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principal seats of Hindoo learning, has long since gone to ruins. The modern town, which stands about a mile further to the south, was until recently the capital of the Scindia Mahrattas. It is a large and populous place, and contains many handsome pagodas and other buildings, with some remarkably good sculpture. It had formerly an observatory, built by rajah Jey Sing, which, however, has been allowed to decay. OOLOOS, the tribes of Afghanistan,

divided into clans, which again are sub-divided into Khails. The principal tribes are the Dooranees, the Ghilzies, and the Berdooranees. OOLTA-POOLTA, Hindostanee. Topsy-turvy. OOMERKANTUK, in the province of Gondwana, in India, is situated at the sources of the rivers Sone and Nerbudda, in Lat. 22 deg. 55 min. N., Long. 82 deg. 7 min. E., on which account alone it is noticed, being otherwise merely a place of resort for pilgrims. A melah, or religious festival, is held at Omerkantuk once a year, but notwithstanding the alleged superior sanctity of the rivers, and the comparative ease with which their sources may be attained, the attendance is not so much more numerous than that at Gungootree and Jumnootree, as might be expected. In addition to the advantages of ablution, and of imbibing the holy waters of Omerkantuk's thrice-blessed rivers, the true believers who visit the mountain, if not encumbered with too much flesh, may find a speedy and certain road ́to heaven. A large rock rising abruptly on the summit of the hill, has been carved into the form of an elephant; there is a space, or rather hole, between the body of the sculptured animal and the earth, and those who can contrive to insinuate themselves through this aperture, are secure, after death, of an entrance into the regions of the blessed. The temple of Omerkantuk is said to have been built by one of the an

cient rajahs of Rutturpoor, a district of Gondwana, and to contain an image of Bhavani; under whose name the consort of Siva is worshipped in this part of the country. The blessings derived from these lakes and rivers, and the wise enforcement of the ablutions enjoined by the religious worship performed upon their banks, render every stream sacred in the eyes of the Hindoos, and no doubt led, in the first instance, to the gratitude to the Divine Dispenser of all good gifts, which, corrupted into idolatry, is now, by the perversion so unfortunately connected with the gross notions entertained of the Creator of the Universe by ignorant men, rendered absurd and contemptible. In tracing, however, the superstitions of a nation to their source, we generally find that they have originated in something natural and praiseworthy.

OOMRAWUTTI, a town in India, in the province of Berar, situated thirty-four miles south-easterly from Ellichpore, in Lat. 20 deg. 54 min. N., Long. 77 deg. 57 min. E. It is a large and populous town, and a place of considerable inland traffic. OOREEAHS, i. e., natives of the province of Orissa, who seek employment at the several presidencies of India as bearers. The Ooreahs are, in some respects, excellent servants; they are very careful of furniture; and being able-bodied men in general, are capable, when bearing a palankeen, of proceeding great distances; they are, besides, cleanly in their persons and neat in their dress; which, however, consists merely of a doty, folded round the middle, and tucked in, together with a wrapper, to be thrown over them in very inclement weather, but usually carried over the shoulder. When their heights are unequal, they use a small quilted pad of linen, stuffed with rags or cotton, which is suspended from the palankeen pole, or bamboo, and being

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placed between it and the shoulder of the shortest bearer of the two (they carrying in pairs, two bearers before, and two behind), serves to bring about an even bearing on each. The Balasore bearers, i. e., the Ooreahs, preserve but one lock of hair on the top of their heads; they wear no turban, but touch their faces, arms, throats, and breasts with sandal-wood and vermilion. Some wear a few small beads, chiefly of turned wood, about their necks; and occasionally a bangle, or kurrah, a stout silver ornament of the ring kind, on either wrist. The Ooreah bearers never wear shoes, and prefer clothes of an almond colour. The number of Ooreahs in a single set is generally seven: the head bearer, or sirdar, receiving five, or even six, rupees monthly; sometimes a mate receives, or is said to receive, five, and the residue about four. OOSTADE, Persian. A master, a teacher of any profession. OPIUM, a drug; a powerful narcotic, extracted from the poppy, and used by the Chinese, Turks, Mahomedans, and Hindcos, in their pipes and hookahs, either with or without tobacco. The Hindoo, however, prefers a drug called bang, which produces alternately the exciting and stupefying effects of opium. Opium is grown in large quantities in the provinces of Bahar and Malwa, in India. The East India Company's government monopolise the cultivation, and dispose of the article wholesale to the Bombay and Calcutta merchants, who trade with China and the Straits of Malacca. An enormous revenue is derived from the monopoly at the expense of the morals and physical condition of the Chinese.

ORISSA, a province of India, bounded

on the north by the river Subunreeka, separating it from Bengal; east, the sea; south, the Ganjam district of the Northern Circars; west, Gondwana. The divisions of the province are, Singhboom, Mo

hurbunj, Balasore, Kunjoor, Boad, and Kuttack, with several smaller zumeendaries. The rivers are Subunreeka, Solundee, Bytoornee, Bahmunee, Mahanudee, and others. This province may be considered as consisting of three distinct regions: the maritime, the central (called the Mooghulbundee), and the western, or Rajwara. The maritime, from the Subunreeka on the north, to the Chilka Lake on the south, and from the sea to about twenty miles inland is a low, flat, swampy tract, covered with wood, and frequently inundated, and intersected in all directions by numerous rivers. Twenty miles inland the country rises considerably, with an open, dry, and fertile surface, forming the second or Mooghulbundee division, which, about twenty miles further inland, swells into wooded hills; and beyond, there is the third, or Rajwara, occupying the western portion of the province, and consisting entirely of ranges of hills. The greater part of the interior of this province is in a very savage state, particularly the Rajwara division, being composed of rugged hills, thick jungles, and deep nullas, and pervaded by a remarkably pestilential atmosphere. The productions are rice, maize, wheat, gram, and other grains; aromatic roots, spices, dyeing drugs, sugar, cotton, tobacco, honey, wax, and dammer. The woods of the maritime districts are chiefly of Soondree, from which oil is extracted, and Janool; those of the Mooghulbundee abound with resinous trees, and others valuable for cabinet-work and for dyeing; and from the Rajawara forests teak of good quality is procured. Iron is abundant; many valuable and curious minerals are found in Rajwara, and from the mountain streams gold dust is collected. Diamonds also, of a large size, are to be found, but the extrenie unhealthiness of the climate in the districts in which they are met with prevents their being properly sought after.

Abundance of salt, of a remarkably white and pure description, is manufactured on the coast. The rivers abound with fish, and the whole province swarms with wild beasts, particularly leopards of a large size; and it is much infested by snakes, alligators, and reptiles of all kinds. The towns are Singh boom, Huriurpore, Balasore, Kunjour, Jaipore, Kuttack, and Juggernaut. The inhabitants of the province are Hindoos, with the distinguishing name of Ooreeahs; but there are also, in the woods and hills, three distinct tribes, called Koles, Khonds, and Soors (q. v.), all differing in language and appearance from the Hindoos, and generally supposed to have been the original natives of the province. The Ooreeahs are all followers of the Brahminical system; but the wild tribes of Koles, Khonds, and Soors have no intelligible system of religion, and are entirely strangers to the institution of caste or other Hindoo observance. There are also Jains in this province. The language of the Oreeah nation is a dialect of the Sanscrit, much resembling the Bengalee, and called the Ooreah. The dialects of the wild tribes are distinct.

OUDE, a province of India, bounded

on the north by Nepaul; east, Bahar; south, Allahabad; west, Agra and Delhi. Its divisions consist of Khyrabad, Baraitch, Luknow, Fyzabad, Gorukpore, and Manikpore. The rivers are the Ganges, Goomtee, and Gogra, all flowing through the province south-easterly. The whole surface of the province, excepting upon the northern and north-eastern frontiers, is perfectly level, well watered, and very fertile. It is one of the smallest provinces of Hindostan Proper, but has always been one of the richest and most populous. Its length from west to east is about 250 miles, by 100, the average breadth from north to south. The productions are wheat, barley, peas, rice, and other grains; sugar, in

digo, opium, and tobacco; saltpetre is abundant, and lapis lazuli is amongst the mineral productions. The towns are Khyrabad, Baraitch, Luknow, Roy-Bareilly, Fyzabad, Tanda, Sooltanpore, Gorukpore, and Manikpore. The inhabitants of this province are generally remarkable as a fine robust race, of an intelligent and manly character; particularly the Rajpoots, who are commonly superior in stature and appearance to Europeans. A large proportion are Mahomedans of Afghan and Persian origin, the province having been for many centuries under a Mahomedan government. The Bengal army procures a considerable number of its best Sepoys from this province. A treaty having been made with the British Government in the year 1765, Oude has been preserved from all external enemies, and has consequently enjoyed a long continuance of peace and prosperity. The Governor of Oude was originally styled the Soobadar, and afterwards the Nabob. This was changed in 1814 to Vizier (Wuzeer), and in 1819 to Padshah, or King, by which he is now recognised. The religion is Mahomedanism and Hindocism, the former the most prevalent. The language is Hindostanee. OUTAUGH, Persian. A chamber

or cell in a caravanserai. Also a business-chamber, an office. OUTCRY, the Anglo-Indian word for an auction. The sales of houses, and every description of article, European or Indian, by outcry, are so numerous and extensive, that the auctions are regarded as regular lounges.

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PACHA, a Turkish title, signifying a governor, prince, or viceroy. The pachalics, or local governments, are all in the gift of the Sultan, and their possessors are bound to obey

his firmauns. It is not unusual for the pachas, however, to revolt and endeavour to establish an independent authority, but none have as yet succeeded. When the Sultan assumes, as he is at liberty to do in extreme cases, the character of a Caliph, an appeal is made to the religious feelings of the rebellious, who then recognise his paramount authority as the representative of Mahomed, and return to their allegiance.

PADDY, an Indian term for rice in the husk.

PADDY-BIRD, a sort of small crane,

abounding in the rice fields in India. PADISHAH, emperor, imperial.

There is no sovereign in the East, excepting the King of Persia, to whom the title strictly applies, and that potentate is more frequently called the Shah-in-Shah, or King of Kings.

PAGODA, a term, unknown to the natives of India, given by Europeans to Hindoo temples; also to a gold coin, in use at Madras, often with an image on it, properly called hun, or hoon.

PAINA, bracelets of zinc, worn by the native women of India. PALAMCOTTAH, a town in India, in the province of Southern Carnatic, situated on the eastern side of the Tumbrapoonee river, which divides it from Tinnevelly. It is a fortified town, and was formerly the principal stronghold of one of the southern polygars.

PALANKEEN, PALANQUIN, or PALKEE. The latter is the word in most general use in India. The palankeen of the European, and indeed of all the principal inhabitants of the Presidencies, may be likened to a wooden box, opening at the sides by sliding doors. It is about six feet in length and four in height, having a pole at either end, which rests on the shoulders of the bearers. Usually painted a dark green, with sometimes the crest of the owner painted on the pannels,

and furnished inside with a long cushion, covered with morocco leather, silk, or chintz, and a pillow of the same material for the support of the head or back, the palkee is a very commodious and not inelegant vehicle. At the opposite end of the palkee is a flat wooden resting-place for the feet, and above that a shelf and small drawer for the reception of light articles, papers, &c. Some people take great pride in these vehicles, causing the upper part of the sides to be provided with Venetian blinds, and throwing over the whole, in very warm weather, a covering of fragrant cuscuss. In the great towns in the Mofussil, the native gentry and pensioned princes, and chieftains, use the open palankeens, or litters, such as are often seen on the British stage in mock oriental pageants.

PALANPORE, a town in India, in the province of Guzerat, situated about twelve miles to the eastward of Deesa. It is a populous town, and the capital of a small Mahomedan principality, tributary to the Gaikowar. It contains about 30,000 inhabitants. Their counterpanes of chintz are manufactured here, and take their name from the place. PALAR, the, a river in India, which rises in the hills near Nundy droog, in the province of Mysore, not far from the river Pennar. It flows southerly, through Mysore, and Central Carnatic, into the Bay of Bengal, which it reaches near Sadras. PALEMBANG, an ancient Malay town on the eastern coast of the island of Sumatra, in Asia, and Padang on the western coast, now form the two principal settlements of the Dutch.

PALGHATCHERRY, a station in India, in the province of Malabar, situated inland, about seventy miles S.E. from Calicut, in Lat. 10 deg. 45 min. N., Long. 76 deg. 38 min. E. Under Hyder Ali this was a place of considerable importance as a military post. It is still a station for an

·English garrison. The surrounding forests abound with excellent teak. PALI, one of the dead languages of India. It may be considered as a sister to Sanscrit. In ancient times it was spoken in Behar, the cradle of Buddha. Prior to the birth of Christ, it was spread extensively in India, but when the Buddhists were expelled from India, the language became extinct, and for many ages Pali has ceased to be spoken. Even yet it is the language of the liturgy, and of the literature of the great islands of Ceylon, Beli, Madura, and Java, as well as of all the IndoChinese countries; and it is also the sacred language of the innumerable worshippers of Buddha, both in China and Japan. The Pali language has the strength, richness, and harmony of the Sanscrit. Its literature is very rich; its various dialects in different countries are written with alphabets derived from the Devanagari.

PALKEE GHAREE, a carriage in use in India, the body of which is shaped like a palankeen, with a well for the feet of the occupants. PANDUS, five heroes, or demi-gods, descended from the ancient sovereigns of the countries of Hindostan bordering upon the Jumna, thus called "Panduan Raj, or the Kingdom of the Pandus." Pandu, the father of these five heroes, was the son of Vyasa and Pandea. PANSWAY, the smallest description

of boat, next to the canoe, on the Hooghly, or Ganges. It is the ordinary boat of the fishermen, and has at the after-part an awning of matting in the shape of a hood. PAPAYA, (carica papaya).

This

fruit, though abounding in India, is a well-recognised importation from the West Indies or Africa, where it is found abundantly, and of far larger size than those of the common Indian growth. As a fruit, eaten both raw and boiled, pickled or preserved, it ranks high; the choice ones being of a very rich and some

what melon-like flavour when eaten with sugar and wine. As a tree, it is highly ornamental, few garden or orchard trees surpass it in gracefulness of appearance, in which indeed it approaches to the palm. The size and beauty of the leaf, and even of the leaf-stalks, are always much admired when closely examined by those to whom the wonders of tropical vegetation are new. One of the curious properties of the papaya tree is, that it renders tough or newly-killed meat tender, when hung up amongst its leaves for a few hours, which effect is also produced by some other trees.

PAPOOSEES, Turkish. Slippers. PAPUA, or NEW GUINEA, an island of Asia, in the Eastern Archipelago. It is a large island, commencing a little to the eastward of Gilolo, and slanting in a south-easterly direction as far as Lat. 10 deg. S., having the Pacific Ocean along its northern and eastern coasts, and separated by Torres Straits on the south from the continent of Australia. It appears to rise gradually from the coast to hills of considerable elevation, covered with palm-trees and forests of large timber. It produces both the cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees, but has no animals except dogs, wild cats, and hogs. The western part of the island is inhabited by the Negro race, and the eastern by a people approaching more to the appearance of the South Sea islanders, that is, having yellow complexions, and long black hair. Such of these Negro tribes as are known to Europeans are in an entirely savage state, and some of them are said to be cannibals. They wear their hair bushed round the head to a circumference of two and three feet, combing it out straight, and occasionally sticking it full of feathers; and from this practice they have received from Europeans the name frequently applied to them of "mop-headed Negroes." They understand the manufacture of common earthenware and mats, and

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