RACE, ANXIETY AND SHOPPING IN THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK: Indian Hawkers and Victoria's 1884 Smallpox Outbreak

ABSTRACT

Life for settlers in the outback lands of Australia was isolated and far away from cities. For being connected to nearby settlements and to cities they heavily relied on migrant Indian hawkers! Hawkers toured different settlements with their wares during the late nineteenth century offering a convenient connection between urban markets and the distant outback settlements. This is their story. Hawkers were primarily Punjabi men who migrated to Australia from British India to earn a living as travelling traders in the outback. Yet despite the valuable service they provided, hawkers were not always well received. During the 1884 smallpox outbreak, Indian hawkers were falsely accused of bringing the disease to Australia, leading to reactions of fear and hostility. The combination of racism and "false news” which characterized the reaction of some Australians to the smallpox epidemic has parallels with the treatment of Asian minorities globally during the coronavirus epidemic, which is ongoing as I write. © 2023 selection and editorial matter, Ajaya K. Sahoo;individual chapters, the contributors.