Water carrier (also water seller) is a profession that existed before the advent of centralized water supply systems. A water carrier collected water from a source (a river, a well, water pumps, etc.) and transported or carried containers with water to people's homes. After the construction of pipe networks, the profession of water carrier became unnecessary and disappeared.
In late Qing dynasty Chengdu, there were over one thousand people who worked as water carriers. They not only performed their official duties, but also helped the elderly and sick who could not take care of themselves with housework. In the 1940s Chengdu water carriers still went barefoot to show that they go deep into the river to collect the purest water.
Saburmatee River, Ahmedabad women washing clothes, late 1800's or early 1900's
Water carriers, Agra, c.1912
Native woman, upper India, Illustrated London News, 1858
Women fetching water, a photo, c. late 1800's
The Village Well, from the Illustrated London News, 1874
On the way to the well, a photo from c.1935
Woman bathing. A lady of rank is seated on steps leading to a river; her hair is being dried by an old lady. A watercolor in the Lucknow style, c.1800
Village well, India, a photo from c. 1950's
Water carriers, Madurai, a gelatin photo, 1904
Woman bathing. A lady of rank is seated on steps leading to a river; her hair is being dried by an old lady. A watercolor in the Lucknow style, c.1800
The village well
Calcutta, Hindu women bathing, a postcard, early 1900's
Bathing in the holy river Ganges, Benares, an albumen photo, c.1870-80
A woman equipped for drawing water, in an albumen photo, Portuguese India (Panjim), c.1895
Family work, Jumna River, Agra, a photo c. early 1900'
Baby's Bath, a silver print by H. Ferger, 1929
Along the Ghats, by Edwin Lord Weeks, from Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 1890
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