Story: Middle Eastern peoples

Selling from carts and vans (1st of 2)

Selling from carts and vans

Many Lebanese men were hawkers and peddlers who roamed the back roads of rural Otago and Southland. Typically they carried haberdashery, toiletries and other small goods. At first they travelled by train or coach to their chosen areas and then carried their goods in a suitcase with a shoulder strap. They slept where they could, in cheap boarding houses and the occasional haystack. Eventually, some traders could afford a horse and cart.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: Otago Witness, February 1904

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How to cite this page:

James Veitch and Dalia Tinawi, 'Middle Eastern peoples - The Lebanese', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/2011/selling-from-carts-and-vans (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by James Veitch and Dalia Tinawi, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2015