5 MAY 1923, Page 14

NO POC KE TS.

[To the Editor of the SPEcTATott.] Sra,—Some time ago there was an article on "Pockets," in which the writer says that "the desire to have one hand occupied, to have something to carry, is almost universal." I have been often struck out here with the apparent dislike Indians have for carrying things in their hands. It is not only the " coolies " who carry things on their heads. The carpenter's tools, the office-peon's burden of books, the boots of the policeman off duty, are usually carried on the head—and I have seen a carpenter carry a plane or a hammer on his shoulder (if there are too many tools to balance on his head) sooner than carry it in his hand. A milkman will carry half a dozen cans looped together on his head. Possibly the reason is that they use their hands so much in conversation, but certainly they do not seem to ifice carrying things by hand if it is possible to avoid doing