through his son Ishmael, whom they aver to have been chosen for the offering of the Almighty, and not Isaac. The offering thus made to Heaven is commemorated by the sacrifice of particular animals; camels, sheep, goats, kids, or lambs, according to each person's means; this is supposed to answer a double purpose, not only honouring the memory of Abraham and Ishmael, but the sacrifices assisting in a time of great need. It is supposed that the entrance to Paradise is guarded by a bridge made of a scythe, or some instrument equally sharp, and affording as unstable a footing. The followers of the Prophet are required to skate or swim over this passage, and it will be attended with more or less difficulty, according to the degree of favour they have obtained in the sight of Heaven. The truly pious will be wafted over in safety, but the undeserving must struggle many times, and be often cut down in the attempt, before they can gain the opposite side. In this extremity, it is imagined that the same number and kind of animals, which, being clean and esteemed fitting for sacrifice, they have offered up at the celebration of the Buckra Eade, will be in waiting to convey them in safety along the perilous passage of the bridge. Under this belief, the richer classes of Mahomedans supply their indigent brethren with goats and sheep for the sacrifice; a work of charity, incited by the purest motives, and which, if not possessing all the efficacy ascribed to it, at least furnishes the poor man's home with an ample and a welcome feast; for though poverty compels the lower classes of Mussulmans to imitate the Hindoos in the frugality of a vegetable meal, they never refuse meat when it is procurable.

BUDH (BOODH), the Mercury of the Hindoos, is the son of Soma or Chandra and Rohini. He is a Kettrie, and the first of the Chandrabans, or lunar race of sovereigns. He is

represented as being eloquent and mild, and of a greenish colour. Budh is the god of merchandise and the protector of merchants; he is, therefore, an object of worship by the Begs caste. It is fortunate to be born under this planet. Budh presides over Budhwar, or Wednesday. BUDHA, the founder of the religion of the Singhalese, Burmese, &c. The names given to Budha in the native books are as follows: " Supreme," "Incomparable," "Vanquisher of the five deadly sins (killing, lying, adultery, theft, drunkenness)," "Teacher of the three worlds (of gods, men, and devils)," the "Sanctified," "the Omniscient," "Immaculate," "World compassionating Divine Teacher," "Benefactor of the World," 66 Saviour," 66 Dispeller of the Darkness of Sin," "Comforter of the World," "Lord of Lanka (Ceylon)," "Ruler of the World," "Ruler of Men," "Incomprehensible," "Divine Teacher," "Lord of the Divine Sages," "Deity of felicitous Advent." The doctrines of the Budhists are briefly these they do not believe in one supreme self-existent God. Matter, in some form or other, is eternal. The present state of things has arisen out of a former, and that from one previous to it, and so on. Every living being or thing, gods, men, devils, beasts, reptiles, vegetables, are in their present state of enjoyment or suffering from the meritorious or demeritorious actions of a former state of existence. The good or the evil done by living beings in their present birth or state of existence will be rewarded or punished in a future state. The souls, or living principle of the good, on their departure from the present body, enter into other bodies, whose state will be superior to the present; and the souls of the bad, on their departure out of the present body, will enter into others more degraded than those they now inhabit. Every evil suffered in the present life is in consequence of some bad actions done in

a former; and every good enjoyed is in consequence of some good actions in a former. But neither the good nor the evil will be eternal, for the souls continue to transmigrate till purged of every particle of evil; when they are admitted to the supreme blessedness of annihilation, in which state Budha is at present. Eternal suffering, or eternal happiness, forms no part of their belief. There is no superior to whom they are accountable, to inflict punishment, or to bestow good; but happiness necessarily follows a course of good actions, and misery a course of evil actions: hence there is no forgiveness of sins. Almsgiving seems to be omnipotent. It opens the door of all future good, and to Nirwana. "The sound of charitable deeds is heard through the three worlds." BUDHUK, a species of dacoit. See KECHUK.

BUDRA, a river which rises in a chain of hills, called the Baba Boodun Hills, situated to the eastward of the Western Mountains, nearly opposite to Mangalore.

Bad caste,

BUDZAT, Hindostanee. applied to a mauvais sujet. BUGGALOW, a large single-decked vessel, with one mast and a latteen sail, employed in the carrying trade between Bombay, the Malabar coast, and the Persian and Arabian Gulfs. The owners are generally Persian, Arab, or Armenian merchants; the nacquodah, or captain and navigator, is an Arab, and the crew are Arabs. Horses, shawls, dates, carpets, precious stones, kalleons, and a peculiar glass ware, form the staple of the cargo from the Gulfs; rice, cotton, crockery, and hardware form the return cargoes. The buggalows are crazy, illbuilt vessels, and so badly calculated to resist a storm, that it is the usual practice of the captain, when a shumaul, or north-wester, is threatened, to run for the nearest cove, and anchor till the danger is past. BUGGESS, or BUGIS, an inhabitant

of Japan, the island of Celebes, the Moluccas, and other eastern islands. BUGGARAH, a small Arab vessel, used in navigating the Persian Gulf. BUHAWULPOOR, a large and flourishing town, the capital of the Khan of the district. It stands about sixty miles to the south-eastward of Mooltan, near the left bank of the Sutlej, here named the Garra. It has an extensive manufacture of silks, which are in much request. BUKKUR. See SUKKUR. BUKSHEE, Hindostanee. master.

A pay

BUKSHISH, or BUXIS, a term used to denote presents of money. The practice of making presents, either as a matter of compliment or in requital of service, is so very common in India and the East generally, that the natives lose no opportunity of asking for bukshish. In Egypt, perhaps, more than anywhere else, the usage is a perfect nuisance. Halfnaked Arabs, donkey boys, boatmen, &c., if left alone with an Englishman, or getting near enough to him not to be heard by his fellows, will invariably whisper "bukshish!" whether he has or has not rendered any service. The word "boxes," as applied to our Christmas gifts, has probably taken its origin in the oriental term. BULBUL, the nightingale of the East, often alluded to in the poems of Hafiz. The oriental bulbul has prettier plumage than the Philomel of European groves, but does not boast so sweet a melody. BUMMELOW, a small, glutinous, transparent fish, about the size of a smelt, caught in the Indian Seas. When dried they are much eaten by the Hindoos and Europeans in Western India, and enjoy the facetious appellation of Bombay ducks. BUND, Hindostanee. A band, bond, or fastening. An embankment against inundation.

BUNDER, Hindostanee. A port or harbour. BUNDER-BOATS, boats which lie off the pier at Bombay, and carry

Ty

passengers, goods, and occasionally | cargoes to and from the shore. They are remarkably strong well-built vessels, resembling the celebrated Deal boats in form and capability. BUNDLECUND, a division of the province of Allahabad (Hindostan), famous for its fertility. BUNDOOBUST, Hindostanee. ing and binding. A settlement. A settlement of the amount of revenue to be paid or collected. BUNDÜCK, a deposit or pledge. It is confined entirely to the Hindoos. Mussulmans are prohibited by their sacred institutes from receiving, though they are not so strictly tied down in respect to paying interest; indeed, owing to the less frugal habits of this sect, and their greater indulgence in ostentatious display, few of its individuals can be considered totally exempt from that heavy fine collected by the Hindoo shroff's and mahajuns | from such inconsiderate persons as have occasion to seek their aid. BUNGALOWS, Indian houses or villas of a single floor. Most of those built by Europeans are run up with sun-dried bricks, usually of a large size, eight of them making a cubic foot. With these, in a proper state for building, work proceeds at a great rate, care being taken that the slime used for cement be of a proper consistence, and well filled in. The bungalows are either thatched or tiled. BUNNAO, Hindostanee. A make-up;

a fabrication; applied equally to a verbal falsehood and to the docking and cropping of a pariah dog, to make him pass for a terrier. BUNNEAH, a kind of chandler, chiefly

to be found in cantonments, or following camps in India.

BURGOT, one of the many sacred trees in India.

BURGUNDASSES, or BURKENDOSSES, or BURKANDAZES, or BURKONDOSSES, from burkundaz, "thrower of lightning." Men armed with matchlocks, and employed as police-constables in India.

BURHAMPORE is an inland town, situated 20 miles south-westerly from Ganjam, in the Northern Circars. It is noted for its silk manufactures. The silk is imported from Bengal and China. BURMAH. See AVA. BURM JEWIN, a small temple on a hill at the east end of the town of Gya, in the province of Behar. BURNOOSE, part of a Turk or Arab's clothing; a cloak.

BURRA ADAWLUT, Hindostanee. The chief court of justice. This is the vulgar term for the court, the more correct one being "Sudder Adawlut."

BURRA-BEEBEE, or BURRA-MEM, a great lady; the appellation bestowed upon the female head of a house, or the wife of the principal personage at a station or presidency of India.

BURRA-KHANAH, a great dinner. The word is universally applied to the feasts of the English residents in India, at which perfect hecatombs of meat are consumed. In India, as in England, a "Burrah Khana" constitutes a great portion of the felicity of the people. "Among the Hindoos," says Mrs. Postans, "it is customary for the heads of castes to expend large sums in giving feasts to their social party; thus do we find a goodly company of Sonars or goldsmiths, of Vauzaris or grain-merchants, of Kansars or copper-smiths, with similar exclusiveness, prevailing throughout the castes; while every week some one among the servants of an Eastern establishment is certain to request permission to attend hummara jat ke khana,' (the dinner of my caste,) a feast usually given either on the death or marriage of some among their friends. The Dhobi (or Washerman), if residing in his employer's compound, comes all smiles and salaams to crave permission to depart on a rice and ghee devouring exploit. The commonly dirty Mali, after donning a garb and turban of unusual cleanliness, forthwith de

sires permission to attend the gardener's feast; and whether the occasion is one of sorrow or of joy, whether the mourners go about the city, in dyed garments from Bosrah' and with sound of tomtoms and of songs announce the triumph of the charming Camdeo, the table is yet spread, and the sorrowful and the gay alike seek pleasure at the festive board. The Mahomedans, in common with the Hindoos, mark the death of a valued friend by a Burrah Khana,' in token of the days of mourning; crowds of guests are then invited, who, squatting in circles on the ground, devour the chosen delicacies of rice and ghee, and rich pillaus, to most uncomfortable repletion. There will the mourners sit, attired in flowing robes, with long beards and dark moustache, each with his lota of water by his side, with primitive simplicity every individual using his fingers for a spoon; while all talk, and eat, and smoke, as if the party assembled were celebrating the most joyful event imaginable. This conduct is not, however, the result of heartlessness, but custom. Many may have loved with strong affection, the wife or husband, the friend or sister, who, in accordance with the inevitable doom of man, have gone so sadly from among their social group but custom or habit has reconciled them, and accustomed their forefathers for ages to consider these observances as honourable and good, and a commemoration agreeable to the deceased. Sad as this may appear to those accustomed to weep and fast,and to put on mourning apparel on similar occasions, a little reflection will convince us, that this habit is at least better than such as mark the celebration of an Irish wake, where rational beings, howling in drunken chorus, commit all sorts of horrible excesses. Would men but seek to know more, and to compare more, of the usages of various people, prejudice would shrink abashed from the contemplation, and charity materially increase among

the great human family. Like our friars of old, the religious professors of Hindooism, with the sacred class of Brahmins and Fakirs, are especially addicted to the enjoyment of nourishing condiments; the wealthy and the great, consequently, as an expiation for sin, or in fulfilment of especial vows, commonly set apart large portions of their annual income for the entertainment of ecclesiastics. For days before the appointed time, preparations are to be made, and the neighbourhood of some great temple, or sacred tank, is usually decided on as the trystingplace. Thither carts laden with huge cauldrons, camels bearing ponderous sacks of grain, carboys of oil, and gourds of honey, with every appurtenance for the feast, may be seen travelling slowly towards the spot. A provision of wood in large quantities is felled in the neighbouring jungle, and numbers of women are employed, to bear water vessels from the adjacent well or river, in furtherance of the approaching culinary preparations. On the appointed day, the route between the city and the place of general rendezvous forms a lively and animated picture-women in gay and brilliant raiment, glittering wita jewels, their handsome countenances radiant with holiday expectation, peep from between the crimson curtains of innumerable rutts; horsemen, on caracoling and richly caparisoned steeds, display their equestrian skill, by curvetting and wheeling the half-broken animals, whom a severe Mahratta bit alone keeps in comparative submission to their riders' will; old men and children, mounted on miserable ponies, and camels carrying double, and sometimes treble, on this occasion, throng the highway; while numerous little groups may be observed emerging in knots from every bye-path in the neighbourhood. Here and there a wealthy Brahmun is seen sitting cross-legged upon a pile of cushions,

luxuriantly arranged in an open gharree, drawn by sleek and enormous bullocks, or a Fakir, smeared with dust and ashes, and crowned with a plume of brightly dyed feathers, trudges onwards amongst the people, determined to fill his wallet to overflowing, on so propitious an occasion. A festive party at length arrived beneath some widely spreading shade; all seat themselves on little knolls, or pleasant spots, to partake of the abundant feast. Each is provided with a little plate of leaves, neatly joined with twining fibres: whilst smoking platters of piled rice and seasoned curries are placed before the guests; sweetmeats and confections follow, the fragrant hookah is handed round, and the animals of burthen (not neglected in the general mirth) revel on the fragrant grass prepared for their refreshment. So passes an Indian feast. Of the general character of the condiments furnished on such occasions an idea may be formed from the subjoined list, presented by a native minister to his prince, as a carte of the articles required at a dinner, which was afterwards given to a party of Brahmins and Fakirs at a very sacred temple in one of the provinces of western India:-800 maunds of sugar, 1200 of ghee, 1200 of flour, 200 of rice, 75 of pulse, 36 of gram or grain, 50 of rice and kedgeree, 180 of badjeree, 36 of mutt, 108 of gowa for bullocks, 135 of cotton seeds, 3 of curry powder and coriander seeds, 20 of oil, 10 of salt, 3000 bundles of grass, 250 cart-loads of fire-wood, 10,000 basins, 100 maunds of tobacco, 1 of opium, and 2 of bang. The expense of this dinner amounted to 14,000 rupees, and was an entertainment of frequent occurrence." BURSAUT, the rainy season in India; the periodical rains.

BURSAUTEE, a disease to which horses are subject in India during the rainy, or bursaut, season. BURUTA-GAHA, the Cingalese name for the satin-wood tree, which grows

chiefly in the eastern parts of the island of Ceylon. In appearance the trunk is like the teak, and the leaves are as small as those of the jack tree. The wood is used for all kinds of ornamental furniture. It is of a beautiful colour, rather yellow, and takes a fine polish.

BUSHIRE, or ABU-SHEER, a town in the Persian Gulf, governed by a sheikh. There is an English resident here; and the port is a place of common resort for English vessels. BUSSORAH, a Turkish town on the banks of the Euphrates, where an agent of the British Government resides. A public dwelling or "Residency" for the accommodation of the British Resident at Bagdad is kept up here. The commerce between Bombay and Bussorah (or Basra) is extensive.

BUTCHA, a Hindoo word in use among Englishmen for the young of any thing, from that of a mouse, to that of a man. In England we ask after the children; in India you inquire tenderly after the butchas. BUXAR is situated on the east side

of the Ganges, seventy miles below Benares. A celebrated battle was fought here in 1764, between the British and the united armies of Shajaood Dowlut and Kasim Alikhan.

BYLEE, a common native cart, used in the interior of India. BYRAGEE, a Hindoo ascetic, who has renounced the world. BYSACK, the Hindostanee name for the first month in the year. The months of the Hindostanee year all begin on the days of the entrance of the sun into a sign of the Hindoo Zodiac, and they vary from twenty to thirty-two days in length, though making up 365 days in the total, and 366 days in leap years. The intercalation is made when and where it is required, not according to any arbitrary rule, but by continuing the length of each month. This brings about twenty-six leap years in every century.