As a child growing up in Bombay I heard on and off about the Habshis/
Khapris fleeing into the jungles.
Could someone say what was their fears?
I presume by “Abhar” you mean to say thank you.
Thank you,
Venantius J Pinto
On Sun, May 10, 2020 at 3:46 AM Voznadik Vojem
wrote:
> The answer may lie hidden and buried deep inside North Canara in
> Karnataka. To say that East African came to Goa is an understatement. In
> fact, majority of East Africans were brought to Goa as slaves.
> To understand we have to go back 6th or 7th century when Arabs took control
> of Swahili Coast(much of East Africa), and captured Bantu (Janz)people to
> be traded as slaves to Persian Gulf and as far away as to China and India.
> Ostensibly, slave trade from the East African coast to Goa existed long
> before Portuguese and English mastered it. Much changed after the slavery
> was abolished by Indian Slavery Act of 1843.
> Fearing for their safety, the Bantus in Goa, took refuge deep in the
> jungles bordering Goa. In some villages in Goa, the Bantus were
> colloquially referred to as "Habshis". Nowadays, the Bantu people are
> known as "Siddis". The Siddis of Goa are mainly concentrated in Uttara
> Kanada and till today speak in Konkani.
>
> Abhar,
> Voznadik Vojem
>
