Gabriel,
The most fervent adherent of the "cabaia" in Goa, our own illustrious Lotlekar, Dr Barónio Monteiro? It came about thus: The Portuguese had long since introduced/Instituted and the Goans docilely accepted, a dress code for Goans, especially, the "servidores do governo": various degrees of suits made of linnen, its oppulence accentuating the status of the incumbent. For Hindu upper-castes the upper torso garments were identical with the others, ie. shirt, tie & coat; however, the lower limbs, istead of trousers were encased in immaculate white "dhoti" into which the shirt was tucked and the former itself tucked into socks, ending with shoes. This entire, most delectable, confection was crowned with the imposing black "topí". (Recall Matmó, Xeldenkar BC, old Abade Faristas?) Mario, in, various illustrations accurately depicts this fantastic attire. But returning to "cabaia", the gentle but resolute revolutionary, Dr. Barónio Monteiro could not stomach this peremptory sartorial imposition. However, without such attire approach to authorities, visit to government offices was not countenanced with the exception of the priestly garb. Taking advantage of this, a veritable loophole became apparent to Dr. Barónio. He designed a "cabaia" a cross between the clerical cassock and a raincoat, creamish in colour, and along with a group of goan fellow-intellectuals wore it damnedly confound the colonial uniformisers. It worked fine, but for a while only; gradually, one by one, his fickle confréres abandoned the tunic...and, Dr Barónio. Dr. Barónio, (sempre muito teimoso, his equally cervantean neighbour, Dr. Chiquito Ananás, Cardóso would say of him), however, persisted to the last, being burried in it. BTW, Dr. Barónio Monteiro, a distinguished product of the Escola Médica de Goa, devoted his life, among prolific other pursuits and achievements, was. also until the end, a dedicated adherent of natural medical cure. In this respect, I recall, when his brother, Pe Aleixinho, lay in his death bed, Dr. Barónio, was wont to lovingly attend to his every need and fed him chiefly with tender coconut flesh and water. "Tajim pixeponam to sod'dnan", neigbours, compulsorilly and pestilentially descending upon the sick aand the dying in Goa, would maintain, "To taka oktam di'nna pun nar'la udcan padcer korun marta". Such has, always, been the desserts of the seers and daring venturers of Goa. Over to You, dear Bess... Alfred de Tavares OBS: Dr, Barónio wore conservative pyjamas beneath his "cabaia". He carried it off in a most distinguished mién. > Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:53:07 -0700 > From: gdefigueir...@yahoo.com.au > To: goanet@lists.goanet.org > Subject: Re: [Goanet] The Cabaia > > > Looks like a Moroccan connection somewhere! > > I faintly remember wearing one when I was a kid as a substitue for pyjamas. I > was given one 'bout 20 years ago by an European tour guide, who had brought > one from Morocco. > > Gabriel. > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Carvalho <elisabeth_...@yahoo.com> > To: estb. 1994!Goa's premiere mailing list <goanet@lists.goanet.org> > Sent: Monday, 13 July, 2009 1:47:06 AM > Subject: [Goanet] The Cabaia > > > In the days of yore, Goan men wore a cabaia, on top of their kastis. I cannot > successful trace the genesis of this attire to any particular influence. It > is definitely not a Hindu influence nor do I believe Portuguese men wore a > cabaia. > > The word cabaia is also commonly used in the Far East where the woman's tunic > is called a cabaia. The is some possibility the Portuguese might have > borrowed this word from the Arabs, who wear similar garments, but which today > are called dish-dashes, but at one point might have been called Qaba. > > Could it possibly have been a Muslim influence that led Goan men to adopt a > cabaia? > > Would appreciate your input on this. > > Best, > selma > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Access Yahoo!7 Mail on your mobile. Anytime. Anywhere. > Show me how: http://au.mobile.yahoo.com/mail _________________________________________________________________ More than messages–check out the rest of the Windows Live™. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/