Chapter HANSALERI to HAVILDAR of H by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

an office of trust’; and in this form it had, in other times, a variety of applications to different charges and subordinate officers. Thus among the Mahrattas the commandant of a fort was so styled; whilst in Eastern Bengal the term was, and perhaps still is, applied to the holder of a hawala, an intermediate tenure between those of zemindar and ryot.

1672.—Regarding the Cowle obtained from the Nabob of Golcondah for the Fort and Town of Chinapatnam. 11,000 Pagodas to be paid in full of all demands for the past, and in future Pagodas 1200 per annum rent, “and so to hold the Fort and Town free from any Avildar or Divan’s People, or any other imposition for ever.”—Fort St. George Consn., April 11, in Notes and Exts., No. i. 25.

1673.—“We landed at about Nine in the Morning, and were civilly treated by the Customer in his Choultry, till the Havildar could be acquainted of my arrival.”—Fryer, 123.

[1680.—“Avaldar.” See under JUNCAMEER.]

1696.—“…the havildar of St. Thomé and Pulecat.”—Wheeler, i. 308.

[1763.—“Three araldars (avaldares) or receivers.”—India Office MSS. Conselho, Ultramarino, vol. i.

[1773.—“One or two Hircars, one Havildah, and a company of sepoys.…”—Ives, 67.]

1824.—“Curreem Musseeh was, I believe, a havildar in the Company’s army, and his sword and sash were still hung up, with a not unpleasing vanity, over the desk where he now presided as catechist.”—Heber, i. 149.