Hawkers. These constitute the lowest level in the fractionalisation of commercial activities, being the final link in the
chain of middle-men between importers, milnufacturers or whole-salers and consumers (Figure 24.1). Traders supply hawkers with merchandise on credit. Although the activity is clearly a response to poverty, it also reflects the needs of the commercial and manufacturing activities of the upper circuit. Merchants and small manufacturers use hawkers in order to avoid
t axes, to employ minors or old persons, to reach customers not having the time or inclination to frequent la rgestores, or to dispose of unsold or unsaleable merchandise such as clothing no longer in fashion.