Don Shortall Saturday, 18 August 2018
Fascinating. As a young Engineer cadet I went through the Suez Canal and and Port Said where the small “bum boats” came alongside the anchored ship. They literally had every kind of electrical radio/record player/cassette player and so on for sale in these small "bum boats".
It was a fascinating experience. The item was passed up the side of the ship by a light rope and after examination on-board, if satisfactory, the cash was wrapped around the same light rope and passed back down to the man on the boat, who always had a young boy, maybe a nephew, to help him.
I’ll always remember those occasions, which I experienced many times.
The expression always used to describe those small wooden crafts was "bum boats" and I sometimes wondered where that expression came from. It was, for me, an unusual way to describe them.
Any thoughts or ideas from anyone, who might help as to where it came from?
Thanks in advance
Don
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