A water carrier or person employed to supply water, especially in South Asian regions; a porter in colonial India.
From Hindi 'bhistī', possibly from Persian or Sanskrit origins relating to water service. The term became common in British colonial India to describe Indian workers hired for specific labor.
In colonial India, a bhisti was absolutely essential—they hauled water by hand in hot climates where water was precious. The job became so iconic it appeared in countless colonial novels and accounts!
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