Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 174

146
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ August, 1931
NOTES ON HOBSON-JOBSON. By Pror. 9. H. HODIVALA, M.A.
(Continued from page 132.) Churruck Poojah.-Mr. Crooke has given references to some other old descriptions, but a very long and very graphic account, as also one of the earliest, is to be found in Barbosa :
[c. 1516.) "If any young maiden," he writes," would marry a youth on whom she has set her fancy, she makes & vow to her god that if he will arrange for her marriage, she will do him a great servioe before giving herself to her husband, If her wish is fulfilled. she tells him that before giving herself to him, she must offer to such and such a god to whom she has promised to make an offering of her blood. Then , they take a great ox: cart and set up therein a tall water-lift ... at the end of which hang two very sharp iron hooks ... They let down the long arm of the lift and push the hooks into her loins through skin and flesh. Then they put a small dagger into her left hand, and from the other end, cause the arm of the lift to rise... She remains hanging from the lift with the blood running down her legs, but shows no signs of pain, nay, she waves her dagger most joyfully, throwing limes at her husband." -The Book of Duarte Barbosa, trans. Dames, I, 220-2.
Tavernier also witnessed the rito at Malda on the 8th of April (1666] and has given a pen picture of what he saw.-Travels, ed. Ball, II, 264.
Cobra do Capello.-The following use of this word is older than the earliest (1523) in Hobson-Jobson.
fo. 1516.) “In this kingdom of Cannanore) in some of the great rivers are found also certain great lizards which devour men... and in the land among the woods and thickets are found certain serpents which the Indians call Murcas, and we call them Cobras de Capelo (hooded snakes) for they make a hood over their heads. They are very poisonous." -The Book of Duarte Barbosa, trans. Dames, II, 83.
Cobra Manilla.--[c. 1516.) “There is yet another kind of snake even more poisonous [than the Cobra de Capelo) whioh the natives oall Madalis. Such is their renown, that they kill in the very act of biting, so that the person bitten cannot utter a single word nor turn him round to die." --The Book of Duarte Barbosa, trans. Dames, II, 83. Mr. Dames says the name is Mandal' in the Spanish version and Mandali' in Ramubio, and that Payyana Mandali is the name by which Russell's viper is known. Lockyer's explanation of the name is most probably an example of 'striving after meaning,' and seems to be founded on the fact that the Portuguese word for 'bracelet' is manilha (Hobson-Jobson, ed. 1903, p. 558).
Conbalingua.- This word rarely ocours in the writings of English travellers, and all the illustrative extracts in Hobson-Jobson are from continental writers. But it is found in Bowrey, who gives a long and very interesting list of the fruits of the Malay Peninsula :
[c. 1679.) “This countrey (Achin) affordeth severall excellent fruites, namely Duryans, Mangastinos, Oranges the best in India or South Seas, comparable with the best of China, Lemons, Limes, Ramastines (Rambutan) ... Mirablines (Myrobalan], Bolangos, Monnoone plums, [Zizyphus Jujuba or ber], Pumple Mooses, &o., and the trees beare fruite both green and ripe all the yeare alonge."-Countries round the Bay of Bengal, ed. Sir R, Temple, p. 323. Here 'Bolangos ' is evidently "a curtailment of Conbalingua,'” as the editor has pointed out.
Congeo.-The first English writer quoted in Hobson-Jobson is Fryer (1673).
[1622.] "Have been endeavouring to prooure the goods required 'butt all this tyme itt hath beene soe extreame raynes thatt neather beater cann beate, washer can give Congee nor
3 Molesworth, in his Mardth Dictionary, gives " Maner or manydr. A snake of a venomous kind, Cobra Manilla."--C.E.A.W.O., JOINT-EDITOR.