hip, necessarily disposes them to rot: on this account, most _bheesties_ provide themselves with a piece of cloth, called _karwah_, which, being dyed in grain with a composition, whereof the solution of shell-lac forms a large portion, resists the effects of the moisture, better than any other substance in use for apparel. The wages of a _hand-bheesty_, may be from four to five rupees, according to the agreement, whether he is to furnish his own _mussock_, &c. which is the general mode. His duty, during the cold season, and in the rains, is mere pastime; he has then but little to do beyond the supply of water to horses, and filling a few pots for culinary purposes, bathing, drinking, &c. all of which might be done in half an hour. But in the summer months, his labors are severe. Exclusive of the above requisitions, which are multiplied ten-fold, he has to water the _tatties_, (or frames filled with grass,) applied to the windward side of every house, for the purpose of cooling the air; at that season not only uncomfortably hot, but absolutely parching the skin of a person not habituated to its influence. By day-break the _bheesty_ must begin to fill the several tubs, or immense _nauds_, (pans) of earthen-ware, placed near the house; this being done, he brings the _tatties_, and after wetting each thoroughly, as it lays on the ground, places it against its respective aperture, supporting it with props, and, during the whole day, indeed often till mid-night, sprinkling it in every part; occasionally replenishing the vessels, as their contents may be expended. Though it cannot be said to occur often, yet, in some very dry seasons, it has been found necessary to continue the _bheesties_ at their labor during the whole night. I recollect an instance, in the year 1793, when the winds were, if any thing, hotter at night than in the day time; rendering it absolutely necessary to keep the _tatties_ up for a full week, or more; and demanding additional _bheesties_, who performed the night duty.