Indian Antiquary Vol 61

SR No.: 032553
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 107

MAY, 1932]
NOTES ON HOBSON-JOBSON
yuva-raja. Sir Henry Elliot gives some other "happy examples of the Hobson-Jobson dialect," which I may be permitted to quote as they are not in Yule.
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"We have heard our European soldiery," he writes, "convert Shekhawati into 'Sherry and water'; Sirâju-d-daula into a belted knight, Sir Roger Dowler,' Dalip into Tulip': Shah Shuja'u-l-Mulk into Cha sugar and milk,' and other similar absurdities."-History of India, I, 516.
Whether "happy" or not, they are certainly curious.
Vaishnava.-There is a very early mention of this sect by name in 'Al Shahrastâni's Kitabu'l-Milal wa-'l-Nihal.' Of the (Al-Basnawiya) he says: "They believe their apostle to be a spiritual angel who came down to earth in the form of a man. . . . He ordered them to make an idol resembling him, to approach, to adore it, and to walk round it every day thrice, with musical instruments, fumigation, song and dance. He ordered them to magnify cows, and to worship them whenever they perceived any, and to take refuge in penitence by stroking them."-Rehatsek's Translation in Journal, BBRAS., vol. XIV, No. XXXVI, p. 61.
Yaboo. Yule's first quotation from an English author is of 1754. The following is a much earlier example:
[1669.] "All such [horses] as procurable of any worth were taken and seized on by the Kings generall.. Yabboute which formerly were in noe esteeme, are now growne to extraordinary prizes."-English Factories in India, ed. Foster (1668-9), p. 210.
Yak.-Ralph Fitch is perhaps the earliest English author who writes of this animal, though he does not give the name.
دم
[c. 1585.] "They [the people of Bhutân] cut the tailes of their kine and sell them very deere, for they bee in great request, and much esteemed in those parts. The haire of them is a yard long, the rumpe is above a spanne long; they use them to hang them for braverie upon the heades of their elephants; they bee much used in Pegu and China."-Early Travels in India, ed. Foster, p. 27.
Zantel. This word is not in Hobson-Jobson, but it is used by Pelsaert, de Laet and Herbert. The first of these authors writes:
[1626.] "The tsantel or messenger, a plume on his head and two bells at his belt, runs at a steady pace, ringing the bells; they carry their masters' letters a long distance in a short time, covering from 25 to 30 kos in a day."-Jahangir's India, p. 62.
[1631.] "The Zanteles or runners (who wear feathers on their heads and carry two cymbals hung from their belts, which they clash as they go) can cover 25 or 30 cos in one day."-De Laet De Imperio Magni Mogolis, trans. Hoyland, p. 90.
Mr. W. H. Moreland is not sure whether it represents chandál or Santál. Neither Pelsaert nor de Laet could have known anything about the aborigines called Sontâls, and there is nothing to show that they were generally employed as messengers in the part of the country with which these authors were familiar. But the following passages from Abul Fazl seem to show that the word stands for chandals.'
[1592.] "On 4 Bahman [1000 H-1592] Khidmat Rai died of dysentery. He belonged to a tribe which was unequalled in India for wickedness. They are also called Mawi [recte Meo ?] and chandál. His Majesty favoured him and made him chief of his tribe, and guided him towards honesty... As he had the title of Khidmat Rai, every one of the tribe is called Khidmatiya."-Akbarnâma, trans. Beveridge, III, 922.
It would appear from the Ain-i-Akbart, that these Khidmatiya belonged to the same class as, if they were not absolutely identical with, the Mewras.' The latter are described as "natives of Mewât, who are famous as runners. They bring from great distances with zeal anything that may be required. They are excellent spies. Their wages are the same as the preceding [scil. Khidmatiyas]-Ain-i-Akbari, trans. Blochmann, I, 252.
It would seem that Khidmatiyâs,' 'Mawis' (i.e., Meos), Mewras, and Chandals' were practically identical.