OF THE INDIAN YEAR Book, 1928. THE HE Editors have to thank many correspondents who during the past year have sent them suggestions for the improvement of this book. The Indian Year Book is intended above all to be a book of reference, and its completeness and convenience of arrangement must necessarily depend to a great extent on the part taken in its editing by the members of the public who most use it. The help extended to the Editors by various officials, and more particularly by the Indian Commercial Intelli gence Department, has again been readily given and is most gratefully acknowledged. Without such help it would be impossible to produce the Year Book with up-to-date statistics. Suggestions for the improvement or correction of the Year Book may be sent to the Editors at any time, but those which reach them before October have a better chance of being adopted than later suggestions which only reach them after the work of revision has been partly completed. The Times of India, Bombay, January, 1928. ABKARI.-Excise of liquors and drugs. AIN.-A timber tree TERMINALIA TOMENTOSA. AKALI.-Originally, a Sikh devotee, one of a band founded by Guru Govind Singh (who died 1708) now, a member of the politico-religious army (dal) of reforming Sikhs. AKHUNDZADA.-Son of a Head Officer. ALIGHOL.-Literally a Mahomedan circle. A kind of athletic club formed for purposes of self defence. ALI RAJA-Sea King (Laccadives). AMIL. A name given in Sind to educated members of the Lohana community, a Hindu caste consisting principally of bankers, clerks and minor officials. Mohammedan AMIR (corruptly EMIR).-A ANICUT.-A dam or weir across a river for irrigation purposes, Southern India. BAIRAGI.-A Hindu religious mendicant. BAJRA OR BAJRI.-The bulrush millet, a common food-grain, PENNISETUM TYPHOIDECM syn. cambu, Madras. BAKSHI.-A revenue officer or magistrate. BAND. A dam or embankment (Bund). BANYAN.-A species of fig-tree, FICUS BENGALENSIS. BARSAT. (1) A fall of rain, (2) the rainy season. BASTI. (1) A village, or collection of huts: (2) A Jain temple, Kanara. BATTA.-Lit. 'discount and hence allowances by way of compensation. BAZAR. (1) A street lined with shops, India proper; (2) a covered market, Burma. BEGUM or BEGAM.--The feminine of "Nawab " combined in Bhopal as "Nawab Begum." BER. A thorny shrub bearing a fruit like a small plum, ZIZYPHUS JUJUBA. BESAR. Apparently a large landowner. BEWAR.-Name in Central Provinces for shifting cultivation in jungles and hill-sides; ANJUMAN.-A Communal gathering of Maho- Syn. taungya, Burma; jhum, North-Eastern medans. APHUS.-Believed to be a corruption of ALPHONSE, the name of the best variety of Bombay mango. ASAF.-A minister. AUS. The early rice crop, Bengal, syn. Ahu, Assam. AVATAR.-An incarnation of Vishnu. BABA.-Lit. " Father," a respectful" Mr. Irish Your Honour.' BABU. (1) A gentleman in Bengal, corresponding to Pant in the Deccan and Konkan. (2) Hence used by Anglo-Indians of a clerk or accountant. Strictly a 5th or still younger son of a Raja but often used of any son younger than the heir, whilst it has also grown into a term of address Esquire. There are, however, one or two Rajas whose sons are known respectively as-1st, Kunwar; 2nd, Diwan; 3rd, Thakur; 4th, Lal; 5th Babu. BABUL.-A common thorny tree, the bark of which is used for tanning, ACACIA ARABICA. BADMASH-A bad character: a rascal. BAGHLA.-(1) A native boat (Buggalow). (2) The common pond heron or paddybird. BAHADUR.-Lit. brave or "warrior"; a title used by both Hindus and Mohammedans, often bestowed by Government; added to other titles, it increases their honour but alone it designates an inferior ruler. India. BHADOI.-Early autumn crop, Northern India, reaped in the month Bhadon. BHANG. The dried leaves of the hemp plant, BHANWAR.-Light sandy soil; syn. bhur. NAHURA. BHENDI. A suculent vegetable (HIBISCUS BHONSLE.-Name of a BHUP.-Title of the ruler of Cooch Behar. BHUT. The spirit of departed persons. BIDRI.-A class of ornamental metalwork, in which blackened pewter is inlaid with silver, named from the town of Bidar, Hyderabad. BIGHA. A measure of land varying widely; the standard bigha is generally five-eights of an acre. BIR (BID). A grassland-North India. BLACK COTTON SOIL.-A dark-coloured soil, very retentive of moisture, found in Centrai and Southern India. BOARD OF REVENUE.-The chief controlling revenue authority in Bengal, the United Provinces and Madras. BOR.-See BER. Note. According to the Hunterian system of transliteration here adopted the vowels have the following values:--a either long as the a in father or short as the u in cut,' e as the ai in gain,' i either short as the i in bib,' or long as the ee in ' feel,' o as the o in bone,' u either short as the oo in good,' or long as the oo in boot,' ai as the i in' mile,' au as the ou in grouse.' This is only a rough guide. The vowel values vary in different parts of India in a marked degree. The consonantal values are too intricate for discussion here. BRINGAL.-A vegetable, SOLANUM MELONGENA; syn. egg-plant. CIRCLE.-The area in charge of-(1) A Conservator of forests; (2) A Postmaster or Deputy Postmaster-General; (3) A Superintending Engineer of the Public Works Department. CIVIL SURGEON.-The officer in medical charge of a District. BUNDER, or bandar.-A harbour or fort. BURUJ.-A bastion in a line of bettlements. CADJAN.-Palm leaves used for thatch. CHABUTRA.-A platform of mud or plaster ed brick, used for social gatherings, Nortlierit can be arrested by the police without a India. CHADAR.-A sheet worn as a shawl by men and sometimes by women. (Chudder.) CHAITYA.-An ancient Buddhist chapel. CHAMBAR (CHAMAR). A caste whose trade is to tan leather. COGNIZABLE.-An offence for which the cul warrant. COLLECTOR.-The administrative head of a District in Regulation Provinces corresponding to the Depaty Commissioner in non-regulation arcas. COMMISSIONER. (1) The officer in charge CHAMPAK.-A tree with fragrant blossoms head of various departments, such as Stamps, of a Division or group of Districts; (2) the Excise, etc. COMPOUND.-The MICHELIA CHAMPACA. СНАРАТІ.-А Chaupatti.) cake of unleavened breads CHAPRASI.-An orderly or messenger, Northern India; syn. pattawala, Bombay; peon, Mairas. CHARAS.-The resin of the hemp plant. CANNABIS SATIVA, used for smoking. CHARKHA.-A spinning wheel. CHARPAI (charpoy).—A bedstead with four legs, and tape stretched across the frame for a mattress. CHAUDHRI.-Under native rule, a subordi. nate revenue official; at present the term is applied to the headman or representative of a trade guild. CHAUKIDAR.-The village watchman and rural policeman. CHAUTH.-The fourth part of the land revenue, exacted by the Marathas in subject territories. CHELA.-A pupil, usually in connexion with religious teaching. CHHAONI.-A collection of thatched huts or barracks; hence a cantonment. garden and open land attached to a house. An Anglo-Indian word perhaps derived from 'kuripar, a hedge. CONSERVATOR.-The Supervising Officer in charge of a Circle in the Forest Department. COUNCIL BILLS.-Bills or telegraphjo transfers drawn on the Indian Government by the Secretary of State in Council. 30's, etc., counts when not more than a like COUNT.-Cotton yarns are described as 20's, number of hanks of 840 yards go to the pound avoirdupois. managing estates of minors and other disqualiCOURT OF WARDS.-An establishment for fed persons. CRORE, karor.-Ten millions. CHIKOR.-A kind of partridge, CACCABIS rupee. CHUCAR. CHIKU. The Bombay name for the fruit of ACHRAS SAPOTA, the Sapodilla plum of the West Indics. DARBAR.-(1) A ceremonial assembly, especially one presided over by the Ruler of a State hence (2) the Government of a Native State. DARGAH.-A Mahomedan shrine or tomb of CHINAR-A plane tree, PLATANUS ORIEN- a saint. TALIS. DARI, Dhurrie-A rug or carpet, usually of CHINKARA.-The Indian gazelle, GAZELLA cotton, but sometimes of wool. BENNETTI, often called 'ravine deer.' CHITAL.-The spotted deer, CERVUS AXIS. CHOLAM.-Name in Southern India for the large millet, ANDROPOGON SORGHUM; syn. jowar. CHOLI. A kind of short bodice worn by women. CHUNAM, chuna.-Lime plaster. DAROGHA.-The title of officials in various departments; now especially applied to subordinate controlling Officers in the Police and Jail Departments. DARWAN.-A door-keeper. DAULA AND DAULAT.-State, also one in DEB.-A Brahminical priestly title; taken from the name of a divinity. DEBOTTAR.-Land assigned for the upkeep of temples or maintenance of Hindu worship. DEODAR.-A cedar, CEDRUS LIBANI or C. DEODARA. DEPUTY COMMISSION EB.-The Administrative head of a District in non-regulation areas corresponding to the Collector in Regulation Provinces. DEPUTY MAGISTRATE AND COLLECTOR.subordinate of the Collector, having executive and judicial (revenue and criminal) powers; equivalent to Extra Assistant. Commissioner in non-regulation areas,` FAMINE INSURANCE GRANT.-An annual proDESAI.-A revenue official under native vision from revenue to meet direct famine (Maratha) rule. expenditure, or the cost of certain classes of public works, or to avoid debt. DESH. (1) Native country; (2) the plains as opposed to the hills, Northern India; (3) the plateau of the Deccan above the Ghats. DESHMUKHA petty official under native (Maratha) rule. DEVA. A deity. DEVASTHAN.-Land assigned for the upkeep of a temple or other religious foundation. DEWAN.-See DIWAN. DHAK. A tree, BUTEA FRONDOSA, with bril. Hlant orange-scarlet flowers used for dyeing, and also producing a gum; syn. palas, Bengal and Bombay; Chhiul, Central India. DHAMANI. A heavy shighram or tonga drawn by bullocks. DHARMSALA.-A charitable institution provided as a resting-place for pilgrims or travellers, Northern India. DHATURA.-A stupefying drug, DATURA DIVISION. (1) A group of districts for administrative and revenue purposes, under a Commissioner; (2) the area in charge of a Deputy Conservator of Forests, usually corresponding with a (revenue) District; (3) the area under a Superintendent of Post Offices; (4) a group of (revenue) districts under an Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department. DIWAN. A Vizier or other First Minister to a native Chief, either Hindu or Mohammedan, and equal in rank with Sardar" under which see other equivalents. The term is also used of & Council of State. DIWANI.-Civil, especially revenue, adminis tration; now used generally in Northern india of civil justice and Courts. DOAB.-The tract between two rivers, espedja'ly that between the Ganges and Jumna. FARMAN.-An imperial (Mughal) order or grant. FARZAND (with defining words added) "Favorite or beloved.' FATEH." Victory." FATH JEANG.--" Victorious in Battle (a title of the Nizam). FAUJDARI.-Under native rule, the area under a Faujdar or subordinate governor; now used generally of Magistrates' Criminal Courts. FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER.-The chief controlling revenue authority in the Punjab, Burma and the Central Provinces. FITTON GARI.-A phæton, Bombay. Derived from the English. GADDI, Gadi.-The cushion or throne of (Hindu) royalty. GAEKWAR (sometimes GUICOWAR).Title with Maharaja " added of the ruler of Baroda. It was once a caste name and means "cowherd," i.e., the protector of the sacred animal; but later on, in common with " Holkar" and Sindhia," it came to be a dynastic appellation and consequently regarded as a title. Thus, a Prince becomes" Gaekwar" on succeeding to the estate of Baroda; Holkar," to that of Indore and " Sindhia," to that of Gwalior. the GANJA. The unfertilised flowers of cultivated female hemp plant, CANNABIS SATIVA, used for smoking. GAUR.-Wild cattle, commonly called 'bison Bog GAURUS. GAYAL-A species of wild cattle, Bos FRONTALIS, domesticated on tne North-East Frontier; syn. mithan. GUADR.-Mutiny, Revolution. GHAT, Ghaut.-(1) A landing-place on a river; (2) the bathing steps on the bank of a tank ; (3) a pass up a mountain; (4) in European usage, a mountain range. In the last sense especially applied to the Eastern and Western Ghats. GHATWAL.-A tenure-holder who original y held his land on the condition of guarding the neighbouring hill passes (ghats), Bengal, GHI, Ghee.-Clarified butter, GINGELLY.-See TIL, |