Word: banian
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...Blood & Banians. Fate, for most khaki farmers, is another visit to the banian, or village moneylender. Of Jagjit's 30-bushel wheat crop, the banian already gets about a third. The banian's charge for a bushel of wheat: two bushels at harvest time, the equivalent of 100% interest. Yet Jagjit and others would rather take their chances with a local banian's mercy than ask for government credit. "The government drinks the blood of the farmers," said Jagjit fiercely. "It charges 12% interest, and wants the money back as soon as the term of the loan...
...long fingertips, a foppish lover of fine horses and a patron of racing, his lifelong study has been a huge collection of military books. John Metaxas' name went upon the defense system thrown up along the Bulgarian and Yugoslav borders, which were later extended hastily down the Al banian. But in General Papagos' head rests knowledge of every gully and goat track not only in the Greek mountains but far beyond. Like his soldiers, whom amazed correspondents found toiling with out lanterns at midnight to repair bridges, he can thread the Balkans blindfolded...
...luck" (early rains) and by Greek treach ery in being all mobilized and ready in numbers far greater than Italy could get to the front.* The last part of this lame story is obviously untrue, but it may be that behind the beard of many an "Al banian" who incited his comrades' sur render or rebellion grinned the sly face of a British Intelligence operative. But the fact remains that Italy threw into the fight, at the outset, ten full divisions numbering, with supply and labor troops, over 200,000 men, to which two more divisions were added after...
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