Chapter MOGUL BREECHES to MOHWA of M by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

was repeatedly told that I would accept nothing, he had prepared 5 lacs of rupees and 8000 gold Mohurs for me, of which I was to have 4 lacs, my attendants one, and your Ladyship the gold.”—Letter in Mem. of Lord Teignmouth, i. 410.

1809.—“I instantly presented to her a nazur (see NUZZER) of nineteen gold mohurs in a white handkerchief.”—Lord Valentia, i. 100.

1811.—“Some of his fellow passengers…offered to bet with him sixty gold mohurs.”—Morton’s Life of Leyden, 83.

1829.—“I heard that a private of the Company’s Foot Artillery passed the very noses of the prize-agents, with 500 gold mohurs (sterling 1000l.) in his hat or cap.” —John Shipp, ii. 226.

[c. 1847.—“The widow is vexed out of patience, because her daughter Maria has got a place beside Cambric, the penniless curate, and not by Colonel Goldmore, the rich widower from India.”—Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ed. 1879, p. 71.]

MOHURRER, MOHRER, &c., s. A writer in a native language. Ar. muharrir, ‘an elegant, correct writer.’ The word occurs in Grose (c. 1760) as ‘Mooreis, writers.’

[1765.—“This is not only the custom of the heads, but is followed by every petty Mohooree in each office.”—Verelst, View of Bengal, App. 217.]

MOHURRUM, s. Ar. Muharram (‘sacer’), properly the name of the 1st month of the Mahommedan lunar year. But in India the term is applied to the period of fasting and public mourning observed during that month in commemoration of the death of Hassan and of his brother Husain (a.d. 669 and 680) and which terminates in the ceremonies of the ’Ashara-a, commonly however known in India as “the Mohurrum.” For a full account of these ceremonies see Herklots, Qanoon-e-Islam, 2nd ed. 98–148. [Perry, Miracle Play of Hasan and Husain.] And see in this book HOBSON-JOBSON. 1869.—“Fête du Martyre de Huçain.…On la nomme généralement Muharram du nom du mois…et plus spécialement Dahâ, mot persan dérivé de dah ‘dix,’…les dénominations viennent de ce que la fête de Huçain dure dix jours.”—Garcin de Tassy, Rel. Mus. p. 31.

MOHWA, MHOWA, MOWA, s. Hind. &c. mahua, mahwa, Skt. madhaka, the large oak-like tree Bassia latifolia,⁴ Roxb. (N. O. Sapotaceae), also the flower of this tree from which a spirit is distilled and the spirit itself. It is said that the Mahwa flower is now largely exported to France for the manufacture of liqueurs. The tree, in groups, or singly, is common all over Central India in the lower lands, and, more sparsely, in the Gangetic provinces. “It abounds in Guzerat When the flowers are falling the Hill men camp under the trees to collect them. And it is a common practice to sit perched on one of the trees in order to shoot the large deer which come to feed on the fallen mhowa. The timber is strong and durable.” (M.-Gen. R. H. Keatinge).

c. 1665.—“Les bornes du Mogolistan et de Golconde sont plantées à environ un lieue et demie de Calvar. Ce sont des arbres qu’on appelle Mahoua; ils marquent la dernière terre du Mogol.”—Thevenot, v. 200.

1810.—“… the number of shops where Toddy, Mowah, Pariah Arrack, &c., are served out, absolutely incalculable.”—Williamson, V. M. ii. 153.

1814.—“The Mowah … attains the size of an English oak … and from the beauty of its foliage, makes a conspicuous appearance in the landscape.”—Forbes, Or. Mem. ii. 452; [2nd ed. ii. 261, reading Mawah].

1871.—“The flower … possesses considerable substance, and a sweet but sickly taste and smell. It is a favourite article of food with all the wild tribes, and the lower classes of Hindus; but its main use is in the distillation of ardent spirits, most of what is consumed being Mhowa. The spirit, when well made, and mellowed by age, is by no means of despicable quality, resembling in some degree Irish whisky. The luscious flowers are no less a favourite food of the brute creation than of man. …”Forsyth, Highlands of C. India, 75.