Mitt. mitt, mitt What is 'mitt'? Salt (Sodium Chloride, table salt), namak (Hindi), Sel/Sal (French/Portuguese).
This time around (April), many pick-up (tempo) are seen in the villages & remote areas with ladies shouting 'mitt-mitt-mittt' (also some would sound their tempo horn repeatedly will the foll. tempo ' pip-pip, pi-pi-pip'. They were none other than 'salt vendors' coming usually from Batim (near Goa-Velha, Curca). They would sell salt in bulk quantity and their unit of measurement was large tin (rectangular) as in large Marie biscuits tin, packed tins of various oils etc( about 15kgs wt). Most house holds would buy salt in large quantity say 7 tins which would last them until next season. Whereas, landlords used to buy upto 25 tins as they would require it to use as manure for their coconut trees etc and they often got it at discounted price. There was another lady who used to come periodically but she would sell in smaller quantity and her unit of measurement was 'poll' a round tubular wooden unit and the same unit 'poll' still used by our 'chonnekars' and 'Tisrio' sellers etc. A 'poll' would mean about less than 1kg salt. The lady woudl go round shouting something like this 'ohhh mitt gho' see pic 'Polli' and other units are seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk2/121767390/ During my school time, I remember there was a lesson on our konkani (devnagri) book and titled (i think) 'Mitta Agor' Where uncle 'Inas' (Inacio) takes young kids to tour a local salt pan. And during the final exams, one of the sure questions was 'Mitt koxem toyar zata?' (How salt is obtained?) Where we had to give about 10 lines answer giving the procedure...'Doriachem udok ..sannttoun dovortat... uprant...duvem ful mitt toyar zata' and this ans, was woth 10 marks. Yet, there was another story (biblical i think) where the king call all his sons and ask them 'how much they loved him' but when it comes to the last the youngest son's turn, his answer was 'I love you as dear as salt' to which the father (king) become angry and orders to kill him but his soldiers had pitied on him and instead took him far away out side the kingdom/country took all his clothes and left him in a deserted place. One the son becomes a king and send an invitation to his old father (king) and ordered his servant to cook everything but without salt. His father comes and complains about the saltless food, son explains...and the father then realises the meaning of loving some one 'as dear as salt' What else you remember about the salt or 'mitt' ? Mitta Far (salt gun?) Mitta Agor (Salt Pan) Mitta foll (raw mangoes etc preserved in a jar with salt water) see pic 'Buyanv" http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk2/84939927/ Mitta Burkulo (earthen pot for storing salt, usually near cooking place using fuel wood/kitchen) Mitta Kan (A large tubular bulk storage container (usually made from coconut tree lower stem 'madda-mundh'). Mitt unvallop (superstitious belief - pinchfull of salt (& dry chilies) taken two round clockwise and one anti clockwise over one's head (usually children) to drive away evil eye) Mittak lai/mar (preserve with salt) Mittan dant gansop (Brushing teeth) Mittani (a game) Kattuk (too salty) Suklo Kharem (Salted/dry fish) Oinnem (saltless rice/dish) Mitta gollgollo (gobble/rinsing with salt water -for Oral infection, Mouth/teeth/gums/popis) What else is salty? Human sweat, tears, urine Sea/river water Salt fish Never lend or give money or needle or rice or Salt at night (another superstition) Ok, here is some more of home work for you guys: Pick up one correct answer from the bracket: Q1: What is the taste of 'Potassium Cyanide' (A. Sweet B.Sour. C.Salty D. None) Pl. if you don't know, Pl don't try it at home. Q2: How much do you love your wife/husband ? or how much you love me? A. As dear as Gold B. ada Pounds/Dollars C: ada God D: ada Salt E. ada Dog Please don't call me 'Namak-haram' Any body watched Amitab's film 'Namak- Halal? A photo (Salt pan) http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=437006493&size=l Video clip (salt pan and peole at work) 1.5 mins http://konkan.tv/view_video.php?viewkey=3da8c88a0a8b6dec62f9 or http://youtube.com/watch?v=lHUhEnt0ftI [EMAIL PROTECTED] for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ Konkani Songs, Goan Photos, Tiatr/Film VCDs, Bank interest rates etc etc (for updates etc click below) http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/files/ ___________________________________________________________ Copy addresses and emails from any email account to Yahoo! Mail - quick, easy and free. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/trueswitch2.html
