Indian Antiquary Vol 60

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

Page 240

212
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ NOVEMBER, 1981
Madura.There is a reference to this town in Mas'udi, which does not seem to have been recognised either by Yule or by other writers.
[c. 943.) “El-Maʻsadi says we have related the history of the Kings of India; iii we have entered into details respecting the Maharaj, who is the King of the islands ... and the history of the Kings of China, of the King of Serendib and of the country of Mandara
ndio, which is opposite to the island, Serendib, as Komar [Khmer] is opposite the islands of the Maharaj .. Every King of the country of Mandûra has the title of El-Kayadi, wale 1."-Trans. Sprenger, pp. 397-98. In Barbier de Meynard's text and translation (Prairies, I, 394-5), the name is read w gain, Mandourafin,' which is, I think, a migwriting of
w i e Mandourafatan-i.e., Mandaraipattan-(Sanskrit). The title of the kings (SLI) also can be explained easily on the supposition of its being a copyist's error for saleli, 'Al Fandi,' i.e., Al-Pandi' (Påndya), as there is no sign for p in Arabic, and p is changed into f, as in Farsi' for 'Parsi,' etc.
Malum.-All the early examples of the use of this word quoted by Yule are from Portuguese writers. Here is an early use by an English traveller :
[1613.] "Butt the next daie goinge aland with the Generall, I brought him a mallim or maister of a Guzuratts shipp."-The Journal of John Jourdain, ed. Foster, p. 311.
Maryacar.-c. 1510.] "When the Moors saw our fleet arrive (at Cannanore) they sent an ambassador, who was named Mamal Maricar, who was the richest man in the country, and he came to demand peace."-Travels of L. di Varthema, trang. Badger, p. 282.
This is perhaps the earliest example of the occurrence in a European author of this "titular appellation of the Moplah Mahommedans on the S. W. Coast." Mamal' is most probably a slip for 'Mamat,' i.o., Muhammad.
Matranee.-The strange confusion between this word and Bhathiyarin, wife of an innkeeper,' of which Yule cites an example from Forbes' Oriental Memoirs (1785), is exempli. fied in a much earlier author, Peter Mundy.
[c. 1632.] "Metrannes or Belearees are certain women in all Saraes, that looke to the litle roomes there and dresse the Servants meate, accomodateinge them with cottes ette. needfull to bee had."--The Travels of Peter Mundy, ed. Sir R. Temple, II, 121.
Moolvee.-Yule quotes no early use of the word. Here is one
[1636.) “The Sircale [Sar Khail) and the Malliveece two eminent persons in Court (and our utter enemyes)."-English Factories in India (1634-1636), ed. Foster, p. 325.
Moonshee.-(The earliest example quoted by Yule is of 1777.)
[1622.] "After viewing the present, they had brought, he questioned them about the stay of their goods at Ahmadabad, and finally caused his Monses to write a parwana to Safi Khan to release them."-English Factories in India, ed. Foster (1622-23), p. 9.
Mosquito.-[c. 1516.) “When these Baneanes meet with a swarm of ants on the road they shrink back and seek for some way to pass without crushing them. And in their houses they sup by daylight, for neither by night nor day will they light a lamp, by reason of certain little flies Mosquitos in the original Portuguese text] which perish in the flame thereof." The Book of Duarte Barbosa, trans. Dames, I, 112.
It will be seen that the word is here used in its original sense of little insects of all sorts and not in the narrower and modern one of a species of gnat.
Mussendom, Capo.--The learned authors seem to have been in doubt as to the correct transcription of this place-name and have said nothing about its derivation. The 'explanation' quoted by Mr. Crooke from Morier is one of those etymological conjectures of the eponymio type, which are only too common. The following statement, therefore, of a very old and very well-informed writer may be found interesting.
[c. 943.) "Then the mountains known under the name of Koseir, Owair i and a third one the name of which is not known. Then ed-Dordor which is oalled the terrible