Water carrier (alsowater seller) is aprofession that existed before the advent of centralizedwater supply systems.[1] A water carrier collected water from a source (a river, a well, water pumps, etc.) and transported or carried containers with water to people's homes. After the construction of pipe networks, the profession of water carrier became unnecessary and disappeared.[2]
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In lateQing dynastyChengdu, there were over one thousand people who worked as water carriers. They not only performed their official duties, but also helped the elderly and sick who could not take care of themselves with housework. In the 1940s Chengdu water carriers still went barefoot to show that they go deep into the river to collect the purest water.[3]
Between the 16th and 19th centuries inOttoman Turkey,dervishes called saka or sebiljee distributed water for charitable purposes. Among them were dervishes who sympathized with theMevlevi order.[4]
