Explanation of Persian
and Indian Terms

Amdanny

—Imports

Argee

—a Petition

Assammees

—Dealers in different branches of trade

Bang

—an intoxicating juice of a vegetable

Bazar

—a Market

Baudshaw

—a King

Baudshawjoddi

—a Queen

Begum

—a Princess

Betel

—a leaf growing on a vine, and chewed by all ranks of people

Bramin

—a Priest

Buckserrias

—Foot Soldiers, with only sword and target

Buxey

—Treasurer to the Mogul, or Paymaster of troops

Bundar

—a Custom-house

Cawn

—a title of dignity

Codgi

—a Bishop

Chop

—a small seal, on which is engraved the name of the Mogul

Choultry

—an open house for all travellers

Chout

—a fourth part: or a tribute exacted by the Morattoes

Chowkeys

—Turnpikes; or guards at landing places

Caffres

—Negroes from Africa, trained up as soldiers by the Europeans

Cooley

—a Porter, or Labourer of any kind

Coss

—a distance of two miles and more

Cossid

—a foot Messenger or Post

Cowle

—a protection

Crore of Rupees

—a hundred lack or near 1,250,000 l. sterling

Dawgahs

—Custom-house Officers, or Collectors

Decoyt

—a Robber

Dewan

—King's Treasurer

Dewanny

—Superintendency over the royal revenues

Dooley

—a woman's chair, like a sedan

Dummadah

—a river

Durbar

—the Court or Council of a Mogul Prince

Dustuk

—an order

Firman

—a royal mandate, or grant

Fouzdar

—a Governor, military Officer, or Renter

Gentoo

—a native Indian, in a state of idolatry

Gomastah

—a Broker, Factor, or Agent

Gunge

—Grain Market

Gwallers

—Carriers of palanquins

Hackeries

—Carts or coaches drawn by oxen

Harkarahs

—Spies

Jaghire

—a district granted as a mark of honor, or allotted as a pension

Jaggernaut

—the Gentoo pagoda

Jemidar

—an Ensign

Killedar

—the Governor of a Fort

Kistbundee

—Times of the payment of the country Revenues

Lack of Rupees

—about 12,500 l. sterling

Maund

—between 70 and 80 pounds, at Surat only 37 pounds

Moonshee

—a Persian Secretary

Mulna

—a Mahometan Priest

Moories

—Writers

Muchulcas

—Bonds of obligation

Musnud

—the throne of an Indian Prince

Muxadabad

—the capital of Bengal

Nabob

—a Governor of a Province, appointed by the Soubah

Naib

—a Deputy to the Governor of a place

Omrahs

—Privy Counsellors to the Mogul, and men of the first rank
in the Empire

Paddy

—Rice in the husk

Paddy-grounds

—Rice fields

Pagoda

—an Indian temple

Pagoda

—an Indian coin worth 7s. 8d. sterling

Palinquin

—a kind of canopy bed for travelling

Parsees

—Worshippers of fire

Patamar

—a Messenger or Post

Peons

—Foot soldiers armed with a broad sword

Pergannahs

—Villages

Perwannah

—a letter, order, or command

Pettah

—the town surrounding an Indian fort

Podor

—a Money Changer

Polygar

—the Lord of a District

Ponsways

—Guard-boats

Pettahs

—Grants

Raja

—the highest title claimed by the Gentoo Princes

Royran

—the King's Officer for receiving the revenue

Rafftanny

—Exports

Rupee

—a silver coin worth about 2s. 5d. sterl.

Saneds

—commissions from the Mogul, Soubahs, or Nabobs

Sardar

—an Officer of Horse

Seapoys

—Indian foot soldiers, hired and disciplined by Europeans

Shroff

—a Banker

Sircar

—a general name for the Government, or those concerned in it

Sirpah

—a rich dress of the country, worn by way of distinction

Soubah

—the Viceroy of the Deckan, or of Bengal

Tank

—a pond, or pool of water

Tanka

—the Revenue appropriated by the Mogul, for maintaining
a fleet at Surat

Tanksal

—a mint for coinage

Telinga

—the Carnatic country

Telingas

—Soldiers raised in the Carnatic

Tum tums

—Drums

Topasses

—a tawney race of foot soldiers, descended from the Portuguese marrying natives, and called Topasses, because they wear hats

Tunkahs

—Assignments upon lands, or rents assigned to the Company

Tursaconna

—Wardrobe

Ginanah

—Seraglio

Vakeel

—an English Agent, or resident at the Nabob's court

Vizerut

—the grant for the Viziership

Zemin

—Ground

Zemindary

—an Officer who takes care of the rents arising from
the public lands.