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JUNE, 1903.]
different vocabularies, and that it is important to distinguish them.' Indeed, to be on the safe side, it will be best to distinguish all the religions, noting against each term if it is confined to the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Muhammadans (Sunnis or Shias), or to any sect or order among these.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
To illustrate what is required, I take a few words from the Glossary of the Multani Language,
1881, and other sources:
Specimens for the Glossary.
Akharha, s. m. - Literally, an arena, a court. Kharha, special meaning, an indigo ground consisting of one or more sets of indigo-vats; the hole into which the water from the vats is run off; and the place where the indigo is dried.
Autark, s. m.-A childless man. Autari, s. f. A childless woman. Panjabi" aut" and" aunt"; -Hindi" ut."
Buhal, s. m. A yearly gift made to a murshid, or spiritual teacher. The murshids go round to their disciples' houses and demand their buhal in the most shameless manner, and even carry off articles by force. If the disciples. are slow in giving, the murshids curse them and pour most filthy abuse on them. Refusals are rarely made. The murshids known as "phulsage
walas," i. e., who give amulets to their disciples,
are notorious for this kind of extortion."
Paluta, s. m. An evil wish, a curse. It is the fear of the Paluta of religious mendicants that makes the people so subservient to them.
Palita, s. m. - A piece of paper on which a murshid writes some words or marks, and which he gives to a person attacked by jins, to drive them away. The possessed person sits with a sheet round him, and the Palita is lighted, bran and harmal are added, and allowed to smoulder under him.
Pareva. (Not traceable in dictionaries.)
Phul, s. m.- (1) Literally, a flower. Phul Chunnan (literally, to pluck flowers) is part of the ceremonies at Muhammadan marriages which are distinct from the religious service. A mirasin places on the bride's head a flock of cotton which the bridegroom blows away. This is done seven times. (2) The bones which remain after the corpse of a Hinda has been burnt and which are collected and taken to the Ganges. (3) An amulet, a charm. The belief in the power of amulets is universal. Those who give, or rather
1 See Panjab Census Report, 1902, ch. VI. § 18, p. 287.
279
sell, amulets are, firstly, Sayyids and Qorêshis, who are considered more pleasing to God than others; secondly, the incumbents of shrines and their sons; thirdly, impostors who can persuade people of the efficacy of their amulets. It is not essential that a person should be either learned or moral to establish his character as a giver of efficacious amulets. Amulets are asked and given for almost every human want or to avert every possible ill, and to cure every kind of sickness. The following are the most common:- (1) Bilanin da phul. A charm to win the heart of a woman. (2) Dushmani da phul. To make two persons quarrel, especially a married couple, and the husband to divorce his wife. (3) Halakat da phul.To make an enemy die. (4) Nazar da phul.-To avert the evil eye. (5) Mati da phul.To produce much butter in the churn. (6) Sinhari da phul. The charm of the churndasher to attract all the butter in his neighbours' churns into his own. (7) Mula da phul. - To avert "mula," a blight. Amulets are written on pieces of paper and on leaves, and sometimes consist of legible words as "ya Allah," but more often of unintelligible signs. The price paid is called "mokh," and whenever the desired result is attained a present is made in addition.
Pokhu, omen (Western Panjabi). Bhara
pokhu-wala, a child born under a good omen. Halka-pokhu-wala, a child born under a bad
omen.
Topu Jopu, Kangra. (Meaning unknown.)
Chapri, s. f. A small flat piece of wood about a span long and of the width of a finger. Spiritual guides, "murshids," sell to their dis ciples Chapris of ak wood with the following words written on them: "Ghark shud lashkar-iFarundar darya-i-Nil "Drowned was the army of Pharoah in the river Nile." The disciples wear these Chapris round their necks as prophylactics against remittent fever.
Chung, s. f. (1) A handful; (2) that share of the crop which under former Governments was paid to the kotwal or incumbents of shrines either by Government or land-owners. It is still given in some parts to incumbents of shrines.
Chhanchhan, s. m. (1) The planet Saturn, Saturday; (2) a small mound at the cross streets of towns on which Hindus offer oil and lamps on Saturdays in order to avert the evil influence of Saturn. Sindhi, "Chhancharu "; Hindi, "Sanichar." "Chhanchhan bale Kul bala tale," 1 Cf. phul below.
