History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t9.32

v1.c32.s2.t9.32

Let us now go into the details of the actual working of this simple but efficient device. The *shadoof* or *ettam* consists of a long tapering and nearly horizontal pole pivoted on a horizontal beam fixed across two vertical pillars about 8 to 10 feet high which are set up less than a yard apart above the ground. In some cases, granite stone pillars act as the vertical beams instead of the palymra ones. A leather bag of considerable size or a bucket made either of earthenware or metal is hung on a rope or thin horizontal pole from the larger and thinner end and a counterbalance placed on the shorter and thicker end. The counterbalance will always be a block of stone secured tightly at the end. The worker who stands at the edge of the well, pulls down the rope to fill the bucket, after which the counterbalanced end drops and raises the bucket of water to his hand who empties the water in the connecting canal. The process is repeated.