Chapter TAILOR-BIRD to TALAPOIN of T by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

of which in Pegu they call Talapois.”—Couto, V. vi. 1.

1659.—“Whilst we looked on these temples, wherin these horrid idols sat, there came the Aracan Talpooys, or Priests, and fell down before the idols.”—Walter Schulze, Reisen, 77.

1689.—“S’il vous arrive de fermer la bouche aux Talapoins et de mettre en évidence leurs erreurs, ne vous attendez qu’à les avoir pour ennemis implacables.”—Lett. Edif. xxv. 64.

1690.—“Their Religious they call Telapoi, who are not unlike mendicant Fryers, living upon the Alms of the People, and so highly venerated by them that they would be glad to drink the Water wherein they wash their Hands.”—Ovington, 592.

1696.—“…à permettre l’entrée de son royaume aux Talapoins.”—La Bruyère, Caractères, ed. Jouast, 1881, ii. 305.

1725.—“This great train is usually closed by the Priests or Talapois and Musicians.”—Valentijn, v. 142.

1727.—“The other Sects are taught by the Talapoins, who…preach up Morality to be the best Guide to human Life, and affirm that a good Life in this World can only recommend us in the next to have our Souls transmigrated into the Body of some innocent Beast.”—A. Hamilton, i. 151; [ed. 1744, i. 152].

„ “The great God, whose Adoration is left to their Tallapoies or Priests.”—Ibid. ii.; [ed. 1744, ii. 54].

1759.—“When asked if they believed the existence of any SUPERIOR BEING, they (the Carianners (Carens)) replied that the Bûraghmahs and Pegu Tallopins told them so.”—Letter in Dalrymple, Or. Rep. i. 100.

1766.—“André Des Couches. Combien avez-vous de soldats? Croutef. Quatrevingt-mille, fort médiocrement payés. A. des C. Et de talapoins? Cr. Cent vingt mille, tous faineans et très riches. Il est vrai que dans la dernière guerre nous avons été bien battus; mais, en récompense, nos talapoins ont fait très grande chère,” &c.—Voltaire, Dial. xxii. André Des Couches à Siam.

c. 1818.—“A certain priest or Talapoin conceived an inordinate affection for a garment of an elegant shape, which he possessed, and which he diligently preserved to prevent its wearing out. He died without correcting his irregular affection, and immediately becoming a louse, took up his abode in his favourite garment.”—Sangermano, p. 20.

1880.—“The Phongyies (Poongee), or Buddhist Monks, sometimes called Talapoins, a name given to them, and introduced into Europe by the Portuguese, from their carrying a fan formed of tála-pat, or palm-leaves.”—Saty. Rev., Feb. 21, p. 266, quoting Bp. Bigandet,