To catch a pig
Joseph Lewis D’Silva
The more I come to know about Caitan, the more fascinated I become, and thus more anxious to tell readers about him. Caitan comes from a Goan house of sloping roofs. He is always summoned by the public to catch pigs because he is an expert in this line of catching, castrating and slaughtering this omnivorous animal. His great-grandfather was the first in this line. One of the Portuguese ‘fidalgos’ in recognition of the family’s skills awarded a small medal which Caitan wears to this day.
Caitan who roams this tavern town lapped by the waves of the Arabian Sea, has run after hundreds of white and black pigs. He regrets there are no pigs in any other colour. His dog and his neighbour Bosteao help him in this job. When the trio are in action, they run like an arrow set on its path; the whole village is alerted and agitated for a pound of flesh called pork.
Once the pig is caught, its snout and legs are tied. This barrel-shaped animal is swung on a pole (now in a van) and carried by Caitan and Bosteao, usually to a place near the tavern for an open operation.
The pig is laid on an operation mat weaved out of palm leaves. It is cut open and chopped into marketable pieces. Prospective buyers circle this open-air-operation theatre because pork is an important dish of all Goan celebrations in Christian homes. Then Caitan and Bosteao, when their work is done, go to the tavern for a sip of palm feni. At the tavern, Caitan says with sadness: “Poor Mr Pig. I robbed him from his children.”
Caitan and Bosteao admire the running speed of this domesticated pig which takes off like a rocket heading in different directions for places to hide.
Caitan tells everyone, “Mr Pig is a scavenger. It cleans up the over flowing roadside stinking bins. It cleans the mess of rubbish left over by garbage trucks.” Caitan’s chief worry is how to pass on his trade to his sons before his worn-out limbs stretch out for eternal sleep. The job requires a good deal of running over uncertain paths to catch the hog, swine, boar, sow, porker and the suckling pig.
Caitan’s worries are unfounded. Junior Caitans move on the road of life with puffed up chests. They have already taken a liking for running after pigs. And doing this work gives them job satisfaction making their internal world joyful and peaceful.
Old Caitan, sitting in his balcony at night, often thinks uneasily over the future. He says, “Suppose I turn into a pig in the next world. What am I going to do to keep away from these Caitans?”
