The Homes
1. Guests
Sameer Appa was entertaining two gentlemen visitors, seated on the lawn of the front yard of 298. He calls Marzook and tells him, "Go and get two cups of tea for the visitors". Marzook runs in and tells Wapamma, who calls out to Sithy Aunty saying, "make two cups of tea and send it for the visitors". Sithy Aunty responds, "There is no sugar in the house". Marzook runs out to the front lawn and tells Sameer Appa, in front of his guests, "Appa, Appa, there is no sugar it seems." Appa goes mad and chases him away back into the house. The guests try to be humble by saying, "No, no its OK, that's not a problem". Finally, the sugar is bought from the grocery store in front of the house and the guests are served the tea. After the guests leave, poor Marzook gets a telling of his life from his grandfather which he has not forgotten, even fifty plus years after. [Marz]
2. Ameen Jabir
It's Eid Day. Ameen Jabir, Jabir Maama's son comes over to 298 to visit his paternal aunt, our Wapamma. Seeing him enter the house, Marzook starts jeering at him, making faces and saying all kinds of funny things. Sameer Appa gets very angry and puts Marzook up on the bench and reprimands him explaining to him that this is not the way to treat guests. Lessons of great value that will never lose their fragrance. [Marz]
3. Wilson
One day a Morris Minor car comes driving into the gate of 298. Sameer Appa walks out and asks who they are and what they want. They say they are looking for Wilson. Sameer Appa says, "He lives in the garage". The car turns back and shoots away. Apparently it was a marriage proposal for Wilson and the brides party were given the 298 address as his home. When Wilson plains this later Sameer Appa berates him on why he didnt update the family about the whole saga and they would have handled it differently. [Marz]
4. Beautiful Sundays
Sunday was always a special day at 298. All Sameer Appa's children and grandchildren would assemble in the morning to play a softball cricket match, Wellawatte vs Bambalapitiya. Firoze maintained a scorebook and statistics which was always challenged by the Wellawatte boys. Kidu lunch would be prepared by the girls and served on banana leaves on the floor. Sunday Choice would belt out on Farooq Uncles stereo. The Elephant House Ice Cream tricycle would rumble by and Ich Uncle would do the Family Block servings, making sur everyone gets his thin slice, accordingly. The Pasthol man from Slave Island will pass by in the evening and the family would relish his delicacies with tea. A weekend well spent displaying great family unity and honor. [Faz]
5. The Cricket Match Rivalry
The cricket match had some sort of rivalry. The Wellawatte team was led by Ghouse Uncle AWM) and comprised of Marzook, Fahmy, Siddiq, & Hussain. We plan out the strategy for Wellawatte. I remember the Wella team was in a bad way because of the bowling of Fareed Uncle (Russian bowling) and Ich Uncles lofted spin bowling. Ich Uncle used to spin the ball and Firo was placed on the front lawn and due to some massive lifting by Fahmy and others many got caught on the lawn. Marz was the last man in and it was getting dark so to save the game Marz decided to block ( thattu) every ball till we could appeal for bad light. This was going on to the annoyance of the Bamba team who was smelling victory.
Our beloved Uncle (Thahir) was watching through his room window and saw his two sons struggling to get the last man Marz out who was just blocking each ball with no stroke being occurred. Uncle noting the frustration of the Bamba team shouted "Marzuk hit out, hit out!"
Marz for his part didnt want to lose playing sheet anchor kept on thattu batting even after Uncle s pelea and saved the day for Wella as an aopeal for bad light was upheld as it was pitch dark. It was a draw and weren't Fudge, Firo,Faleel uncle and Fareed uncle disappointed. Marz became the hero for the Wella team in that match.
The match over we run to grab some ice Water from the Fridge and our beloved aunty Sithy Aunty screams out " Dont open the Fridge" but we have already chilled our thirst. Sithy Aunty was a perfect housekeeper and we with our muddy hands had handled the Fridge much to her annoyance. May Allah bless her soul. [Sid]
6. Housewife's Choice
No Housewives Choice, on Radio Ceylon, was complete without a request being mentioned like this "and the last number in the program will be Patty Page the singing rage singing Changing Partners for so and so.... and so and so... and not forgetting Sithy Khalisa Sameer (Aunty Khalisa) of Bambalapitya.
The radio is loud and at times his name being mentioned falls into the years of our grandpa Sameer.He must have been annoyed that his last daughter has made such requests but also knowing he liked publicity would have a slight admiration for the Sameer name being blared on the radio. Maybe he had mixed feelings and used to whisper in his beloved wife Raliya (Wapamma/Umma) ears about what transpired but our Granny was a broad minded lady and I presumed she would have brushed him off? [Sid]
7. Ms. Pouliers
The year was 1951-1952. We were just going on 4. Sameer Appa used to walk us up from 298 all the way to the Wellawatte junction to attend Ms Pouliers Nursery School down Lily Avenue. He would park himself at #43, next door, which later became his daughter, Rameela's (Big Maamee) house, until school ended before noon. After school we would walk back to 298 along the railway tracks (there was no Marine Drive then), criss crossing all the streets on the seaside and walking across the wooden bridge over the Wellawatte Canal. Many were the questions we asked him and he responded in great detail in his usual style of gusto and integrity. The steam engines sped by us in both directions, seagulls flew overhead, a kite or two in the sky, and a few lovers cuddling on the rocks, as we passed by. [Faz]
8. Martha Akka
Every morning, bang after 8 am, an energetic fish vendor from Moratuwa, Martha Akka, would walk in with her basket of freshly caught fish. Wapamma would entertain her in her bedroom carefully scrutinizing the fish she had and bargaining in Shillings. One Shilling was fifty cents then. After much discussion and small talk Martha Akka would agree on the price and away she will be gone. Instructions on how the fish was to be cooked would be dished out by Wapamma and Sithy Aunty would do the cooking. "Arukula Meen" or Seer Fish was the favorite of that era. I can still smell the flavor of the yellow curry in all its succulent spices. Bless them all for the glorious days they gave us. [Faz]
9. AduKareem Maama
On weekends in the evenings, Adu Kareem Maama used to sit in the front garden and enjoy sharing pakada and murukku he buys from Ramjee Lodge with us.
Ich unc used to join us. Suddenly dad while passing by used to converse a few words with Maama in Hindi.
After has left, Ich unc takes the cue and affectedly maintains a conversation with Maama in Hindi. Heavy maintenance in front of us all who were clueless 😳 I really don’t know whether Ich unc was using “con” Hindi words or not. Maama used to reply him in Hindi and Ich unc used to maintain as if he understood.
We all used to be amused at the way Ich unc used to conduct the conversation and the words he used to use in Hindi. Maama used to equally maintain the status quo.
Marz and I used to go to móvies together but being schoolboys were financially broke. Marz smart as he came up with an idea he got Ada Karim maama convinced to go to that movie at the Savoy saying it was a superb movie. Now maama convinced, Marz also enticed him to pay for all three me Marz,and himself all to the gallery at Fifty cents per person. Maama was occasionally flushed as he got pay outs from his cousins like Thaifoor Hassim etc etc. So we all went for the show with Marz sitting on one side of Maama and I the other side. It was an English Movie full of dialogue but interesting but meanwhile Maama was fast asleep as it was boring for him. Finally the movie was over and we had to wake up Maama who got up shell shocked and escorted him out after using the poor mans money for our movie with Murukku also thrown in. [Sid]
10. George M Barrow
Geo M Barrow, was a senior Burgher gent whose house was located tree doors after the Hinniappuhamy residence, facing the 298 backyard. He had a bell fixed to his gate on a gold colored plaque with his name etched on it. We used to ring the bell and dart, as fast as we could, down Sagara Road and hide in Noor Hameem's house. Old man George used to come howling after us. That was so much fun then. [Faz]
11. Lalvani's
We used to play cricket on the Lalvani's front yard, the last house facing the sea on Sagara Road. The Lalvani family were nice enough to let us use their premises. Some of the boys who joined us were Noor Hameem, Nimal, Claude de Pinto, Tony Fernando, Minzy Gomez, and the late Rizvi Kuthdoos.
The de Pinto's (GB de Pinto & Sons Ltd., Pettah & Wellawatte) also built a Church in their premises facing Sagara Road. Their home faced Clifford Place.
Claude's older sister used to look out of their balcony window, at the top of Clifford Place, waiting for her boy friend. She had long hair like Rapunzel and let it fall loosely out of her window, and we used to call her that.
Tony has become a priest now, I am told.
Rizvi married Shahul Hameed's (Jezima Villa) second (Burgher) wifes daughter and moved to BC Vancouver in Canada. He passed away, sadly. Noor Hameem was announcing on Radio Ceylon and had married a Sinhala gal. Nimal went on to join the merchant navy and was never heard of after that. Perali bugger he was. Christy Gomez, the older son, was a friend of Marz, I believe?
Once, while playing in the backyard of 298/300 we built a tree house on the Tamarind tree and I was sitting inside it. Minzy Gomez had an air gun on which we used to use those green "gandapaana" seeds from the creeper that grew on the 298 fence. Bugger shot me in the back once and it really hurt. [Faz]
12. Marz
Being a Chemistry buff Marz used to try out all kinds of experiments in the 298 garage. I remember making gas in an orange baey bottle using soda and vinegar to fill balloons that would take off into the air. He also indulged in photography in the Office Room developing films using all kinds of smelly solutions in basins.
Tamil movies was also one of his favorite pastimes. Whenever a new movie was screened at the Plaza he used to pump Firo and me to indulge Dad to go and see the movie. So Dad paid for all three. Marzz was a shrewd businessman even in his teens. ;-)
One Movie at the gallery it was Julius Ceasar and according to Marz which I can't remember as Caesar was stabbed and killed all the refracts in the gallery walks out saying " Api yang Matchan Caesar ekata vada deela show eka than evariy'.The modayas didn't realise that incident was only the middle of the movie with another half to go.
I can't recall whether this really happened or it was one of Marz*s fancy gundus. [Sid]
13. Hamidullah
If there was a true peraly fellow among our cousins it was Hamidullah. He once pulled out the "Konde Kuruwe" from an Ayah in his school bus and got walloped by Ibrahim Uncle. Hamid also got a thrashing whenever he brought home a poor report from school.
Something we all enjoyed with the Naina-Marikar family was when Ibrahim Uncle used to take all of us, along with Hamid and Naima, Eid visiting to all the rich and famous Macan Markar family homes. The gifts, chocs and "peranaal shalli" we received was awesome in those trying times. [Faz]
14. Ramjee Lodge
We used to dash out to Ramjee Lodge, across the Galle Road, to get a quick breakfast of Idli and Sambhaar, some week days before we shot off to school. The Jackpot Machine stood besides the cashier staring at us. A token cost 10 cents. Trying our luck sometimes with one token we used to hit 3 bells which gave us 22 coins (Rs 2.20) that was more than enough to hit the weekend movie at the Savoy. I remember once the machine suffered a fault where the lever was able to manipulate each ring one image at a time thus enabling the player to manipulate the bells to all fall in a row. Everyone playing cashed in on this fault and made big bucks out of the one armed bandit. Once the Mudalali found out what was going on he turned the machine around and said no more playing. We could have wiped Ramjee clean that day. ;-)
Abu used to do some part time mechanical work for the Jackpot Owner, a Muslim guy who lived down Mary's Road. He told us how they file some of the ring stops and rig the machine so it will not stop at certain points to make up the right combination for a cash in. [Faz]
15. The 1958 Riots
1958 was a very bad year for the people. We witnessed our very first racial crisis when the Sinhala-Tamil riots erupted, initiated by the tar-brsh campaign that was executed in Jaffna where the Tamils started erasing all the Sinhala name boards with tar and the Sinhala chaps in Colombo reciprocated in the same vein.
The riots that ensued were severe. Many Tamil families were hauled into the Kovil in front of 298. The Army was called in to maintain law and order. They took over the front yard of 298, mounted machine guns on the wall facing the temple, and occupied the place until the issue was finally resolved. Many Tamil refugees were housed in the Temple for safety.
At 4 pm every evening an Army truck would arrive and enter the 298 gates. A huge cauldron of tea would be hauled out of its back and th soldiers would all enjoy a hot cuppa brew. We used to go and join them and they used to share their tea with us too. It was fun, yet scary, looking at real weapons of war a such close range, at age 10. [Faz]
16. "Ratharan"
"Ratharan", the dark skinned man with the gold teeth owned a bull that grazed in the front yard of 298 and 300. The bull was used in his cart to transport goods which was his main means of survival. On one occasion Rashed Appa hired his bull and cart to transport an iron safe from Umma's sisters (Noor Aunty, Junaid Appa's wife) home to 300. After the safe arrived and was taken of the cart into the house, "Ratharan" untied the bull so it could have some rest. The bull started running down Galle road for all its monies worth. "Ratharan" had to chase behind it shouding and screaming to finally catch it and bring it back. Apparently the safe was extremely heavy and the poor bull had broken its back carrying it al he way.
The dung that the bull left behind was very useful fir our vegetable gardening that Rasheed Appa made us perform diligently on a daily basis. We grew every possible vegetable and fruit within the backyard. The fruits were awesome. Guava, Mango, Biling, Custard Apple, Belli Fruit, Tamarind, Jak, Breadfruit, Jam Fruit, Sapodilla, and Soursop, were some of them. Next door to 300, at the Spillers residence, they grew both white and red Jumbo Fruit and also Uguressa. We were never short of fruit at Bamba. We also grew all kinds of greens including Ladies Fingers, Murunga, Chillie, and Spinach.
Watering the plants was a heavy duty job as we didn't have a hosepipe that could reach to the end of the backyard. So we used a bucket with a wooden pole so that two of us could carry one bucketful of water at a time as it was quite heavy for us little fellows. It was fun, yet hard work. [Faz]
16. Fareed Uncle
An European and a Tamil guy were travelling down to Fort from Jaffna in the Yal Devi train. The Tamil guy had bought some Durian and was carrying it in his bag and the pungent smell that emanated from the fruit was clearly annoying the European.
The European was hoping the Tamil guy from Jaffna get off at a near station on the way so he could get some relief..
He then asks the Jaffna guy," Where are you getting off"?
The Tamil guy replies " I am going to faaart,' meaning he was going to Colombo Fort ( his Jaffna accent made fort sound as faaart,)
The European screamed " What ,!! you have been farting since we left Jaffna ( referring to the pungent smell of durian fruit which the European has not heard of,) and you want to fart some more?"[Sid]
Sameer Appa was entertaining two gentlemen visitors, seated on the lawn of the front yard of 298. He calls Marzook and tells him, "Go and get two cups of tea for the visitors". Marzook runs in and tells Wapamma, who calls out to Sithy Aunty saying, "make two cups of tea and send it for the visitors". Sithy Aunty responds, "There is no sugar in the house". Marzook runs out to the front lawn and tells Sameer Appa, in front of his guests, "Appa, Appa, there is no sugar it seems." Appa goes mad and chases him away back into the house. The guests try to be humble by saying, "No, no its OK, that's not a problem". Finally, the sugar is bought from the grocery store in front of the house and the guests are served the tea. After the guests leave, poor Marzook gets a telling of his life from his grandfather which he has not forgotten, even fifty plus years after. [Marz]
2. Ameen Jabir
It's Eid Day. Ameen Jabir, Jabir Maama's son comes over to 298 to visit his paternal aunt, our Wapamma. Seeing him enter the house, Marzook starts jeering at him, making faces and saying all kinds of funny things. Sameer Appa gets very angry and puts Marzook up on the bench and reprimands him explaining to him that this is not the way to treat guests. Lessons of great value that will never lose their fragrance. [Marz]
3. Wilson
One day a Morris Minor car comes driving into the gate of 298. Sameer Appa walks out and asks who they are and what they want. They say they are looking for Wilson. Sameer Appa says, "He lives in the garage". The car turns back and shoots away. Apparently it was a marriage proposal for Wilson and the brides party were given the 298 address as his home. When Wilson plains this later Sameer Appa berates him on why he didnt update the family about the whole saga and they would have handled it differently. [Marz]
4. Beautiful Sundays
Sunday was always a special day at 298. All Sameer Appa's children and grandchildren would assemble in the morning to play a softball cricket match, Wellawatte vs Bambalapitiya. Firoze maintained a scorebook and statistics which was always challenged by the Wellawatte boys. Kidu lunch would be prepared by the girls and served on banana leaves on the floor. Sunday Choice would belt out on Farooq Uncles stereo. The Elephant House Ice Cream tricycle would rumble by and Ich Uncle would do the Family Block servings, making sur everyone gets his thin slice, accordingly. The Pasthol man from Slave Island will pass by in the evening and the family would relish his delicacies with tea. A weekend well spent displaying great family unity and honor. [Faz]
5. The Cricket Match Rivalry
The cricket match had some sort of rivalry. The Wellawatte team was led by Ghouse Uncle AWM) and comprised of Marzook, Fahmy, Siddiq, & Hussain. We plan out the strategy for Wellawatte. I remember the Wella team was in a bad way because of the bowling of Fareed Uncle (Russian bowling) and Ich Uncles lofted spin bowling. Ich Uncle used to spin the ball and Firo was placed on the front lawn and due to some massive lifting by Fahmy and others many got caught on the lawn. Marz was the last man in and it was getting dark so to save the game Marz decided to block ( thattu) every ball till we could appeal for bad light. This was going on to the annoyance of the Bamba team who was smelling victory.
Our beloved Uncle (Thahir) was watching through his room window and saw his two sons struggling to get the last man Marz out who was just blocking each ball with no stroke being occurred. Uncle noting the frustration of the Bamba team shouted "Marzuk hit out, hit out!"
Marz for his part didnt want to lose playing sheet anchor kept on thattu batting even after Uncle s pelea and saved the day for Wella as an aopeal for bad light was upheld as it was pitch dark. It was a draw and weren't Fudge, Firo,Faleel uncle and Fareed uncle disappointed. Marz became the hero for the Wella team in that match.
The match over we run to grab some ice Water from the Fridge and our beloved aunty Sithy Aunty screams out " Dont open the Fridge" but we have already chilled our thirst. Sithy Aunty was a perfect housekeeper and we with our muddy hands had handled the Fridge much to her annoyance. May Allah bless her soul. [Sid]
6. Housewife's Choice
No Housewives Choice, on Radio Ceylon, was complete without a request being mentioned like this "and the last number in the program will be Patty Page the singing rage singing Changing Partners for so and so.... and so and so... and not forgetting Sithy Khalisa Sameer (Aunty Khalisa) of Bambalapitya.
The radio is loud and at times his name being mentioned falls into the years of our grandpa Sameer.He must have been annoyed that his last daughter has made such requests but also knowing he liked publicity would have a slight admiration for the Sameer name being blared on the radio. Maybe he had mixed feelings and used to whisper in his beloved wife Raliya (Wapamma/Umma) ears about what transpired but our Granny was a broad minded lady and I presumed she would have brushed him off? [Sid]
7. Ms. Pouliers
The year was 1951-1952. We were just going on 4. Sameer Appa used to walk us up from 298 all the way to the Wellawatte junction to attend Ms Pouliers Nursery School down Lily Avenue. He would park himself at #43, next door, which later became his daughter, Rameela's (Big Maamee) house, until school ended before noon. After school we would walk back to 298 along the railway tracks (there was no Marine Drive then), criss crossing all the streets on the seaside and walking across the wooden bridge over the Wellawatte Canal. Many were the questions we asked him and he responded in great detail in his usual style of gusto and integrity. The steam engines sped by us in both directions, seagulls flew overhead, a kite or two in the sky, and a few lovers cuddling on the rocks, as we passed by. [Faz]
8. Martha Akka
Every morning, bang after 8 am, an energetic fish vendor from Moratuwa, Martha Akka, would walk in with her basket of freshly caught fish. Wapamma would entertain her in her bedroom carefully scrutinizing the fish she had and bargaining in Shillings. One Shilling was fifty cents then. After much discussion and small talk Martha Akka would agree on the price and away she will be gone. Instructions on how the fish was to be cooked would be dished out by Wapamma and Sithy Aunty would do the cooking. "Arukula Meen" or Seer Fish was the favorite of that era. I can still smell the flavor of the yellow curry in all its succulent spices. Bless them all for the glorious days they gave us. [Faz]
9. AduKareem Maama
On weekends in the evenings, Adu Kareem Maama used to sit in the front garden and enjoy sharing pakada and murukku he buys from Ramjee Lodge with us.
Ich unc used to join us. Suddenly dad while passing by used to converse a few words with Maama in Hindi.
After has left, Ich unc takes the cue and affectedly maintains a conversation with Maama in Hindi. Heavy maintenance in front of us all who were clueless 😳 I really don’t know whether Ich unc was using “con” Hindi words or not. Maama used to reply him in Hindi and Ich unc used to maintain as if he understood.
We all used to be amused at the way Ich unc used to conduct the conversation and the words he used to use in Hindi. Maama used to equally maintain the status quo.
Marz and I used to go to móvies together but being schoolboys were financially broke. Marz smart as he came up with an idea he got Ada Karim maama convinced to go to that movie at the Savoy saying it was a superb movie. Now maama convinced, Marz also enticed him to pay for all three me Marz,and himself all to the gallery at Fifty cents per person. Maama was occasionally flushed as he got pay outs from his cousins like Thaifoor Hassim etc etc. So we all went for the show with Marz sitting on one side of Maama and I the other side. It was an English Movie full of dialogue but interesting but meanwhile Maama was fast asleep as it was boring for him. Finally the movie was over and we had to wake up Maama who got up shell shocked and escorted him out after using the poor mans money for our movie with Murukku also thrown in. [Sid]
10. George M Barrow
Geo M Barrow, was a senior Burgher gent whose house was located tree doors after the Hinniappuhamy residence, facing the 298 backyard. He had a bell fixed to his gate on a gold colored plaque with his name etched on it. We used to ring the bell and dart, as fast as we could, down Sagara Road and hide in Noor Hameem's house. Old man George used to come howling after us. That was so much fun then. [Faz]
11. Lalvani's
We used to play cricket on the Lalvani's front yard, the last house facing the sea on Sagara Road. The Lalvani family were nice enough to let us use their premises. Some of the boys who joined us were Noor Hameem, Nimal, Claude de Pinto, Tony Fernando, Minzy Gomez, and the late Rizvi Kuthdoos.
The de Pinto's (GB de Pinto & Sons Ltd., Pettah & Wellawatte) also built a Church in their premises facing Sagara Road. Their home faced Clifford Place.
Claude's older sister used to look out of their balcony window, at the top of Clifford Place, waiting for her boy friend. She had long hair like Rapunzel and let it fall loosely out of her window, and we used to call her that.
Tony has become a priest now, I am told.
Rizvi married Shahul Hameed's (Jezima Villa) second (Burgher) wifes daughter and moved to BC Vancouver in Canada. He passed away, sadly. Noor Hameem was announcing on Radio Ceylon and had married a Sinhala gal. Nimal went on to join the merchant navy and was never heard of after that. Perali bugger he was. Christy Gomez, the older son, was a friend of Marz, I believe?
Once, while playing in the backyard of 298/300 we built a tree house on the Tamarind tree and I was sitting inside it. Minzy Gomez had an air gun on which we used to use those green "gandapaana" seeds from the creeper that grew on the 298 fence. Bugger shot me in the back once and it really hurt. [Faz]
12. Marz
Being a Chemistry buff Marz used to try out all kinds of experiments in the 298 garage. I remember making gas in an orange baey bottle using soda and vinegar to fill balloons that would take off into the air. He also indulged in photography in the Office Room developing films using all kinds of smelly solutions in basins.
Tamil movies was also one of his favorite pastimes. Whenever a new movie was screened at the Plaza he used to pump Firo and me to indulge Dad to go and see the movie. So Dad paid for all three. Marzz was a shrewd businessman even in his teens. ;-)
One Movie at the gallery it was Julius Ceasar and according to Marz which I can't remember as Caesar was stabbed and killed all the refracts in the gallery walks out saying " Api yang Matchan Caesar ekata vada deela show eka than evariy'.The modayas didn't realise that incident was only the middle of the movie with another half to go.
I can't recall whether this really happened or it was one of Marz*s fancy gundus. [Sid]
13. Hamidullah
If there was a true peraly fellow among our cousins it was Hamidullah. He once pulled out the "Konde Kuruwe" from an Ayah in his school bus and got walloped by Ibrahim Uncle. Hamid also got a thrashing whenever he brought home a poor report from school.
Something we all enjoyed with the Naina-Marikar family was when Ibrahim Uncle used to take all of us, along with Hamid and Naima, Eid visiting to all the rich and famous Macan Markar family homes. The gifts, chocs and "peranaal shalli" we received was awesome in those trying times. [Faz]
14. Ramjee Lodge
We used to dash out to Ramjee Lodge, across the Galle Road, to get a quick breakfast of Idli and Sambhaar, some week days before we shot off to school. The Jackpot Machine stood besides the cashier staring at us. A token cost 10 cents. Trying our luck sometimes with one token we used to hit 3 bells which gave us 22 coins (Rs 2.20) that was more than enough to hit the weekend movie at the Savoy. I remember once the machine suffered a fault where the lever was able to manipulate each ring one image at a time thus enabling the player to manipulate the bells to all fall in a row. Everyone playing cashed in on this fault and made big bucks out of the one armed bandit. Once the Mudalali found out what was going on he turned the machine around and said no more playing. We could have wiped Ramjee clean that day. ;-)
Abu used to do some part time mechanical work for the Jackpot Owner, a Muslim guy who lived down Mary's Road. He told us how they file some of the ring stops and rig the machine so it will not stop at certain points to make up the right combination for a cash in. [Faz]
15. The 1958 Riots
1958 was a very bad year for the people. We witnessed our very first racial crisis when the Sinhala-Tamil riots erupted, initiated by the tar-brsh campaign that was executed in Jaffna where the Tamils started erasing all the Sinhala name boards with tar and the Sinhala chaps in Colombo reciprocated in the same vein.
The riots that ensued were severe. Many Tamil families were hauled into the Kovil in front of 298. The Army was called in to maintain law and order. They took over the front yard of 298, mounted machine guns on the wall facing the temple, and occupied the place until the issue was finally resolved. Many Tamil refugees were housed in the Temple for safety.
At 4 pm every evening an Army truck would arrive and enter the 298 gates. A huge cauldron of tea would be hauled out of its back and th soldiers would all enjoy a hot cuppa brew. We used to go and join them and they used to share their tea with us too. It was fun, yet scary, looking at real weapons of war a such close range, at age 10. [Faz]
16. "Ratharan"
"Ratharan", the dark skinned man with the gold teeth owned a bull that grazed in the front yard of 298 and 300. The bull was used in his cart to transport goods which was his main means of survival. On one occasion Rashed Appa hired his bull and cart to transport an iron safe from Umma's sisters (Noor Aunty, Junaid Appa's wife) home to 300. After the safe arrived and was taken of the cart into the house, "Ratharan" untied the bull so it could have some rest. The bull started running down Galle road for all its monies worth. "Ratharan" had to chase behind it shouding and screaming to finally catch it and bring it back. Apparently the safe was extremely heavy and the poor bull had broken its back carrying it al he way.
The dung that the bull left behind was very useful fir our vegetable gardening that Rasheed Appa made us perform diligently on a daily basis. We grew every possible vegetable and fruit within the backyard. The fruits were awesome. Guava, Mango, Biling, Custard Apple, Belli Fruit, Tamarind, Jak, Breadfruit, Jam Fruit, Sapodilla, and Soursop, were some of them. Next door to 300, at the Spillers residence, they grew both white and red Jumbo Fruit and also Uguressa. We were never short of fruit at Bamba. We also grew all kinds of greens including Ladies Fingers, Murunga, Chillie, and Spinach.
Watering the plants was a heavy duty job as we didn't have a hosepipe that could reach to the end of the backyard. So we used a bucket with a wooden pole so that two of us could carry one bucketful of water at a time as it was quite heavy for us little fellows. It was fun, yet hard work. [Faz]
16. Fareed Uncle
An European and a Tamil guy were travelling down to Fort from Jaffna in the Yal Devi train. The Tamil guy had bought some Durian and was carrying it in his bag and the pungent smell that emanated from the fruit was clearly annoying the European.
The European was hoping the Tamil guy from Jaffna get off at a near station on the way so he could get some relief..
He then asks the Jaffna guy," Where are you getting off"?
The Tamil guy replies " I am going to faaart,' meaning he was going to Colombo Fort ( his Jaffna accent made fort sound as faaart,)
The European screamed " What ,!! you have been farting since we left Jaffna ( referring to the pungent smell of durian fruit which the European has not heard of,) and you want to fart some more?"[Sid]
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