Chapter JADOO to JAGHEER of J by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

them; they call it Raak (see ARRACK), distilled from Sugar, and a spicy rinde of a tree called Jagra.”—Terry, ed. 1665, p. 365.

1727.—“The Produce of the Samorin’s Country is … Cocoa-Nut, and that tree produceth Jaggery, a kind of sugar, and Copera (see COPRAH), or the kernels of the Nut dried.”—A. Hamilton, i. 306; [ed. 1744, i. 308].

c. 1750–60.—“Arrack, a coarse sort of sugar called Jagree, and vinegar are also extracted from it” (coco-palm).—Grose, i. 47.

1807.—“The Tari or fermented juice, and the Jagory or inspissated juice of the Palmira tree … are in this country more esteemed than those of the wild date, which is contrary to the opinion of the Bengalese.”—F. Buchanan, Mysore, &c., i. 5.

1860.—“In this state it is sold as jaggery in the bazaars, at about three farthings per pound.”—Tennent’s Ceylon, iii. 524.

JAGHEER, JAGHIRE, s. Pers. jagir, lit. ‘place-holding.’ A hereditary assignment of land and of its rent as annuity.

[c. 1590.—“Farmán-i-zabíts are issued for … appointments to jágírs, without military service.”—Ain, i. 261.

[1617.—“Hee quittes diuers small Jaggers to the King.”—Sir T. Roe, Hak. Soc. ii. 449.]

c. 1666.—“… Not to speak of what they finger out of the Pay of every Horseman, and of the number of the Horses; which certainly amounts to very considerable Pensions, especially if they can obtain good Jah-ghirs, that is, good Lands for their Pensions.”—Bernier, E.T. 66; [ed. Constable, 213].

1673.—“It (Surat) has for its Maintenance the Income of six Villages; over which the Governor sometimes presides, sometimes not, being in the Jaggea, or diocese of another.”—Fryer, 120.

“Jageah, an Annuity.”—Ibid. Index, vi.

1768.—“I say, Madam, I know nothing of books; and yet I believe upon a land-carriage fishery, a stamp act, or a jaghire, I can talk my two hours without feeling the want of them.”—Mr. Lofty, in The Good-Natured Man, Act ii.

1778.—“Should it be more agreeable to the parties, Sir Matthew will settle upon Sir John and his Lady, for their joint lives, a jagghire.

“Sir John.—A Jagghire?

“Thomas.—The term is Indian, and means an annual Income.”—Foote, The Nabob, i. 1.

We believe the traditional stage pronunciation in these passages is Jag Hire (assonant in both syllables to Quag Mire); and this is also the pronunciation given in some dictionaries.

1778.—“… Jaghires, which were always rents arising from lands.”—Orme, ed. 1803, ii. 52.

1809.—“He was nominally in possession of a larger jaghire.”—Ld. Valentia, i. 401.

A territory adjoining Fort St. George was long known as the Jaghire, or the Company’s Jaghire, and is often so mentioned in histories of the 18th century. This territory, granted to the Company by the Nabob of Arcot in 1750 and 1763, nearly answers to the former Collectorate of Chengalput and present Collectorate of Madras.

[In the following the reference is to the Jirgah or tribal council of the Pathan tribes on the N.W. frontier.

[1900.—“No doubt upon the occasion of Lord Curzon’s introduction to the Waziris and the Mohmunds, he will inform their Jagirs that he has long since written a book about them.”—Contemporary Rev. Aug. p. 282.]