Jersey. One of the Channel Islands, and the largest and most southerly of the group, situated about 15 miles west from the coast of France, and belonging to Great Britain. Various attempts have been made by the French to possess themselves of this island, but without success. The most remarkable was in 1781, when they were repulsed by the local militia.
Jerusalem. A celebrated city of Syria, the capital of the ancient Judæa and the modern Palestine. This city was called Salem in 1913 B.C.; its king was slain by Joshua, 1451 B.C. It was taken by David, 1048 B.C., who dwelt in the fort, calling it the City of David. Jerusalem was taken by the Persians in 614; retaken by the emperor Heraclius, 628; by the Saracens, 637; and by the Crusaders, when 70,000 infidels were put to the sword; taken by Saladin, 1187; by the Turks, who drove away the Saracens, 1217 and 1239. It was held by the French under Bonaparte, February, 1799.
Jet (Fr.). A term signifying the motion of any body that is urged forward by main force; it likewise means the space which is gone over by any propelled body; and sometimes the instrument from which anything is thrown or shot; as, the cross-bow, etc. Jet des bombes is a phrase adopted instead of tir, which formerly expressed the course that a shell took when it was thrown out of a mortar by the power of gunpowder.
Jets. See [Pyrotechny].
Jiddah, or Jeddah. A trading town of the Hedjaz, Arabia, about 60 miles west from Mecca. On June 15, 1858, the inhabitants rose against the Christians resident among them, and massacred a considerable number of them. In August of the same year the town was bombarded by the British, and satisfaction rendered.
Jingal, or Jingall. A small, portable piece of ordnance, to be fired from the ground or on a wall, resting on a long, slender butt-end, and two legs. This piece was used in India. See [Gingals].
Joar. An East Indian term, signifying a general massacre of the women and children, which is sometimes performed by the Hindoos, when they find they cannot prevent the enemy from taking the town. When this dreadful and unnatural ceremony is to take place, a spot is selected which is filled with wood, straw, oil, etc. The victims are inclosed and the whole is set on fire.
John (St.) of Jerusalem, Knights of. See [Saint John of Jerusalem, The Order of the Knights Hospitallers of].
Join. A technical word used in the British service, signifying to effect the junction of one military body with another. In a more limited sense, it means the accession of an individual, voluntary or otherwise, to a corps or army. If an officer, on being ordered to join, omits to do so willfully, he is liable to be tried by a general court-martial, or to be peremptorily suspended for being absent without leave.
Jooday Perraput. An East Indian term, signifying a slave taken in war.