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F.

FAKEER, a poor man, mendicant, or wandering Indian beggar. FAKERAN, from fakeer, a mendicant (Mahomedan law, fookra), to maintain the poor. A Moslem grant. FANAM, a nominal coin in use under the Presidency of Madras. FELLICK, the beam and noose by which the feet of Persian or Turkish criminals are secured when receiving the bastinado.

FEREDJE, the out-of-door dress of a Turkish female. It is generally

composed of green cloth, and invests the entire person. FERINGEE, Frank, or European; more commonly applied by the natives of India to the descendants of the Portuguese, or the half-castes. FEROSH, or furniture-keeper; the duty of this menial, among Europeans in India, consists chiefly in cleaning the furniture, putting up or taking down beds (which, in India, is always effected without the aid of a carpenter), beating carpets, preparing and trimming the lights, opening and shutting the doors for guests, handing chairs, setting tables for meals, together with a variety of minutiæ of a similar description. Among the natives the office comprehends far more laborious employments, among which the arrangement of tents may be adduced. In this they aid the kalashies, or tent-men, reserving to themselves the performance of whatever relates to the interior. According to the account of Abu Fazil, who wrote regarding the establishment of the Emperor Akbar, that monarch retained no less than 1000 feroshes, for the purpose of attending his encampments or parties of pleasure. These, however numerous, must have had plenty to do, for we find that the equipage, on such occasions, consisted of 1000 elephants, 500 camels, 400 carts, and 1000 men, escorted by

500 cavalry. There were employed in this service, 1000 feroshes, 500 pioneers, 100 water-carriers, fifty carpenters, 50 tent-makers, 50 linkmen, 30 workers in leather, and 150 sweepers. The number of large tents was prodigious; but some idea may be entertained of their amount, when it is stated, that the royal precinct was enclosed by kunnauts (walls of cloth) eight feet high, and in the whole, nearly two miles in length!

FEROZEPORE, and LOODIANA, towns in India in the province of Delhi, which are the principal stations of the British territory on the north-western frontier, both on the left bank of the Sutlej. Ferozepore is situated in Lat. 30 deg. 55 min. N., Long. 74 deg. 35 min. E., and Loodiana in the same latitude, Long. 75 deg. 48 min. E. FIRDOUSEE (Abool Kasim), the author of the Shah Nameh, (q. v.) FIRMAUN, a decree, order, warrant, or passport, issued by the Shah of Persia or the Sultan of Turkey. No subject dares to disobey the firmaun of the sovereign; it supersedes all laws and regulations, and renders those who pass it independent of their immediate local governors. FLORIKIN, or FLORICAN, a large game bird of the bustard species, found in the plains of India. It affords excellent sport, and ranks with the pheasant among English sportsmen.

FLORIS, or EUDE, one of the Sunda

islands. It is situated immediately to the westward of the island of Timor.

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FOO KHODAH, Persian. In God's name!

FOONTI, the melon. Of melons there are many varieties in India, but there are few of the Bengal sorts worth eating, for their flavour, except in the northern and northwestern provinces, where the Persian and Afghan conquerors have brought some good kinds, is very indifferent. In intertropical India the best melons almost immediately degenerate into a sort of half water melon. A few successful attempts have been made, with great care and attention, to raise fine high-flavoured melons from seed obtained from England, France, and Afghanistan, but it is yet only by a succession of fresh seed that good ones can be obtained, and the care and cost are such that hitherto there seems little chance of counting the melon of Persia, Afghanistan, or Europe, amongst the Indian fruits.

The water melon in some parts of India attains to a monstrous size. Those of Agra, which are cultivated on the sandy flats left by the subsiding waters of the Jumna, are famous; and stories of them are standard jokes of approved currency in those parts. On the coast they are also considered to attain "great respectability," and, in short, good water melons are pretty common all over India, and they are very highly esteemed by the natives and by many Europeans. The foonti, or phootee, as it is called by the Bengalese, has a strong melon scent, but very little of the taste, and less of the perfume, of the true melon. To some Europeans, and to most natives, however, it is an acceptable fruit, at least as a change, during the short time that it is in season, and in great demand for the various preparations, such as sherbets, and the like, into which it enters. It is, like all the tribe, considered as cooling and even medicinal, and no doubt justly so. FORMOSA, a large island, about 180 miles in length, and fifty in average

breadth, lying off the south-eastern coast of China,distant about 200 miles, between Lat. 23 deg. and 24 deg. N. FOUJDAR, under the Mogul government of India, a magistrate of the police over a large district, who took cognisance of all criminal matters within his jurisdiction, and sometimes was employed as receivergeneral of the revenues. FOUJDARRY, any thing appertaining to a Foujdar, as his office, jurisdiction, court, and the like. Also the produce of fines and confiscations in the Foujdarry courts. FURRUKHABAD, a town in India, in the province of Agra. It stands at a short distance from the bank of the Ganges, in Lat. 27 deg. 24 min. N., Long. 79 deg. 27 min. E. It is large and populous, containing about 7000 inhabitants, and is a place of considerable commerce.

FURSUNG, or PHARSAK, a Persian land measure, equivalent to four British miles.

FUTIHGURH, a town in India, in the province of Agra. It is situated three miles to the eastward of Furrukhabad. It is the principal residence of the civil authorities of the district, and is noted for the manufacture of tents.

FUTWAH, a judicial decree, sentence, or judgment. In every court of law in India is an officer versed in Mahomedan law, whose "futwah" in a measure regulates the decision of the judge.

FYZABAD, a town in India, in the province of Oude. It stands on the south side of the river Gogra, about eight miles to the eastward of LuckThis was formerly the capital of the province. It is still of considerable extent, and contains a numerous population.

now.

G.

GAICOWAR, the chieftain of Baroda, in Guzerat (west of India), in friendly alliance with the British. The title

is derived from the name of Pellagie | Gaicowar, the founder of the sovereignty. He was originally a village potail, who after many struggles and intrigues succeeded in establishing his authority.

GALLEE, abuse; an instrument of personal warfare, in the use of which the natives of India are peculiarly dexterous. It generally takes the form of a comprehensive censure of all the female relatives of one's family, together with the grandfathers and grandmothers of the party abused. GANESHA (vulgo, GUNNESS). This deity, the god of wisdom and policy (according to the Hindoo mythology), is painted as a short, fat, redcoloured man, with a large belly, and the head of an elephant. He has four arms; in one hand of which he holds the haunkris or hook for guiding the elephant; in another, a chank or shell; in the third, a conical ball; and in the fourth a cup with small cakes, with which he is supposed to feed himself. He is sitting on the lotus. He is frequently described as riding on, or having near him a rat, the emblem of prudence and foresight, and is invoked on all matters of business by the Hindoos. If a person undertakes a journey, or build a house, prayers are addressed to Ganesha, for which purpose his statues are set up on the roads and other open places. At the commencement of a letter or a book, or an invocation to a superior deity, a salutation is usually made to him, and his image is frequently seen placed, as a propitiation over the doors of houses and shops, to insure success to the temporal concerns of their owners. Ganesha is often called the Pan or sylvan deity of the Hindoos. GANESHAJUNANI, a form of Parvati (in Hindoo mythology), under which she is represented sitting on a lotus, dressed in red, and supporting the infant Ganesha in her arms. Very expensive festivals are held in honour of this form of Parvati.

GANGES, the. This river rises on the south side of the Himalaya mountains, in the north of India. It is first seen in about Lat. 31 deg. N., and Long. 79 deg. E., where it issues from under a very low arch, at the bottom of a great mass of solid frozen snow, about 300 feet high. Its breadth at this place is about thirty feet, and the depth about one foot. It enters Hindostan Proper near Hurdwar, in the province of Delhi, about 120 miles distant from the city of Delhi. It passes through the provinces of Delhi, Agra, Oude, Allahabad, Bahar, and Bengal, and falls into the bay of Bengal. About 200 miles from the sea, taking a straight line, or 300 miles, taking the windings of the river, the Ganges sends out a number of branches. The two westernmost branches, called the Kasimbazar and Jellinghee rivers, join together at Nuddea, sixty miles from Calcutta, and form the river Hoogly.

GANJA, hemp; an intoxicating mixture used in India for smoking and drinking.

GANJAM, a district in India, the most northern of the Circars. Its north-western part, bordering upon Orissa, forms a hilly district, called Goomsur, covered with thick bamboo forests, and inhabited by a rude mountain tribe. The remainder of the Circar towards the sea is flat and open. It is separated from Orissa by a chain of hills and a large sheet of water, about thirtyfive miles long and eight broad, called the Chilka Lake.

GANJAM, a seaport in Ganjam, one of the Northern Circars, in India. It is situated in Lat. 19 deg. 21 min. N., Long. 85 deg. 10 min. E., and was formerly a place of considerable trade, and one of the principal stations of the English; but for some years past it has been abandoned, on account of the great unhealthiness of its climate. GAOHATI, or GOWHATTEE, a town in India, in the province of

Assam. It is situated on the south side of the Brahmapootra, in Lat. 25 deg. 55 min. N., Long. 91 deg. 40 min. E. It was in ancient times the capital of Kamroop, but is now a place of little consequence. GARREEWAUN, coachman (in native corruption coachmaun) of an English carriage in India. He would be out of his element in the crowded streets of London, or in a throng at the opera, but he is sufficiently expert for his vocation in the East, where crowds of carriages are unknown, and where all cart drivers, &c., are forced to get out of the way. He has no great delicacy of bridle touch, and not the smallest pride in his harness or other appointments, which, if the master chooses, will go dim and dirty enough. GARUDA, or GURURA. This demi

god, with the head and wings of a bird, and the body, legs, and arms of a man, is of considerable importance in the Hindoo mythology. He is the son of Kasyapa and Vinata, the brother of Arun, and the vahan or vehicle of Vishnu. As Arun, the charioteer of Surya (the sun) is the dawn, the harbinger of day, so does Garuda, the younger brother, follow as its perfect light. He is the emblem of strength and swiftness, and besides being the bearer of the omnipotent Vishnu, is greatly distinguished in Hindoo legends on many very important occasions. GASMADDO0, the "tree-snare," a thick kind of hind-rope, used in Ceylon to entrap elephants. GAWILGURH, a fortress in India, in the province of Berar, situated on a rocky hill, in the midst of a range of mountains, lying between the Tuptee and Poorna rivers, in Lat. 21 deg. 22 min. N., Long. 77 deg. 24 min. E., fifteen miles north-westerly from Ellichpoor. This fortress was considered by the natives of India as impregnable, but it was taken by assault in 1803 by the British troops, after a siege of not more than a few days.

GENTIA, or GENTIAPOOR, a district of the Bengal dependencies, in India, lying between Assam on the north, Kachar on the east, Sylhet on the south, and the Garrows on the west. Its extreme length from east to west, is estimated at 100 miles; and its extreme breadth, from north to south, at about eighty. For some miles from its borders, north and south, this territory consists partly of thickly wooded hills, and partly of low land; but the intermediate country, about fifty miles in extent, is an undulating plain, free from jungle, and well adapted for pasturage, but very thinly inhabited, and not cultivated. Its productions are chiefly cotton, rice, and a coarse kind of silk, called tussur, made from the wild silk-worm. Elephants and ivory also are exported, and amongst the minerals are iron, limestone, and coal. The only town is Gentiapoor, the residence of the rajah, situated about thirty miles to the northward of Sylhet. The inhabitants of this district appear to be of the same class as those of Kachar. This territory, although of such limited extent, is ruled by a number of petty chiefs, nominally subject to the rajah of Gentiapoor, but paying very little real deference to his authority. The people are, in consequence, harassed with incessant feuds, and remain in a very wretched and barbarous condition. Their present religion is that of the Hindoos, which has been introduced among them from Bengal. Their language very much resembles the Chinese, but has no written character. The Bengalese, however, has latterly been adopted by their chiefs, and will probably become their general language.

GENTOŎ, Indian. One of the aborigines of India. At Madras our countrymen use this term to designate the language and people of Tellingana, who occupy the north-eastern portions of the peninsula.

GERGHONG, a town in India, in the province of Assam, is situated on the river Dikho, and was for many years the capital of the Assam kingdom; but an insurrection of the people breaking out in 1794, ruined the town, and caused the seat of government to be transferred to Jorhat.

GHAUT, a mountain.

Ghaut also implies a landing-place or wharf on the Ganges. Pious Hindoos devote considerable sums to the construction of these landing-places, which generally consist of a handsome flight of steps, with, sometimes, a pagoda or temple at the summit.

GHAUTS, a range of mountains in India, divided into Eastern and Western. The Western Mountains extend from the Tuptee river to Cape Comorin. The highest part of the range is about 6000 feet above the level of the sea. The Eastern Mountains extend from the Kistna to near the Cavery rivers. The highest part of the chain is about 3000 feet above the sea. The word ghaut signifies a pass, or ford. It is commonly used by the English in speaking of these two ranges of mountains, though properly meaning only the passes through them. GHAZAL, Persian. A song, or

sonnet.

GHAZIPOOR, a town in India, in the province of Allahabad, situated on the north side of the Ganges, in Lat. 25 deg. 10 min. N., Long. 83 deg. 35 min. E. This is a large and populous town, and is celebrated for the manufacture of rose water. Numbers of superior horses are bred here in the government stud; and there are cantonments for three regiments of cavalry. GHEE, the butter produced from the milk of the Indian buffalo. is very inferior, generally white and brittle; it possesses qualities suiting it admirably to the climate, and occasioning the natives to give it the preference. After being warmed |

It

to a certain degree, so as to become rather liquified, it is kept in that state until it loses its aqueous particles, and is rendered fit for keeping. Few of the natives will touch cow-butter, to which they attribute many bad effects, though they will drink ghee by the quart, and pride themselves not a little in being able to afford so luscious an enjoyment. The uncontrolled use of this article, though it may tend to that obesity of which the higher classes of Hindoos are inordinately vain, contributes to the generation of those bilious diseases with which they are often attacked. Ghee and idleness may be said to give birth to half their disorders. As an article of commerce, ghee possesses some

claim to importance, many thousands of maunds being sent every season from some of the grazing districts to the more cultivated parts, and especially to the western provinces. The ghee is generally conveyed in dubbahs, or bottles made of green hide, which, being freed from the hair, and worked up, while in a pliant state, into the form of a caraboy, such as is used in England for spirits of turpentine, &c., will keep sweet for a long time. Ghee is used for culinary purposes in European families.

GHINDY, a flat-bottomed circular copper basin placed on a stand about three feet high. It is the common accompaniment of an Indian officer on the line of march, as it admits of being placed with other baggage on the back of a bullock or camel without risk of damage.

GHOONT, a small hill pony, resembling, excepting in its coat, the shaggy Shetland breed. They are very sure-footed, and are used in the Himalayas and other mountain ranges as pack or saddle-horses. GHORA-WALLAH, literally, horsefellow, a groom. The term is only employed in Western India, and is synonymous with syce, (q. v.) GHORUMSAUG, a Turkish word of

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