of the Kistna river are situated, over which singular temples have been erected. Although knowing little of painting, and not much more of poetry, if we except their ancient lyric songs of Sanscrit origin, the Hindoos have yet an eye so true to nature (when not called upon to imitate it), that their temples are ever found commanding the most lovely and attractive views; and so in one case at Mahabuleshwar, a fine arch being cut in one of the basaltic temples, permitting the rich foliage of the mountain to be seen at its back, as well as the exquisite landscape that forms the foreground of the picture. With respect to the principal temple, however, whose tri-sided colonnades surround a tank, into which, from the mouth of a bull, flows the sacred stream, it commands a view of the fair, deep valley of the Kistna. The level ground of the Mahabuleshwar is one tangled mass of fern and arrow-root. The last, a pretty plant, resembling a white lily, with long, dark, glossy leaves. The Chinese colonists of Bombay, who are condemned to labour here for their delinquencies, use the root as a principal article of food.

MAHADEO, the Adam of the Hindoos. MAHADEO, situated in the Mahadeo hills, in the province of Gondwana, in India, in Lat. 22 deg. 22 min. N., Long. 78 deg. 35 min. E. This is one of the wildest tracts in the Deccan, and was almost unknown to Europeans until the year 1818, when it was entered by the British troops in pursuit of Appa Sahib, the ex-rajah of Nagpore. It is

a place of pilgrimage for the Hindoos, but it is chiefly noticed on account of its hot sulphurous springs, of which there are two in the vicinity.

MAHA DEVI. Devi, the goddess, in Hindoo mythology, is a title given to Lakshmi, Suraswati, and Parvati; but the latter is commonly called Maha Devi.

MAHAJANUM, Hindostanee. A

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great person, a merchant, proprietor of land, a banker. MAHA MODELIAR, the first degree of rank among the natives of the maritime provinces of the island of Ceylon. The different degrees are as follows:-1. The first, second, third, and fourth Maha Modeliars. Modeliars. 3. Mohottals. 4. Mohandirams. 5. Arachies. 6. Vidahns. MAHARATTAS. Of the numerous tribes of India there are few whose names have been better, or whose character has been less known in Europe than the Maharattas. Their sometimes rival, and sometimes confederated chieftains, the Peishwa, Holkar, and Scindiah, have given a dazzling, but ephemeral celebrity to the Maharatta name, which has caused many to blend with them the Rajpoots, the Kattees, the Bheels, and other more or less warlike and predatory tribes, who have occasionally sided with them. These races are altogether distinct. They all, however, occupy the Deccan, Central and Southern India. MAHARMAH, a piece of muslin worn over the head and across the mouth and chin of a Turkish or Armenian lady when she appears abroad.

MAHASEER, great head. The name of a delicious fresh water fish common to Indian rivers, which rises to the fly and affords splendid sport to the lovers of angling. They are often caught of the size of a large cod, which they resemble in colour and shape.

MAHE, a town in India, in the province of Malabar, situated on the coast, in Lat. 11 deg. 42 min. N., Long. 75 deg. 36 min. E., was formerly the chief French settlement on the western side of India, and is still in their possession.

MAHEE MORATUB, the order of the Fish, one of the insignia conferred by the Mogul Emperors of Delhi upon independent princes of the first class. The order of the

Fish was first instituted by Khosroo Parwez, King of Persia. Having been deposed by his general, Behram, Khosroo fled for protection to the Greek emperor, Maurice, whose daughter, Sheereen, he married, and he was sent back to Persia with an army, under the command of Narses, who placed him upon the throne of his ancestors, A.D. 591. He ascertained from his astrologer, Aruz Khashash, that when he ascended the throne the moon was in the constellation of the Fish, and he gave orders to have two balls made of polished steel, which were to be called the konkabas (planets), and mounted on long poles. These two planets, with a large fish made of gold, upon a third pole in the centre, were ordered to be carried in all regal processions immediately after the king, and before the primeminister, whose cortège always followed that of the king. MAHIDPORE, a small town in India, in the province of Malwa, situated on the right bank of the river Seepra, about twenty-four miles to the northward of Oojein. A great battle was fought there on the 21st of December, 1817, between the army of Mulharrao Holkar and the British troops, when the Maharattas were entirely defeated, with great loss. MAHOMEDANISM, a religion which derives its name from its founder, Mahomed, sometimes improperly called Mahomet, who was born at Mecca, in Arabia, A.D. 569. He died in the 63rd year of his age, at Medina, A.D. 632. The faith of the Mahomedans consists in belief in God, in the angels, the scriptures, the prophets, the resurrection and final judgment, and in God's absolute decrees. The system of religion taught by Mahomed is contained in a book called the Koran. The practice of the Mahomedan religion consists in prayer, ablutions, fasting, alms, pilgrimages, commemorations, and circumcision. The fastings and commemorations of great events in

Mahomedan history are accompanied by sundry ceremonials, such as the Ramazan, or Lent, the Bairam, the Mohurrum (q. v.), &c. Fasting is considered so serious an obligation that Mahomed called it one-fourth part of the faith. According to the Mahomedan divines, there are three degrees of fasting:-1. The restraining the belly and other parts of the body from satisfying their lusts. 2. The restraining the ears, eyes, tongue, hands, feet, and other members from sin; and, 3. The fasting of the heart from worldly cares, and restraining the thoughts from every thing beside God. The Mahomedans are obliged, by the express command of the Koran, to fast the whole month of Ramazan, from the time the new moon first appears, till the appearance of the next new moon; during which time they must abstain from eating, drinking, and women, from day-break till night, or sun-set; and this injunction they observe so strictly, that, while they fast, they suffer nothing to enter their mouths, or other parts of their body; some being so cautious, that they will not open their mouths to speak, lest they should breathe the air too freely; the fast is also deemed void if a man kiss or touch a woman, or if he vomit designedly. But after sunset they are allowed to refresh themselves, and to eat and drink, and enjoy the company of their wives till daybreak; though the more rigid begin the fast again at midnight. This fast is extremely rigorous and mortifying when the month of Ramazan happens to fall in summer (for the Arabian year being lunar, each month through all the different seasons in the course of thirty-three years), the length and heat of the days making the observance of it much more difficult and uneasy than in winter. The Bairam signifies a solemn feast. The Mahomedans have two Bairams, the Great and the Little. The Little Bairam is pro

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perly that held at the close of the fast Ramazan, beginning with the first new moon in the following month, Shawal. This succeeds Ramazan, which is their Lent, and is more usually called the Great Bairam, because it is observed with great ceremony and rejoicing at Constantinople and through Turkey, for three days, and in Persia for five or six days, at least by the common people, to make themselves amends for the mortification of the preceding month. The fast commencing with the new moon, the Mahomedans are very scrupulous in observing the time when the new moon commences; for which purpose observers are sent to the tops of the highest mountains, and, the moment they espy the appearance of a new moon, run to the city, and proclaim Muzhdaluc, "welcome news;" as it is the signal for beginning the festivity. The Great Bairam is properly that held by the pilgrims at Mecca, and lasts three days. This is called by the Arabs, Idul adha, that is, the feast of sacrifice, as being celebrated in memory of the sacrifice of Abram, whose son God redeemed with a great victim. On the feast of Bairam, after throwing little stones, one after another, into the valley of Mina, they usually kill one or more sheep, some a goat, bullock, or even a camel; and after giving a part thereof to the poor, eat the rest with their friends. After this, they shave themselves. The second is a day of rest. On the third they set out on their return home. MAHOUT, a person employed in India to feed and to drive an elephant. The mahout sits upon the neck of his elephant, bare-footed, and furnished with an instrument called a haunkus (or driver), wherewith to guide the animal. When the elephant is to be urged forward, the point of the haunkus is pressed into the back of his head, while the mahout's toes press under both the animal's ears: when it is to be

stopped, the mahout places the hook part against the elephant's forehead; and, throwing his weight back, occasions considerable pain, which soon induces obedience: when it is to turn to the left, the mahout presses the toes of his right foot under the right ear of the elephant, at the same time goading him about the tip of the right ear, thereby causing the animal to turn its head, and to change its direction: to turn to the right, vice versa. When the elephant is to lie down, in order to be laden, the haunkus is pressed perpendicularly upon the crown of the head: but most elephants, after a year or two, become very well acquainted with the words of command; obeying them readily, without being mounted, or even approached. The mahout has the assistance of a cooly, who is generally provided with a cutting bill, for the purpose of lopping off the lesser branches of borgheets, peepuls, and other trees, in common use as fodder. An elephant will usually carry as much of these on his back as he can consume in two days. Boughs, as thick as a man's arm, are very easily chewed by this stupendous animal; which often uses one, of full a hundred weight, to drive the flies from its body.

MAHUNT, a Hindoo high priest. MAL, Hindostanee. Wealth, property; revenue, rent, particularly that arising from territory, in contradistinction to the customs and duties levied on personals. MALABAR, a province of India, bounded on the north by Kanara; east, My sore, Koorg, and Coimbatore south, Travancore; west, the sea. It is divided into three districts, Wynaad and Palghat, in and above the mountains, and Malabar below. Black pepper may be considered the staple of this province, which also produces abundance of rice, cocoa-nuts, and jaggery. Gold dust is found in some of the mountain streams, and the forests of the Wynaad and Pal

ghat abound with excellent teak and bamboo. The principal towns are Cannanore, Tellicherry, Mahe, Manantoddy, Calicut, and Palghatcherry. The inhabitants of this province are principally Hindoos, divided into Numoorees, or Brahmuns, Nairs, Tiars, and Maliars, who are all free men; and Poliars, and other lower castes, who are all slaves. There are also several thousand Christians of the Romish and Syrian churches, and on the coasts, Moplas and Jews. The total population is estimated at 1,000,000. Hindooism is the prevailing religion of the inland districts, and Mahomedanism, mixed with many Hindoo usages, that of the maritime parts. Though ruled by a Hindoo government, this province appears to have received the Mahomedan system at a very early period; and when the Portuguese first visited the Zamorin's dominions, they found them filled with Moosulmans. Christians, also, of the Syrian and Romish churches are numerous. There are likewise many of the Jain sect in the interior. The languages most generally spoken are the Kanarese and Malayalim.

MALACCA, the principal town of the country of Malaya, in Asia, occupying the coast towards the southern extremity, between Salingore and Johore, and is about forty miles in length, by about thirty miles in breadth inland. This place is so named from a fruit called the Malka, produced in great abundance in its neighbourhood. It contains, including the adjacent district, about 25,000 inhabitants, composed of Malays, Hindoos, descendants of Dutch and Portuguese, and Chinese, almost all the cultivators and artisans being of the last-named nation. Malacca is situated in Lat. 2 deg. 14 min. N., Long. 102 deg. 12 min. E. MALAYA. This country occupies the southern extremity of the continent of Asia. It forms a peninsula, ex

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tending from about Lat. 8 deg. 30 min. to 1 deg. 30 min. N., bounded on the north by the Siamese territories; east and south, by the sea; west, by the straits, separating it from Sumatra, called the Straits of Malacca, and by the Bay of Bengal. In length it may be estimated at 800 miles, from north to south, by an average breadth of 125 miles, from east to west. It consists of the following principal divisions: Queda, Province Wellesley, Perak, Salengore, Malacca, and Johore; with the islands of Penang, Singapore, and Bintang. Queda occupies the northern part of the western coast, between Lat. 8 deg. and 5 deg. N. It belongs to the Siamese. Province Wellesley belongs to the British, and was formerly a part of Queda. Perak and Salengore are both independent principalities. Malacca belongs to the British, and Johore is an independent state. The only towns worthy of notice upon the peninsula are Malacca and Johore. This peninsula is composed of a central range of mountains, traversing its whole length from north to south, leaving a tract of undulating low country on both sides to the sea, watered in every direction by small rivers, of which there are about ninety altogether, and covered with forests and vegetation. Its principal articles of produce are rice, rattans, canes, betel, ivory, and various kinds of useful wood. The forests, however, do not produce the teak tree. The animals, both wild and domestic, are the same as are found in India, with the exception of sheep and horses, which are not natural to the country. Tin is plentiful, and there is some gold. The inhabitants of this peninsula consist of two classes: the original natives and the Malays. The original natives (or aborigines) are of the class usually denominated oriental negroes, and inhabit the mountains of the interior. They are of a diminutive stature, but in other respects resemble the negroes

of Africa. They are in a perfectly savage state. By the Malays they are called Samang. As a people, the Malays are noted for their ferocity, cunning, and treachery; never forgiving an affront, but always taking a cruel revenge. They are addicted to gambling of all kinds, especially to cock-fighting, to an extraordinary degree, and they are universally in the practice of intoxicating themselves with opium. Their vessels, which are called prows, are many of them very well built, and skilfully navigated; but it is only as pirates that they have ever shown activity or enterprise. The religion of the Malays is Mahomedanism, of the Soonnee sect. Their language is termed the Malay. It is a compound of various others, including Sanserit and Arabic, and is considered very soft and simple. It is written from right to left, in the Arabic character, with a few slight alterations, and is general to all the adjacent islands. MALDIVES, the. These islands lie in the Indian Ocean, between Lat. 7 deg. 6 min. N., and Lat. 0 deg. 46 min., S, south-west of the island of Ceylon. They consist of numerous circular clusters, separated from each other by narrow passages, and amounting to about 1200 of various sizes, the largest not being more than three miles in circumference. The larger islets are inhabited and cultivated, but the greater number are mere rocks and sand-banks. The principal island is named Mull, and is the residence of the chief. Their chief articles of produce are coir, cocoa-nut oil, cowries, tortoiseshell, and dried fish, which are exported by the islanders in their own boats, to the coast of Orissa, and to the straits of Malacca, in exchange for rice, sugar, and other necessaries. The islands are inhabited by Mahomedans, the descendants of Arab colonists. They are under the government of a chief, who takes the name of sultaun. It is not accurately known what language is pro

perly that of the Maldives, but the islanders all understand and speak Hindostanee. Their religion is Mahomedanism mingled with Paganism. Like the Biajoos of Borneo, they annually send adrift into the sea a vessel laden with perfumes, gums, and flowers, as an offering to the spirit of the winds, and sometimes a like offering is made to the spirit whom they term the king of the

sea.

MALEE, or MALLEY, the gardener in an Indian establishment. He is seldom very well acquainted with the theoretical part of his profession, and is therefore employed simply to perform the duties of hoeing, digging, watering, planting, pruning, clipping, &c. In gathering flowers for bouquet, the Indian malee is accustomed to break them off close at the top of the stem, and to tie them together upon a stick.

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MALEM, Persian for "master." MALGOOZAR, one who pays rent or

revenue. The term is applicable in India to every description of persons who hold land, paying a revenue to government, whether as tenant, zemindar, or farmer. MALGOOZARRY, land paying revenue. A term applied to assessed lands, or to the rent of such lands. MALIK, Hindostanee. Master, lord, proprietor, owner.

MÂLÎKANA, what relates or belongs to a person as master or head man. The malikana of a Mocuddim, or head Ryot, is a share of each Ryot's produce received by him as a customary due, forming an article of the NEAKDARRY, q. v. The term is also applicable to the nancar, or allowance to village collectors, or MOCUDDIMS of such villages as pay rents immediately to the khalsa. MALWA, a province of India, bounded on the north by Ajmere, Agra, Allahabad; east, Allahabad, Gondwana; south, Candeish; west, Guzerat.

It consists of three divisions: 1st. The territories of Sindia. The territories of Holkar.

2nd. 3rd.