THE forefathers of the Surat Hindus of South Africa came to this country as free passengers towards the end of the nineteenth century. Most of them did not bring their families with them so they lived a single life. They used to visit the mother-country every three or four years. Some of them brought their sons with them because in those days this was permissible. It was not necessary for them to be accompanied by their mothers. In the early days most of them were engaged in hawking fruit and vegetables as there was very little scope in other business.