Indian Antiquary Vol 53

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 26

20
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JANUARY, 1924
gratitude for his deliverance from the Peshwa, had of the privato trading vessels recently come out to expressed through Captain Grant & desire to pre. India. The word was new to me, and I rashly sent General Smith with a sword which, in General inferred that it was a name for sailors in general, Smith's words, "had been possessed so many
possibly derived from 'rumbelows,' i.e., refrains years by his illustrious family." The Governor
chanted by seamen when hauling, etc. Some time of Bombay, to whom the proposal was reported, after the publication of the volume, however, I sanctioned the acceptance of the gift by General
came across a passage in Charles Lockyer's Account Smith, who thereupon wrote to Grant, requesting
of the Trade in India (1711), mentioning (p. 28) him to inform His Highness that he would gladly
that at Fort St. George the country boats that go receive the sword and would "ever preserve and
out to newly arrived vessels "make a good peny value it."
at the first coming of orombarros, as they call In forwarding a copy of this letter to me, Rao
those who have not been there before." This Bahadur Parasnis.hrew out the suggestion that
showed that the word was not English in derivation ; * possibly this sword, presented to General Smith, may have been the famous Bhavani. I consider but, not being able to discover it in Portuguese, this highly improbable. The Raja's gift was or in Tamil or Telugu, I was still at a loss, until doubtless a fine weapon, which was included among it occurred to me to look for it in a Malay dictionary. the heirlooms of his family, and may well have There I at once found orang baharu (pronounced been both historically and intrinsically valuable,
baru), with the meaning of a new-comer'; and there But it seems to me in the last degree unlikely
seems to be no doubt that this is the correct derithat the Raja, no matter how grateful and how
vation. As an interesting example of the purvival generous he may have been, would have given
of Malay terms at Indian seaporte, it is perhaps Away to a European military officer the real Bha
worthy of record in the Indian Antiquary. vâni of Sivaji, even assuming that he had sole and complete control of the weapon. Sentiment,
WILLIAM FOSTER, superstition and popular opinion would together have prevented his relinquishing in this manner
NOTES FROM OLD FACTORY RECORDS. the custody of a weapon which was the symbol
46. The Career of a No'er-do-well in 1706. of so illustrious an epoch in the history of his family and his country, the story of which had
22nd October 1706.-Congultation at Bombay been specially compiled by the chronicler of his Castlo. Robert Kent, Cook, turned out by Court, and which was actually regarded by many Captain Abraham Jackson, late Commander of the as imbued with the spirit and power of the tuto. Arabia Merchant, and sent Prisoner on board the lary goddess of the Marathas.
Abingdon at Mocha for a mutinous Il man, brought The question still remains "Where is now the to Bombay, afterward Entertained in the original sword Bhavani ?" In view of what Fort, and for his Misbehaviour Expelled, then is written above and of the fact that the sword marryed Widdow woman, Native In. now worshipped at Satara is the sword of Shahu, habitant of this Island with four Children, can any reader suggest a solution of the problem? kept a Punchhouse without Lyoence and Could the sword have been taken to Benares, Express against & Proclamation prohibiting when the Raja retired thither after his deposition ? selling drink in any Place upon or near the groen, Has it been hidden, to reappear at some future preventing all that Possible debauching the sea. date as the symbol of a united Maratha people ?
men from on board the Company's Europe Ships, Perhaps some one of the leading students of Mara.
for which and for the great disorders said Kent tha history may be able to answer the question
has bin fined, and since, threatning to leave the S. M. EDWARDES.
Island and his wife and Children upon the Company, shall not have liberty to go off without
first obtaines his wifes Consent and truly return ORRAMBARROW.
what Estate, whether House, money, Jowells or At p. 42 of The English Factories in India, 1655
Goods, &08., the Estate belonging to the Children 60, will be found a quotation from a letter written of said Kents wifes three former Husbands, or at Masulipatam on 18 November 1665, which
sufficient Security into the Treasury for Payment said that the sailors on board the East India Com.
thereof unto Mr. Aislabie Eeqr. Deputy Governor pany's ship Expedition (a veseel bought at Surat Hereby directed to receive said Security, secure. for the country' trade in 1646) "repine at theiro ing said woman and Children from Poverty. owno small wages in respect of thes orrambarrowes
Bombay Public Consultations, vol. 2. -a torm by which was obviously meant the crews
R. C. TEMPLE