Chapter MAYLA to MELINDE of M by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

MEHAUL, s. Hind. from Arab. mahall, being properly the pl. of Arab. mahall. The word is used with a considerable variety of application, the explanation of which would involve a greater amount of technical detail than is consistent with the purpose of this work. On this Wilson may be consulted. But the most usual Anglo-Indian application of mahall (used as a singular and generally written, incorrectly, mahal) is to ‘an estate,’ in the Revenue sense, i.e. ‘a parcel or parcels of land separately assessed for revenue.’ The sing. mahall (also written in the vernaculars mahal, and mahal) is often used for a palace or important edifice, e.g. (see SHISH-MUHULL, TAJ-MAHAL).

MEHTAR, s. A sweeper or scavenger. This name is usual in the Bengal Presidency, especially for the domestic servant of this class. The word is Pers. comp. mihtar (Lat. major), ‘a great personage,’ ‘a prince,’ and has been applied to the class in question in irony, or rather in consolation, as the domestic tailor is called caleefa. But the name has so completely adhered in this application, that all sense of either irony or consolation has perished; mehtar is a sweeper and nought else. His wife is the Matranee. It is not unusual to hear two mehtars hailing each other as Maharaj! In Persia the menial application of the word seems to be different (see below). The same class of servant is usually called in W. India bhangi (see BUNGY), a name which in Upper India is applied to the caste generally and specially to those not in the service of Europeans. [Examples of the word used in the honorific sense will be found below.]

c. 1800.—“Maitre.” See under BUNOW.

1810.—“The mater, or sweeper, is considered the lowest menial in every family.”—Williamson, V. M. i. 276–7.

1828.—“… besides many mehtars or stable-boys.”—Hajji Baba in England, i. 60.

[In the honorific sense:

[1824.—“In each of the towns of Central India, there is … a mehtur, or head of every other class of the inhabitants down to the lowest.”—Malcolm, Central India, 2nd ed. i. 555.

[1880.—“On the right bank is the fort in which the Mihter or Badshah, for he is known by both titles, resides.”—Biddulph, Tribes of the Hindoo Kush, 61.]

MELINDE, MELINDA, n.p. The name (Malinda or Malindi) of an Arab town and State on the east coast of Africa, in S. lat. 3° 9’; the only one at which the expedition of Vasco da Gama had amicable relations with the people, and that at which they obtained the pilot who guided the squadron to the coast of India.

c. 1150.—“Melinde, a town of the Zendj, … is situated on the sea-shore at the mouth of a river of fresh water. … It is a large town, the people of which … draw from the sea different kinds of fish, which they dry and trade in. They also possess and work mines of iron.”—Edrisi (Jaubert), i. 56.

c. 1320.—See also Abulfeda, by Reinaud, ii. 207.

1498.—“And that same day at sundown we cast anchor right opposite a place which is called Milinde, which is 30 leagues from Mombaça. … On Easter Day those Moors whom we held prisoners, told us that in the said town of Milinde were stopping four ships of Christians who were Indians, and that if we desired to take them these would give us, instead of themselves, Christian Pilots.”—Roteiro of Vasco da Gama, 42–3.

1554.—“As the King of Melinde pays no tribute, nor is there any reason why he should, considering the many tokens of friendship we have received from him, both on the first discovery of these countries, and to this day, and which in my opinion we repay very badly, by the ill treatment which he has from the Captains who go on service to this Coast.”—Simão Botelho, Tombo, 17.

c. 1570.—“Di Chiaul si negotia anco per la costa de’ Melindi in Ethiopia.”—Cesare de Federici in Ramusio, iii. 396v.

1572.—

“Quando chegava a frota áquella parte
Onde o reino Melinde já se via,
De toldos adornada, e leda de arte:
Que bem mostra estimar a sancta dia
Treme a bandeira, voa o estandarte,
A cor purpurea ao longe apparecia,
Soam os atambores, e pandeiros:
E assi entravam ledos e guerreiros.”

Camôes, ii. 73.

By Burton:

“At such a time the Squadron neared the part
where first Melinde’s goodly shore unseen, in awnings drest and prankt with gallant art,
to show that none the Holy Day misween: Flutter the flags, the streaming