The Hindus Have a Word

"Na, na, damchee, na, na, damchee! " wailed the tongawalla to a British officer, who was trying to rent his two-wheeled tonga at an air base in India. Then a U.S. sergeant stepped from the bazaar with the souvenirs he had bought, said: "Sorry, sir, but this is mine for the afternoon."

That word "damchee" had the experts stumped for a long time. Considerable research last week revealed the meaning: "a profligate American." Origin: when U.S. troops first arrived at the base with pocketfuls of pay-day rupees, they hired tongas for sightseeing; at the end of a ride, after being told that the price was two rupees, the Americans would toss a ten-rupee note (about $3) to the tongawalla, remarking: "Damn cheap."

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