History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t9.33

v1.c32.s2.t9.33

(ii) *Balanced by the weight of human body* : This is the same as the previous one in all respects; but one conspicuous difference is that it is operated with the application of human labour. This type of water-lifting operation is very common even now in Tamil Nadu and some parts of South India. The tapering horizontal pole is worked by trampling along the pole instead of the counterweight placed at the other end. The man who stands and tramples the pole by using his weight must have sure balance and adequate previous experience to operate the device and therefore it requires considerable practice.