Chapter SERAI to SERANG of S by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

flagon for water; a goglet (q.v.). This is Ar.—P. surahi. [This is the dorak or kulleh of Egypt, of which Lane (Mod. Egypt. ed. 1871, i. 186 seq.) gives an account with illustrations.]

c. 1666.—“… my Navab having vouchsafed me a very particular favour, which is, that he hath appointed to give me every day a new loaf of his house, and a Souray of the water of Ganges … Souray is that Tin-flagon full of water, which the Servant that marcheth on foot before the Gentleman on horseback, carrieth in his hand, wrapt up in a sleeve of red cloath.”—Bernier, E.T. 114; [ed. Constable, 356].

1808.—“We had some bread and butter, two surahees of water, and a bottle of brandy.”—Elphinstone, in Life, i. 183.

[1880.—“The best known is the gilt silver work of Cashmere, which is almost confined to the production of the water-vessels or sarais, copied from the clay goblets in use throughout the northern parts of the Panjab.”—Birdwood, Indust. Arts of India, 149.]

SERANG, s. A native boatswain, or chief of a lascar crew; the skipper of a small native vessel. The word is Pers. sarhang, ‘a commander or overseer.’ In modern Persia it seems to be used for a colonel (see Wills, 80).

1599.—“… there set sail two Portuguese vessels which were come to Amacao (Macao) from the City of Goa, as occurs every year. They are commanded by Captains, with Pilots, quartermasters, clerks, and other officers, who are Portuguese; but manned by sailors who are Arabs, Turks, Indians, and Bengalis, who serve for so much a month, and provide themselves under the direction and command of a chief of their own whom they call the Saranghi, who also belongs to one of these nations, whom they understand, and recognise and obey, carrying out the orders that the Portuguese Captain, Master, or Pilot may give to the said Saranghi.”—Carletti, Viaggi, ii. 206.

1690.—“Indus quem de hoc Ludo consului fuit scriba satis peritus ab officio in nave suâ dictus le saràng, Anglicè Boatswain seú Boson.”—Hyde, De Ludis Orientt. in Syntagma, ii. 264.

[1822.—“… the ghaut syrangs (a class of men equal to the kidnappers of Holland and the crimps of England). …” —Wallace, Fifteen Years in India, 256.]