16 Questions
What kind of lights did the astrologer's shop have?
Hissing gaslights
What was the astrologer's original occupation?
Tilling the land
Why did the astrologer leave his village?
He had to leave without telling anyone
How much did the astrologer charge per question?
Three pice
What did the astrologer do before speaking to his customers?
He listened to them for at least ten minutes
What did the astrologer usually tell his customers about their troubles?
That they were not getting the fullest results for their efforts
What did the astrologer ask his customers about their family?
If there was a woman in their family who was not well disposed towards them
What did the astrologer attribute his customers' troubles to?
Marriage, money and the tangles of human ties
What was the astrologer's professional equipment?
A dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth, a notebook, and a bundle of palmyra writing
What was the significance of the astrologer's forehead and eyes?
They were a way to attract customers, making them feel comforted
Why did the astrologer wear a saffron-colored turban?
To attract customers with a vibrant color scheme
What was special about the location where the astrologer sat?
It was a hub of activity with a variety of trades and occupations
What was the occupation of the vendor who created a lot of din all day?
Auctioneer of cheap cloth
What was the name of the fried groundnuts on a particular day?
Any of the above
Why was the place lit up by shop lights and not by municipal lighting?
It added to the enchantment of the place
What was the source of light near the astrologer's location?
A flare that crackled and smoked
Study Notes
The Astrologer's Setup
- The astrologer sets up his professional equipment at midday, consisting of cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with mystic charts, a notebook, and a bundle of palmyra writing.
- He wears sacred ash and vermilion on his forehead, and his eyes sparkle with a sharp, abnormal gleam, which is actually a result of his continuous search for customers.
- He wears a saffron-colored turban, which never fails to attract people.
The Astrologer's Location
- The astrologer sits under a spreading tamarind tree in the Town Hall Park, where a surging crowd moves up and down the narrow road from morning till night.
- The area is filled with various trades and occupations, including medicine-sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and an auctioneer of cheap cloth.
- A vendor of fried groundnuts nearby gives his ware a fancy name each day, attracting a large crowd.
The Astrologer's Business
- The astrologer transacts his business by the light of a flare, which crackles and smokes above the groundnut heap nearby.
- The place is lit up by shop lights, including hissing gaslights, naked flares, and old cycle lamps, creating a bewildering criss-cross of light rays and moving shadows.
- The astrologer's business is based on study, practice, and shrewd guesswork, rather than actual knowledge of the stars.
- He charges three pice per question and never opens his mouth till the other has spoken for at least ten minutes, providing him enough material for a dozen answers and advices.
The Astrologer's Background
- The astrologer was not born into the profession, but rather turned to it after leaving his village without a plan or intention.
- He would have otherwise carried on the work of his forefathers, tilling the land and living in his ancestral home.
- He had to leave home and travel a couple of hundred miles, which is a significant distance for a villager.
This quiz is about the setup and location of an astrologer, including the equipment and attire used. Learn about the astrologer's appearance and surroundings.
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