Part 29 (1/2)
[40] _Chabena, chabeni_, what is munched or chewed (_chabna_).
[41] _Tamashawala: tamashabin_, a spectator of wonders.
[42] _Sampwala_.
[43] 'Mr. Secretary.'
[44] It is generally believed snakes do not live apart from their species; if one is destroyed in a house, a second is antic.i.p.ated and generally discovered. [_Author_.]
[45] _Dastur, dasturi_, the percentage appropriated on purchase by servants.
[46] _Saiqalgar_, corrupted into _sikligar_, a polisher.
[47] _Dahi khatai_. There is no mystery about the preparation.
Milk is boiled and soured by being poured into an earthen vessel in which curds have previously been kept. Sometimes, but less frequently, an acid or rennet is added to precipitate the solid ingredients of the milk.
[48] _Malai_.
[49] _Makkhan_.
[50] _Burfwala_.
[51] _Roshanai_, 'brightness', made of lampblack, gum-arabic, and aloe juice. Elaborate prescriptions are given by Jaffur Shurreef (_Qanoon-e-Islam_ 150 f.).
[52] Lithography and printing are now commonly done by natives.
[53] Letters usually begin with, the invocation, _Bi'-smi'illahi'r-rahmani'r-rahim_, 'In the name of Allah, the Compa.s.sionate, the Merciful.' The monogram 'I' is often subst.i.tuted, as being the initial of Allah, and the first letter of the alphabet.
[54] If the Koran were wrapped in a skin and thrown into fire, it would not burn, say the Traditions (Hughes, _Dictionary of Islam_, 521).
Compare the care taken by the Chinese to save paper on which writing appears (J.H. Gray, _China_, i. 178).
[55] _Surma_, a black ore of antimony, a tersulphide found in the Panjab, often confused by natives with galena, and most of that sold in bazars is really galena. It is used as a tonic to the nerves of the eye, and to strengthen the sight.
LETTER XVII
Seclusion of Females.--Paadshah Begum.--The Suwaarree.--Female Bearers.--Eunuchs.--Rutts.--Partiality of the Ladies to Large retinues.--Female Companions.--Telling the Khaunie.--Games of the Zeenahnah.--Shampooing.--The Punkah.--Slaves and slavery.--Anecdote.--The Persian Poets.--Fierdowsee.--Saadie, his 'Goolistaun'.--Haafiz.--Mahumud Baarkur.--'Hyaatool Kaaloob'.--Different manner of p.r.o.nouncing Scripture names...Page 248
The strict seclusion which forms so conspicuous a feature in the female society of the Mussulmauns in India, renders the temporary migration of ladies from their domicile an event of great interest to each individual of the zeenahnah, whether the mistress or her many dependants be considered.
The superior cla.s.ses seldom quit their habitation but on the most important occasions; they, therefore, make it a matter of necessity to move out in such style as is most likely to proclaim their exalted station in life. I cannot, perhaps, explain this part of my subject better than by giving a brief description of the suwaarree[1] (travelling retinue) of the Paadshah Begum[2] which pa.s.sed my house at Lucknow on the occasion of her visit to the Durgah of Huzerut Abas Ali Kee, after several years strictly confining herself to the palace.
By Paadshah is meant 'King';--Begum, 'Lady.' The first wife of the King is distinguished by this t.i.tle from every other he may have married; it is equivalent to that of 'Queen' in other countries. With this t.i.tle the Paadshah Begum enjoys also many other marks of royal distinction; as, for instance, the dunkah (kettle-drums) preceding her suwaarree; a privilege, I believe, never allowed by the King to any other female of his family.
The embroidered chattah (umbrella); the afthaadah (embroidered sun); and chowries of the peac.o.c.k's feathers, are also out-of-door distinctions allowed only to this lady and the members of the royal family. But to my description:--
First, in the Paadshah Begum's suwaarree I observed a guard of cavalry soldiers in full dress, with their colours unfurled; these were followed by two battalions of infantry, with their bands of music and colours. A company of spearmen on foot, in neat white dresses and turbans, their spears of silver, rich and ma.s.sive. Thirty-six men in white dresses and turbans, each having a small triangular flag of crimson silk, on which were embroidered the royal arms (two fish and a dirk of a peculiar shape).
The staffs of these flags are of silver, about three feet long; in the lower part of the handle a small bayonet is secreted, which can be produced at will by pressure on a secret spring. Next followed a full band of music, drums, fifes, &c.; then the important dunkah, which announces to the public the lady's rank: she is enclosed within the elevated towering chundole, on each side of which the afthaadah and chowries are carried by well-dressed men, generally confidential servants, appointed to this service.
The chundole is a conveyance resembling a palankeen, but much larger and more lofty; it is, in fact, a small silver room, six feet long, five broad, and four feet high, supported by the aid of four silver poles on the shoulders of twenty bearers. These bearers are relieved every quarter of a mile by a second set in attendance: the two sets change alternately to the end of the journey. The bearers are dressed in a handsome royal livery of white calico made to sit close to the person; over which are worn scarlet loose coats of fine English broad-cloth, edged and bordered with gold embroidery: on the back of the coat a fish is embroidered in gold. Their turbans correspond in colour with the coats; on the front of the turban is fixed diagonally a fish of wrought gold, to the tail of which a rich gold ta.s.sel is attached; this readies to the shoulder of the bearer, and gives a remarkable air of grandeur to the person.
The chundole is surrounded by very powerful women bearers, whose business it is to convey the vehicle within the compound (court-yard) of the private apartments, or wherever men are not admitted at the same time with females. Chobdhaars and soota-badhaars walk near the chundole carrying gold and silver staffs or wands, and vociferating the rank and honours of the lady they attend with loud voices the whole way to and from the Durgah.