Constantinople. Also a raised ground in a hall, or any other room in a house. It is likewise applied to a range of cushioned seats round a

room.

D'JEREED, the Arab javelin, or arrow. The dexterity with which the Arab throws the d'jereed, when at full gallop, has often excited the wonderment of travellers. It is considered so advantageous an accomplishment in a warrior in the pursuit of an enemy, mounted on a fleet courser, or flying from an opponent whom it is desirable to keep at a distance, that throwing the d'jereed, by way of practice, forms a favourite Arab pastime.

DONABEW. See AVA.

DONIES, small Indian craft, intended for the coasting trade, carried on principally by native merchants. These pariah vessels present a contrast with the superb craft under British management, and at once characterise not only the ignorance, but the narrow minds of their owners. Few donies measure more than 150 tons, or have more than two masts; sloops are by far most common, and the generality are equipped with coir cordage, as well as with country made canvass. The greater portion of these vessels return either in ballast, after delivering their cargoes of rice at various ports on the Coromandel, Malabar, and Tenasserim coasts, or with light cargoes, composed chiefly of coir and cowries, from the Sechelles and Maldives; to which they likewise, now and then, make a bold voyage, at favourable seasons, with small invoices of coarse cottons, fit for the use of those islanders. Here and there we see a doney with some European on board to navigate her; but, in general, only natives are employed.

DOOAB, or SOUTHERN MAHRATTA COUNTRY, a province in India, bounded on the north by the rivers Gutpurba and Kistna, separating it from Bejapore; east, Hyderabad, and the Ceded Districts;

south, Mysore and Kanara; west, the mountains dividing it from the southern Konkan. The rivers are the Gutpurba and Malpurba, both flowing into the Kistna; Wurda, flowing into the Toombudra, and the Toombudra. The western districts of the province are mountainous and woody; eastward, it is open and generally level. The soil is good, and the climate favourable. The productions are principally cotton, and dry grains. The chief towns are Belgaum, Kittoor, Dharwar, Gujunderger, Hooblee, and Savenore. The term "Dooab" is applied to this province from its position between the two rivers Kistna and Toombudra, which flow along its northern and southern boundaries. It is of modern origin, this district having formerly been included in Bejapore. DOOAB, from do, two, and aub, water. It is the name given to those tracts

of country in the East Indies which lie between two rivers. DOODPUTTEE, a small town in Kachar, one of the Bengal Dependencies. It stands on the banks of the river Boorak, in Lat. 25 deg. 3 min. N., Long. 92 deg. 42 min. E. Since 1811 it has been the residence of the rajah, and, consequently, the capital of the country. It is also noted as the scene of an action which took place in 1824, between the Burmese and a British detachment, in which the latter was defeated with much loss.

DOOG DOOGIE, a long narrow drum, played upon by the natives of India at their festivals and nautches. DOOLY, or covered litter, of the palankeen kind; it is yet in very common use among the less opulent classes, and especially employed for the conveyance of women. In our armies this little vehicle affords excellent means of transporting sick and wounded men, either to the hospitals, or on a march. Its usual construction is extremely simple; consisting of a small charpoy (q. v.), a very slight frame of bamboo work,

equal in size to the frame of the litter, is placed over it horizontally, serving as a roof for the support of a double cover (generally of red karwah, or of blue or white calico), which lies over the roof, and falls all around, so as to enclose the whole space between the roof and the bedstead. There is seldom any bedding but what is provided by the party carried in the dooly; unless it be one appertaining to some family, by whom it is frequently used: in such case, the interior is made very comfortable, and the cover ornamented with borders, fringes, &c. This last kind, being almost exclusively appropriated to the zenanah, is on a very small scale, rarely exceeding three feet by little more than two. DOOMAULAHS, houses in India having a second floor.

DOORGA POOJA, or DUSARAH, a Hindoo festival in honour of Devi, or the goddess consort of Siva; the most splendid and expensive, as well as the most popular of any of the Hindoo festivals. It takes place in the month Ashwinu or Assin (the end of September or beginning of October). The preliminary ceremonies occupy several days previous to the three days' worship. During the whole of this period all business throughout the country is suspended, and universal pleasure and festivity prevail. On the first of the three days of worship, the ceremony of giving eyes and life to the images takes place, before which they cannot become objects of worship. This is performed by the officiating Brahmun touching the cheeks, eyes, breast, and forehead of the image, saying, "Let the soul of Durga long continue in happiness in this image." Other ceremonies, and the sacrifices of numerous animals, as buffaloes, sheep, goats, &c., then follow. The flesh and blood of the animals, and other articles, are then offered to the images of the goddess and the other deities which are set up. The ceremonies and sacrifices of the second

and third days of the worship are nearly similar to those of the first day. After the whole of the beasts have been slain, the multitude daub their bodies with the mud and clotted blood, and then dance like Bacchanalian furies on the spot. On the following morning, the image is, with certain ceremonies, dismissed by the officiating Brahmun. It is then placed on a stage formed of bamboos, and carried, surrounded by a concourse of people of both sexes, and accompanied by drums, horns, and other Hindoo instruments, to the banks of the river, and cast into the water in the presence of all ranks and descriptions of spectators; the priest, at the time, invoking the goddess, and supplicating from her life, health, and affluence; urging her (their universal mother, as they term her) to go then to her abode, and return to them at a future time. During this period licentiousness and obscenity prevail. During the three days of worship in Bengal the houses of the rich Hindoos are at night splendidly illuminated, and thrown open to all descriptions of visitors; and they acknowledge with much attention and gratitude the visits of respectable Europeans. The images exhibited on these occasions, are made of a composition of hay, sticks, clay, &c., and some of them are ten and twelve feet high. On the morning after the pooja, hundreds of them are conveyed on stages through the streets of Calcutta to be cast into the river. During the whole of the day, as some of them are brought from villages at a considerable distance from the holy stream, the uproar and din are indescribable. Immense sums of money are expended on these festivals.

DOOREAH, a dog-boy, though properly an out-door servant, residing at the dooreah-kannah, or kennel. Although confined to one occupation in general, a dooreah can have very little knowledge of its duties, beyond the mere mechanical routine of

dressing a little rice and meat for the dogs, and taking them out for an airing. He is usually provided with a short whip, consisting of a thong, or two, of raw hide, fastened to a piece of small bamboo; with this he corrects the animals under his charge, the number of which necessarily varies according to their size. Thus, a brace of greyhounds, or, at the most, a leash, are considered as many as a dooreah should lead out; while of small dogs, it is common to see him surrounded by seven or eight. Each dog has a col- | lar, to which a strong metal ring is sewed very firmly this serves to fasten a piece of stout cord, the other end of which is looped, so as to pass over the dooreah's hand, and to sit round his wrist; in general, the whole are led by the left hand, the right exercising the whip. DOTEE, waist cloth. A Hindoo article of dress, containing almost cloth enough to serve for the envelopment of a mummy.

:

DOWAL, a tom-tom, a drum. DOWLUTABAD, a fortress, seven miles to the north-westward of Aurungabad, in the province of Aurungabad, in India. Prior to the conquest of this province by the Mahomedans, this place was the capital of an independent Hindoo state, and was then called Deogurh, or Tagara. In the early part of the 14th century the emperor, Sultaun Mahomed, endeavoured to make Deogurh the capital of his kingdom, on which occasion he changed its name to Dowlutabad; but he was obliged to desist from his project, after nearly ruining the city of Delhi, by driving away the inhabitants, in order to make them settle at the new seat of government. In a mountain, about a mile to the eastward of Dowlutabad, are the caves of Ellora, or, as the place is called by the natives, Verrool. In magnitude and execution these excavations excel every thing of the kind in India. They compose seve

ral temples, and are filled with figures; some are dedicated to Siva, and others are Booddhist. According to the Brahmuns, they were formed by Eeloo, rajah of Ellichpoor, about 8000 years ago, but on investigation, they appear to have been executed about 2500 years since, and not more.

DRAGOMAN, an interpreter of languages at the court of the sultan, and indeed throughout Turkey. There are several of them attached to each European embassy. DUBASH, a class of men who are employed by Europeans upon their first arrival at Madras or Bombay, to make purchases, furnish houses, procure servants, &c. Every ship has a dubash attached to it during its stay in the harbour or roadstead, and as they charge high prices for every thing they purchase, it is generally a lucrative employment. The dubashes all speak broken English, understanding, however, much more than they can express in our language. DUBBOW, to shampoo the person, an operation performed by pressing the limbs and kneading them, or gently knocking them with the doubled fists. It is a lazy indulgence common to natives of India and Europeans of indolent habits. DUFFADAR, the commander of a party of horse, also of Peons, (q. v.) DUFTER KHANEH, a record office; any office in India. DUFTOREE, an office-keeper, who attends solely to those general matters in an Indian office, which do not come within the notice of the keranee or clerk, such, for instance, as making pens, keeping the inkstands in order, ruling account books, and perhaps binding them; preparing and trimming the lights, setting pen-knives, together with a great variety of other little jobs.

DULLAUK, the barber who attends at the Persian "Hummaum," (q. v.) DUMCOW, Hindostanee. Verb, to bully; noun, a bully.

DUNGAREE, a coarse kind of unbleached calico. The name also of a disreputable village near Bombay. DURBAR, Hindostanee. The court; the hall of audience; a levee. DURGA, or DOORGA. In this character Parvati (Hindoo mythology) is represented with ten arms. In one hand she holds a spear, with which she is piercing the giant Muhisha; in another a sword; in a third, the hair of the giant, and the tail of a serpent twined round him; and in others, the trident, the discus, the axe, the club, the arrow, and the shield. One of her knees presses on the body of the giant, and her right foot rests on the back of a lion, which is lacerating his arm. On her head she has a crown richly gemmed, and her dress is magnificently decorated with jewels. The giant is issuing from the body of the buffalo, into which he had transformed himself during his combat with the goddess. DURGAH, a court; mosque connected with a tomb.

DURKHAREH, Persian. Entrance to a great man's house or tent; palace gate.

DŪRZEE, tailor, an indispensable adjunct to a domestic establishment in India, his business being to mend the clothes as fast as the dhobee, or washerman, tears them, and for this purpose, chiefly, he works daily from morn till dewy evefrom nine o'clock till five in Calcutta, but from sunrise to sunset in the upper provinces, or (more comprehensively) in the Mofussil. A lady's tailor gets from eight to ten rupees a month, and has no very quiet life of it; but the scolding is systematic, and he cares little about the matter, though he never may have "heard great ordnance in the field." But the bachelor's tailor hath a life of ease and pleasure, working half the time for the servants, who pay him for that same. DUSTOOREE, commission, per centage, vails, perquisites. The word

is derived from Oustoor " 'custom," for no other reason than that servants, brokers, sircars, and all descriptions of middle men have made it a practice to exact a per centage from every one receiving money from their master.

E.

EASTERN ISLANDS. The Eastern Archipelago, as it is sometimes termed, comprises the largest assemblage of islands on the globe. It extends from Long. 95 deg. to 138 deg. E., and from Lat. 11 deg. S. to 19 N., and includes the following principal islands: northward, the Philippines; central, the Sooloo Isles, Borneo, Celebes, the Moluccas, and the Isles of Banda; east, Papua; south and west, the Sunda Islands. ECKA, a light pony gig on

two wheels, with crimson cloth cushions on the top, on which the natives of India (who alone use them) sit cross-legged.

EEDGAH, a place in India for the celebration of a festival. EELIAUTS, or ILLYAUTS, the wandering tribes of Persia, who live constantly in tents, have no settled home, and rove about continually in certain districts, to which they confine themselves, in search of pasture for their cattle and flocks, on the produce of which they subsist. ELATCHEE, cardamum, a spice much esteemed in India. ELCHEE, Persian. An ambassador or envoy.

ELEPHANTA. See BOMBAY. ELLICHPOOR, a large open town in India, the capital of the province of Berar, in Lat. 21 deg. 40 min. N., Long. 77 deg. 30 min. E. It is an ancient town, and has always been a place of note in the province. ELLORA. See DowLUTABAD. ELLORE. This is a small inland district in India, one of the Northern Circars, lying between Rajamundry on the north, and Kondapilly on the

south. The town of Ellore is usually called Oopoo Ellore, to distinguish it from Ra-Elloor, or Vellore. This is an inland town, situated about fifty miles from the coast, in Lat. 16 deg. 43 min. N., Long. 81 deg. 15 min. E. It is noted for carpets, and for leather manufactures. About five miles from Ellore is a large fresh water lake, called the lake of Kolair, formed chiefly by the overflowings of the Godavery and Kistna. Its breadth varies from seven to twelve miles, and its extreme length is about twenty-two miles. It contains a number of islets, which produce abundant crops of rice. This lake communicates with the sea by a small river called the Ooputnair, navigable for boats. EMAUMBARREE, a place of Mussalman worship, and a dépôt for the Tazees used at the Mohurrum. EMIR, a title. See AMEER. ENAUM, Hindostanee. Present, gift, gratuity, favour. Enaums are grants of land free of rent; or assignments of the government's share of the produce of a portion of land for the support of religious establishments, and priests, and for charitable purposes; also to revenue officers, the public servants of a village, retired and deserving old soldiers, &c. ENAUMDAR, holder of any thing as a favour. A person in the possession of rent-free or favourably rented lands, or in the enjoyment, under assignment thereof, of the government dues from a particular portion of land, granted from charity, &c. ENDARU-GAHA, the castor-oil tree. This is a shrub in the island of Ceylon that seldom grows more than ten or twelve feet high. The trunk is like the stalk of a cabbage, and equally frangible. The fruit grows out from the ends of the branches, and is rather larger than a pea. The outside is rough and prickly. When ripe, it is nearly black. Each fruit contains two seeds, covered with small black spots. These, when well dried, are

pounded in a mortar to express the oil, which the natives use as a medicine. The growth is very rapid, as it arrives at maturity in about twelve months, and having borne fruit once, it dies. The natives pay little regard to the cultivation of it, and when they want a little oil, they pluck its seeds, and make it at once, never keeping a supply of it by them. ETAWAH, a town and station in the north-west of India, in the province of Agra. This was once a flourishing place, the abode of omras and grandees of the Mogul empire, but it is now a mass of ruin and decay. Standing upon the banks of the Jumna, it possesses a splendid ghaut, which rather serves, by contrast with all else, to indicate the present poverty, than to illustrate the ancient importance of the place. A few bungalows scattered over a wide sandy plain, nearly destitute of trees, intermixed with other buildings of an inferior kind, announce the presence of civil and military residents. These are, however, few in number-the one being limited to a collector and magistrate, with their subordinate officers, and the other to the wing of a corps of native infantry. Nothing can be imagined more dreary and desolate than this place as a residence; but for the naturalist it possesses attractions of no common order, the result, in a great measure, of the abundance of vegetation, arising from the absence of a large European population. EURASIAN, the offspring of the European father and the Hindoo or Mussulman woman in India. The names of East Indian, country-born, half-caste, are given to this class, but "Eurasian" appears most properly to indicate their origin, and has nothing offensive about it. The Eurasians are an orderly, intelligent, and (as clerks) an industrious race of people, but they are devoid of mental and personal energy, and therefore seldom attain either individual or corporate weight and importance.