Observations on the Mussulmauns of India / Descriptive of Their Manners, Customs, Habits and Religious Opinions Made During a Twelve Years' Residence in Their Immediate Society

by Mrs. Meer Hasan Ali

Aameen, Ameen, Ami, Amen
Aaroon, Aaron
Abass Ali, 'Abbas, nephew of Husain;
Abass Ali Huzerut ke Durgah, Hazrat 'Abbas 'Ali ki dargah
Ablution
Aboubuker, Abubakr, the Caliph
Abraham, sacrifice of Ishmael;
his title
Abstinence during the Muharram festival
Adam, his burial-place;
his title;
image of
Affrine Khaun, Afrin Khan, a eunuch
Afthaadah, aftabgir, a sun-shade
Agha Mir, minister in Oudh
Ahmud Kaabeer, Sayyid Ahmad Kabir, a saint
Akbhar Shah, Akbar Shah II, King of Delhi
Akbar, the Moghul Emperor, his capture of Chitor
Alchemy
Aleppo
Alexandria, alleged destruction of the library at
Ali, 'Ali, son-in-law of Muhammad;
murder of;
imparted knowledge to the Sufis
Ali Reezah, Ar-Raza
Ali Ul Hoodah, 'Ali ul Huda
Al-kauloek, alkhalaq, a coat with sleeves
Allah Khareem, Al-Karim, 'the generous one'
Allah wo uckbaar, Allah u akbar, 'God is most great'
Alligators, caught by monkeys
Allum, 'alam, a standard
Allumgeer, 'Alamgir, the Emperor Aurangzeb
Al Mauss Ali Khaun, Almas 'Ali Khan, a eunuch
Almsgiving at the Muharram festival
Alrouschid, Harun-al-Rashid, the Caliph
Amulets for children
Amusements of children
Angels, the attendant
Animal, fights at the Court of Oudh;
mode of slaughtering by Musalmans;
life, sanctity of
Antelopes, hunted by leopards
Ants;
sugar laid near their nests;
white
Apples
Arg, arka, the fire plant
Arms, polishers of
Arrack, 'araq, spirits
Artoojee, ustadji, a teacher
Artush-baajie, atishbazi, fireworks
'Ashura, the last day of the Muharram festival
Asof ood Duolah, Nawab Asaf-ud-daula;
his proclamation against infanticide
Asthma, a cure for
Astrology
Ausmaun, 'Usman, the Caliph
Ausur namaaz, 'asr ki namaz, prayer at the third watch of the day
Ayah, aya, a nurse
Ayashur, Ayishah, wife of Muhammad

Baalee Peer, Bala Pir
Baaraat, barat. the procession of the bridegroom
Baarah Daree, barahdari a room with twelve doors
Babool, babul, the tree acacia arabica
Bacherkaunie, baqirkhani, a kind of bread
Ba daanah, bedanah, seedless grapes
Baer, ber, the tree Zizyphus Jujuba
Bahadhoor, bahadur, 'a champion', a title of honour
Baittee, beti, a daughter
Bamboos,
uses of;
flowering of;
set on fire by friction
Banner of Husain (see ALLUM)
Bareheaded people not allowed in a house
Basun, besan, pulse flour
Bazars described
Beards worn by Musalmans;
dyeing of
Bearer caste, the
Bedspreads
Bedsteads
Beeby Sahib, bibi sahiba, an English lady
Beggar, a famous, in Lucknow
Begum, begam, a title of a Sayyid lady
Biles and blains
Birds,
catchers of;
released in time of sickness
Birth rites,
scanty rejoicings at birth of a girl;
gun-firing;
nursing,;
first dose of medicine;
bathing of child;
forty days' impurity after childbirth;
gifts made to the child;
birthday celebrations;
circumcision;
child carried to the Dargah
Bis ma Allah, bi'smi'llah, 'in the name of Allah'
Bleeding, procedure at
Blistering, flies used for
Blood-spitting; cure for
Blue stone, a remedy for snakebites
Boats set adrift in honour of Khwaja Khizr
Bodice, the
Bohue Begum, Bahu Begum, a daughter-in-law
Bootkhanah, butkhanah, an idol temple
Borehaun, burhan, the critical days of fever
Bows and arrows, use of
Brahmanical cords burnt
Bread, varieties of
Bricks, ancient
Bride,
the peculium of;
modes of selecting;
dress of
Bridegroom, veil worn by
Brushes for hair and teeth
Buckaria, Bokhara
Buckrah Eade, the baqarah id, festival;
gifts sent at
Budgerow, a kind of boat
Bull-bull, bulbul, the nightingale
Bundah Kungoon, Bandar Kangun
Bunyah, Baniya, a corn merchant
Buraq, the animal on which Muhammad flew to Mecca
Burbut, bargat, the banyan tree
Burghutt, caste, regard for animal life
Burial rites, purification after touching the corpse; see DEATH.
Burkhundhar, barqandaz, a man armed with a matchlock
Burqa', a woman's veil
Burrhsaatie, barsati a disease of horses
Burruff wallah, barfwala a seller of ice
Bushire, a town on the Persian Gulf
Bussorah, Basra, a town on the Shatt el Arab in Asiatic Turkey
Bussund, basant, the spring festival
Butcher bird, the
Butchers
Buttaire, bater, a quail
Butter sellers
Buttooah, batua, ornamented bag
Bytool Faakere, baitu'l-faqir, 'the house of a holy man'

Cain, reputed founder of Kanauj
Caliphas, khalifah, of Shi'ahs and Sunnis;
a head of a trade or profession
Camphor, used in treating cholera;
in burial rites
Cardimun, the cardamom
Cards, the game of
Carounder, karaunda, Carissa Carandas
Castanets, see CHUCKIE
Catechu, used with betel
Cattle, slaughter of, objected to by Hindus
Chaff, thrown on the head in mourning
Chain at the Ka'bah;
of justice, put up by Jahangir
Chair, right to use
Chapaatie, chapata, a griddle cake
Charaagh, chiragh, a lamp
Charity, a religious duty;
among Musalmans
Charpoy, charpai, a kind of bed
Chatnee, chatni, a kind of relish
Chattah, chhata, an umbrella
Cheek, chiq, a door screen
Cheetah, chita, a hunting leopard
Cherries
Children, fasting of
Chillum, chilam, the bowl of a water-pipe, the tobacco used to
fill it
Chillumchee, chilamchi, a wash-hand basin
Chilubdhaar, chalapdar, a cymba player
China vessels, use of
Chirrya wallah, chiryawala, a bird-catcher
Chitcherah, chichra, the Achryanthes aspera tree
Chitlah, chitra, a kind of melon
Chobdhaah, Chobdhaar, chobdar, a mace-bearer
Chokeedhar, chaukidar, a watchman
Cholera;
cures for
Chowrie, Chowry, chauri, a yak tail fan
Chowsah, chausa, four-sided, of dice
Chubbaynee, chabena, parched grain
Chuckie, Chuckee, charkhi, a kind of castanets;
chakki, a grindstone
Chuddah, Chudha, chadar, a sheet
Chuhsah, chhahsa, six-sided, of dice
Chumund, chaman, a flower bed
Chundole, chandol, a kind of sedan chair
Chupha, chhappar, a thatched shed
Chupkund, chapkan, a kind of coat
Cider, made from melon juice
Circumcision
Clepsydra, used to mark time
Cloak, hooded, worn by women
Cock-fighting
Coel, koil, a kind of cuckoo
Concubinage
Confectioners
Cookery, in Musalman families
Cooking, prohibited in the house of mourning
Cord, Brahmanical, burned
Cossum, Qasim, nephew of Husain;
model of his tomb taken in procession
Courtie, kurti, a woman's jacket
Cowry shells
Cream sellers
Cries of hawkers
Crown of the King of Oudh
Crows, impudence of
Cummerbund, kamarband, a waist-cloth, girdle
Cuppers
Curd sellers.
Currants
Currie, karhi
Cutlers
Cuttie, khatai, soured milk;
kath, gum used with pan

Daak, dak, the letter post
Daaood, Daud, David, his mother's prayer
Dacca cloths
Damascus fig, the
Dancing, considered degrading;
women
Dates, eating of
Dead, food for the;
period of mourning for
Death rites
Debt, imprisonment for, said to be forbidden
Decca, Dacca
Delhi described
Deluge, said not to be known in India
Deputtah, dopatta, a double sheet
Devotees, Musalman.
Dhall, dal, pulse
Dhaullie, dali, a basket of fruit and vegetables
Dhie, dahi, curds
Dhie mudgelluss, dah majlis, the ten days of the Muharram festival
Dhobie, dhobi, a washerman
Dholle, dhol, a drum
Dhollie, a 'dooly', a litter;
wives
Dhome, a drum
Dhull Dhull, Duldul, the mule of Muhammad
Dhurzie, darzi, the tailor caste
Diamonds
Dice, games played with
Dimishk, Dimashq, Damascus
Dinar, dinar, denarius, a coin
Dinners provided in time of mourning
Dirzy; see DHURZIE
Divination in selecting a bride
Divorce
Dog, an impure animal
Domenie, Domni, a singing woman
Dooar prayer, du'a, supplication
Doob grass, dub, Cynodon Dactylon
Dowry of bride, how fixed
Draughts, the game of
Dress, not changed during the Muharram festival;
of a bride
Duffelee, dafali, the drummer caste
Dukhaun, dukan, a shop
Dulhaun, dalan, the hall, entrance of a house
Dullha, dulha, a bridegroom
Dullun, dulhin, a bride
Dunkah, danka, a kettle-drum;
dunkah wallah, dankawala, a drummer
Dunyah, dhaniya, coriander
Durbar, darbar, a court
Durgah, dargah, a saint's shrine;
processions to, at Lucknow
Durwaun, darwan, a doorkeeper
Durweish, darvesh a beggar, a religious mendicant;
pretenders to the title
Dustha-khawn, dastarkhwan, a table-cloth
Dustoor, dastur, custom,
the percentages on purchases taken by native servants
Dust-storms

Eade, 'Id, a festival; eade-gaarh, 'Idgah, the place where the festival rites are performed Ear cleaners Earrings Earwax, human, administered to elephants Earthquakes; follow a flight of locusts; Kanauj damaged by Eclipse observances Eggs sent at the Nauroz festival Elephant trained to march in time; carriages drawn by; beggar riding on; etiquette on meeting the king Elias ky kishtee, Ilyas ki kishti, boats set adrift in honour of Khwaja Khizr Elijah, Elisha, the prophet Emaum, Imam, leaders of the faithful; Jaffur Saadick, Ja'far as-Sadiq Emaum baarah, Imambara, the place where the Muharram rites are performed Emaum zamunee, imam zamini, a charm to secure safety in a journey English women not visiting the Lucknow bazar Esaee, 'Isa 'l-Masih, Jesus Christ, the Messiah Eshaa namaaz, salatu 'l-'Isha, the night prayer Etiquette in the zenanah; at the Court of Oudh Eunuchs, their power in the Court of Oudh; tale of a pilgrim Eve, the grave of Execution of criminals Exercise, modes of, used by young men Exorcism of evil spirits Eyes decorated with antimony

Faakeer, faqir, a beggar, holy man Fahteeah, al Fatihah, the first chapter of the Koran Falsah, phalsa, falsa, the fruit Grewia asiatica Fasting; exemptions from Fat, not eaten by Musalmans Fatima, Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad; an Arab girl purchased Feringhee Bargh, Farangi Bagh, 'the Franks' Garden Fierdowsee, Firdausi, the poet; translations of; on slavery Fig, the Fire, jumping into, and walking through Fireworks at the Shab-i-Bara'at festival; see ARTUSH-BAAJIE Firing guns at the birth of a boy Fish, use of; varieties prohibited for use as food; a symbol at the Court of Oudh Flags, in use at the Court of Oudh Flies, inconvenience from; a variety which produces blisters Flower gardens, neglect of; in Moghul palaces Flowers, scent of, the food of aerial spirits Folk tales, told in the zenanah; tale reciters; tale of Daaood; of the Prophet; of pilgrims; of a charitable Arab; of Syaad Harshim; of a saint changing the course of a river; of an ungrateful snake; of a king who longed for a fruit Food, for the dead; not cooked in a house of mourning; lawful for Musalmans Fraught, Furat, the river Euphrates Friday, the Musalman Sabbath Frogs Fruit, use of; sellers of Furniture in the zenanah Furrukhabaad, Farrukhabad, Nawab of

Gabriel, the Angel;
inspires the Koran
Games played by boys;
in the zenanah
Gaming prohibited
Genii, the Jinn
Ghauzee ood deen, Ghazi-ud-diu, King of Oudh
Ghee, ghi, clarified butter
Ghurrie, ghari, a space of about twenty minutes
Glass, gilas, a cherry
Glass, vessels, use of;
use in windows
Goatah chandnie, gola chandni, lace
Goattur, gota, a substitute for betel, at the Muharram
God, ninety-nine names of
Golard, Goulard water
Gooderie, gudri, a quilt
Goolbudden, gulbadan, a silk fabric
Goolistaun, Gulistan of Sa'adi
Goomtie, the river Gumti
Gooseberries
Gootlie, guthli, the first dose given to a baby
Grain, threshing and winnowing of
Gram, a kind of chick pea, Cicer arietinum
Green, the colour preferred by Sayyids;
symbolizing Hasan
Greengrocers
Grief, exhibition of, at the Muharram festival
Guaver, the guava fruit
Guinah, genda, the marigold
Gurdonie, gardani, a neck ring
Gurhum dahnie, garm dahani prickly heat

Haafiz, Hafiz, the Persian poet
Haarh, har, a necklace;
see HARRH
Hackery, chhakra, a bullock carriage
Hadge, hajj, pilgrimage to holy places
Hadjee, hajji, a pilgrim
Hafiz, a man who has learned the Koran by heart
Hafsah, the wife of Muhammad
Hair, mode of dressing;
let loose at the Muharram festival;
not shaven in mourning
Hand, spread, a symbol;
left, not used in eating
Harrh, har, a necklace;
see HAARH
Harshim Syaad, Sayyid Hashim, tale of
Hasan, the martyr;
Hasan ul Ushkeree, Hasan al-Askari
Hatim Tai
Haundhee, audhi, a dust storm
Haverdewatt. avadavat, the bird estrelda amadara;
see LOLLAH
Heifer, sacrifice of
Herbs used in cooking
Hindu gods, images of
Holie, the Holi festival
Hookha, huqqah, the water-pipe;
etiquette in use of;
makers of 'snakes' for
Horse racing at Lucknow
Horses, food of;
use of heel ropes;
marks on;
paces of;
shoes fixed on doors;
tails and legs dyed;
tails not docked;
use of in carriages
Hosein, Husain, the martyr;
disposal of his head
Howdah, haudah, a seat fixed on an elephant
Hudeeth, hadis, the sayings of the Prophet
Hummoomaun, the monkey god Hanuman
Hummoon Shah, Hamun Shah
Hurkaarah, harkara, a footman, messenger
Hurrh, al-Hurr, the Shami leader
Hurrundh, arand, the castor-oil plant
Hurth Maaree, the scene of the slaughter of the martyrs
Husbandmen, life of
Huzerut, hazrat, a title of respect
Hydrabaad, Hyderabad
Hydrophobia, a cure for
Hyza, haiza, cholera

Ibrahim, son of the Prophet;
Ibraahim Mukhaun, Ibrahim Makan,
'the place of Abraham', at Mecca
Ice-making
Idolatry prohibited to Musalmans
Infanticide among Musalmans
Ink-making
Ishmael, son of the Prophet;
sacrifice of
Islaaim, Islam

Ja'adah poisons Hasan
Jaffur Saadick, the Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq
Jahaun-punah, jahan panah, a title of honour, 'asylum of the world'
Jahmun, Jamun, jaman, jamun, the fruit Eugenia Jambolana;
see JARMUN
Jains, their tenderness for animal life
Jarmun, see JAHMUN
Jaullie, jali, netting
Jeddah
Jerusalem, pilgrimage to
Jessamine tree, the
Jesus Christ, the Musalman title of;
His Nativity;
His Coming
Jewellery, craving of women for;
put aside at the Muharram festival
Jhaawn namaaz, ja'e namaz, a prayer carpet
Jhammah, jama, a long gown
Jhaumdanie, jamdani, an ornamented bag
Jhanngeer, the Emperor Jahangir, his chain of justice
Jhewl, jhul, the trappings of an elephant
Jhillmun, jhilmil, venetian shutters for doors and windows
Jhy Singh, Raja Jai Singh, his observatories
Jillewdhar, jilaudur, an attendant on a man of rank
Jinn, the
Joel, the Prophet
Jonk, a leech
Joshun, joshan, an ornament worn by women on the upper arm
Judee, Mount
Jugglers
Jumma musjid, Jumna musjid, Jame' masjid, a congregational mosque
Justice, administration of in Oudh