I am finalising an English translation of G. Cheda's "L'emigrazione
ticinese in Australia" Locarno, 1976 and would be very grateful if anyone
were able to give more information on the following two items or suggest
where it might be found.
1 The word" borratore"
e.g. as quoted in vol. 1, p.156 of the same.
"L'esercizio del mestiere di borratore, quantunque costasse dei sacrifici a
questo comune a motivo di frequenti vittime Š era però sufficiente a
sopperire alla soddisfazione dei piu stringenti bisogni.
I believe the "borratori" were concerned in the transport of logs
downstream and constructed dams to bring the water to a sufficiently high
level. The dams would then be broken so as to launch the logs on their
merry way.
Is this true? Were there any other meanings of the term? Were the
"borratori" also concerned with the task of sending timber downhill on
slides?
2 The meaning of the 'patriziato", once more in Ticino.
If I have understod correctly certain long established families in the
villages had rights to collect firewood on terreni patriziali. How were
people legally defined as belonging to the patriziato? How far back did the
concept date? How was it administyered, i.e. who was able to give or refuse
permission as in the passage below? How did such property stand in relation
to municipal property?
"Š I beni privati poco produssero in quest'anno, l'industria è affatto
arenata, i viveri sono tanto cari da accrescere a dismisura la generale
miseria; dei beni patriziali non possono trar profitto mentre se
tagliassero una pianta s'avrebbero adosso grosse multe oltre al trovarsi le
fatiche gettate; e se la cercano in grazia tanto per vendere il legname ad
alimentare la famiglia e se stessi, vien loro severamente denegata." (ibid.
pp.49-50)
Tony Pagliaro
La Trobe Univ.
.
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