Key words : gypsy ethnic nomadic roam tarpaulin tents remedy vend heal talisman

A. Look at the pictures and discuss with your partner what you see

Read the text and answer the following questions.

River gypsies are an ethnic group of people in Bangladesh. They are known as bedey to local people. The gypsies have their own lifestyle and culture. They live in groups and do not own any land. Therefore, they live a nomadic life, travelling from one place to another. These people roam across our rivers and waters from May to December in small country boats. These boats are their houses and these people are a part of our waters. In winter, many water bodies dry up. At that time they return to the mainland and live in make-shift tarpaulin tents on open river banks. You can see their men relaxing in the tents. Toddlers play with dogs or other pets in the dust. Women often idle away time by hair doing, picking off lice in twos or threes sitting in a row.

Throughout the monsoon, they remain busy with fishing. They also dive for natural pearls in waters. Sometimes, they camp for a couple of weeks. Men catch snakes and entertain people with snake charming and sell herbal cures. Women go from door to door to sell bangles, cosmetics and other things. They also try to heal pains of old people often by sucking out blood from their body.

Questions

1. Who are river gypsies?
2. How do they live?
3. What do river gypsies do in winter?
4. What do river gypsy men do for a living?
5. What do river gypsy women do for a living?

B. Discuss with your partner and circle the right answer.

1 The term 'ethnic' is connected to

1. people.
2. plants.
3. animals.
4. fishes.

2 River gypsies roam around on their boats about

1. six
2. seven
3. eight
4. nine

3 River gypsies live in tents in

1. summer.
2. winter.
3. monsoon.
4. spring.

4 The term 'nomadic' refers to a person who

1. stays permanently at a place.
2. travels from place to place.
3. lives in one's own house.
4. lives in a rented house.

C. Listen to the teacher/CD and fill in the following gaps with right word/s.

1. The river gypsies are among the Nation's ---------- groups.
2. A 2007 report said --------- percent live below the poverty line.
3. Only 2 percent of gypsy children are given primary -------- -------.
4. Most gypsy children travel with their parents for an -------- 8 months of the year.
5. So, they end up in a cycle of ----------.

D. In summer vacation last May, Sohan went to Lauhajang in Munshigonj to visit his maternal uncle. His elder cousin, Jihan studies sociology at Dhaka University. One afternoon, Jihan took Sohan to a bedey camp to know about their life. They talked to a middle aged bedey woman who was cooking in front of her tent. Read the conversation and do the following activity.

Jihan : Good afternoon. Can I ask you a few questions?

Woman : Good afternoon. Umm..... you see I'm busy cooking. I've to feed my son and then...

Jihan : Good afternoon. Can I ask you a few questions?

Woman : Good afternoon. Umm..... you see I'm busy cooking. I've to feed my son and then…

Jihan : Well, I won't take much time. Just a few questions if you please.... How long have you been here in this camp?

Woman : Four months. Since last January. And if it rains, we're going to rivers again next month.

Jihan : What do you do for a living?

Woman : We catch fishes. Our men are snake charmers and we heal toothache and joint pains of old people.

Jihan : How do you heal people?

Woman : With traditional herbs and healing art.

Jihan : Well, if you don't mind, how much do you earn? Not enough. About 3000 taka per month. Now many people don't believe in our remedies. They go to doctors. So we go to remote villages... 

Woman : Jihan Woman : What about your son? I guess he is already 5. Does he go to school? Not yet. But I've heard about mobile boat-schools in rivers. I'll try to find one for my son.

E. Suppose you were with Sohan. Ask the bedey woman some more questions that you would like to. For example, you can ask questions to know about her family members, their names, age, work, their past living places, future plans, food habit, etc.

F. Have you ever seen any gypsies/bedey/snake charmers or any person selling things from door to door in your area? Write your experience about any one of them.