Chapter CUSTOM to CYRUS of C by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

Matthews was in confinement. James Skurry was sent for one day to the Kutcherry there, and some pewter plates with marks on them were shown to him to explain; he saw on them words to this purport, ‘I am indebted to the Malabar Christians on account of the Public Service 40,000 Rs.; the Company owes me (about) 30,000 Rs.; I have taken Poison and am now within a short time of Death; whoever communicates this to the Bombay Govt. or to my wife will be amply rewarded. (Signed) Richard Matthews.’”—Narrative of Mr. William Drake, and other Prisoners (in Mysore), in Madras Courier, 17th Nov.

c. 1796.—“…the other Asof Mirán Hussein, was a low fellow and a debauchee,…who in different…towns was carried in his pálkí on the shoulders of dancing girls as ugly as demons to his Kutcheri or hall of audience.”—H. of Tipú Sultán, E.T. by Miles, 246.

“…the favour of the Sultan towards that worthy man (Dundia Wágh) still continued to increase…but although, after a time, a Kutcheri, or brigade, was named after him, and orders were issued for his release, it was to no purpose.”—Ibid. 248.

[c. 1810.—“Four appears to have been the fortunate number (with Tippoo; four companies (yeuz), one battalion (teep), four teeps one cushoon (see KOSHOON):…four cushoons, one Cutcherry. The establishment…of a cutcherry…5,688, but these numbers fluctuated with the Sultaun’s caprices, and at one time a cushoon, with its cavalry attached, was a legion of about 3,000.”—Wilks, Mysore, edition 1869, ii. 132.]

1834.—“I mean, my dear Lady Wroughton, that the man to whom Sir Charles is most heavily indebted, is an officer of his own Kucheree, the very sircar who cringes to you every morning for orders.”—The Baboo, ii. 126.

1860.—“I was told that many years ago, what remained of the Dutch records were removed from the record-room of the Colonial Office to the Cutcherry of the Government Agent.”—Tennent’s Ceylon, i. xxviii.

1873.—“I’d rather be out here in a tent any time…than be stewing all day in a stuffy Kutcherry listening to Ram Buksh and Co. perjuring themselves till they are nearly white in the face.”—The True Reformer, i. 4.

1883.—“Surrounded by what seemed to me a mob of natives, with two or three dogs at his feet, talking, writing, dictating,—in short doing Cutcherry.”—C. Raikes, in Bosworth Smith’s Lord Lawrence, i. 59.

CUTCHNAR, s. Hind. kachnar, Skt. kanchanara (kanchana, ‘gold’) the beautiful flowering tree Bauhinia variegata, L., and some other species of the same genus (N. O. Leguminosae).

1855.—“Very good fireworks were exhibited…among the best was a sort of maypole hung round with minor fireworks which went off in a blaze and roll of smoke, leaving disclosed a tree hung with quivering flowers of purple flame, evidently intended to represent the Kachnar of the Burmese forests.”—Yule, Mission to Ava, 95.

CUTTACK, n.p. The chief city of Orissa, and district immediately attached. From Skt. kataka, ‘an army, a camp, a royal city.’ This name Al-kataka is applie d by Ibn Batuta in the 14th century to Deogir in the Deccan (iv. 46), or at least to a part of the town adjoining that ancient fortress.

c. 1567.—“Citta di Catheca.”—Cesare Federici, in Ramusio, iii. 392. [Catecha, in Hakl. ii. 358].

[c. 1590.—“Attock on the Indus is called Atak Benares in contra distinction to Katak Benares in Orissa at the opposite extremity of the Empire.”—Ain, edition Jarrett, ii. 311.]

1633.—“The 30 of April we set forward in the Morning for the City of Coteka (it is a city of seven miles in compasse, and it standeth a mile from Malcandy where the Court is kept.”—Bruton, in Hakl. v. 49.

1726.—“Cattek.”—Valentijn, v. 158.

CUTTANEE, s. Some kind of piece-goods, apparently either of silk or mixed silk and cotton. Kuttan, Pers., is flax or linen cloth. This is perhaps the word. [Kattan is now used in India for the waste selvage in silk weaving, which is sold to Patwas, and used for stringing ornaments, such as joshans (armlets of gold or silver beads) bazubands (armlets with folding bands), &c. (Yusuf Ali, Mon. on Silk Fabrics, 66).] Cutanees appear in Milburn’s list of Calcutta piece-goods.

[1598.—“Cotonias, which are like canvas.”—Linschoten, Hak. Soc. i. 60.]

[1648.—“Contenijs.” See under ALCATIF.

[1673.—“Cuttanee breeches.” See under ATLAS.

[1690.—“…rich Silks, such as Atlasses, Cuttanees.…”—See under ALLEJA.

[1734.—“They manufacture…in cotton and silk called Cuttenees.”—A. Hamilton, i. 126; edition 1744.]