India : its natives and missions

Contents

PEEPACE GLOSSABY

CHAPTEE I.

EACE AND LANGUAGE.

Chapter II. Eeligion— -abobiginal And Beahmanical

Eeligion the chief bond among men — Aboriginal and Dravidian views — Demonolatry — Resemblance to Obi men and Indian sorcerers — Objects pf invocation — Absence of caste — Shanars of Tinnevelly — Devil worship — Description of a devil dance — And of a sacrifice— Khond rites — Meriah sacrifice — Todas — Singular ceremony — Brahmanical or Hindu religion — Shastras incongruous — Three classes — Vedas — Four editions — Compilation of different parts inconsistent and contradictory — Translation of Rig Veda— Polytheistic views — Contradiction to modern creed — Rites, simple and domestic — Animal sacrifices— Human victim — Aswamedha — Rishis — Hymns to Agni — Indra, etc. — Primitive Aryans — Brahmana — Philosophical doctrine — Supreme Deity — Institutes of 'Mann — Brahmanical system — Gayatri —Om— Cosmogony— Five sacraments— Exclusion of Sudras— Metem-

VI CONTENTS.

PAGE

psychosis — Doctrine of Egypt — Pythagoras — Jews — Brahmans — Paradises — Purgatory — Transmigration — Absorption — Descriptions of heaven and hell — Penance— Ceremonial merit — Doctrine of faith — Puranas — Incarnate gods — Heroes — Adoption of indigenous rites — Siva — Vishnu — Kivals to Brahma— Epic poems — Specimen — Parallel with corruptions of Christianity 34

Chapter III. Idolatey

Brahmanical monotheism a philosophy, not a religion— The Supreme inaccessible to the creatures — Elementary worship of the Vedas — The sun — Demonolatry — Hindu triad — Antagonistic deities — Their consorts — Brahma — God of the philosophers — Vishnu — Avatars — Rama — Krishna — Names of Vishnu — Supposed resemblances to Christianity — Siva, only paralleled in Satan — Description — Eelic of demonolatry — Wives of the gods — Sereswati, Lakshmi, Parvati, or Bhavani, Kali, etc. — Minor deities — Eleven principal — Ganesa — Surya— Others without temples — Stars, planets, rivers — Village gods —General effect— Idols— Temples— Pyramidal towers— Endowments

— Connexion with government — Mode of worship — Jtfo common prayer nor preaching — Festivals — Cars — Pcocession — Hooli — Dusserah — Reflections on indecent rites — Brahmans — Gurus — Gosayens, Yogees, Byragees — Hindu sects— Marks on the forehead — The cow — Pilgrimage — Moral results — Incoherent and degrading particulars— Practical wickedness— Pantheism — Pope's lines — Illusion

— Buddhism — Rejects Vedas and Puranas — Respect for animal life — No distinctions of caste — Relics — Priests — Monasteries — Buddhas — Jains — Comparison with classical philosophy — Need of the gospel. . 77

Chapter IV. Caste

Caste, suttee, and female infanticide, parts of one system— Name — Four classes — Immutable distinction — Acquired by birth — Nature of rules — Respect to another world — Unknown to aboriginal tribes—- And to Buddhism— Authority of the Vedas — Five classes — Purusha Sukta — Allegorical meaning — Institutes of Manu — Brahmana — Inconsistencies—Puranas — Mahabharat — No uniform doctrine — Real origin

— Changes — Extinction of caste — Brahmans the only pure caste

— Subdivisions — Departure from original rules — Secular employments —Priesthood despised— Illegitimate castes— Trades— Mark of race and nation — Eating flesh — Prusad — Exceptions — Consequences of admitting the religious claim — Loss of caste — Act of 1850 — Capricious distinctions — Early Christian missionaries— Roman Catholic— German — Swartz — Modern Protestants— Caste excluded from mission schools —Government encouragement— Bengal sepoys — Secular not religious — Analogous to slavery — Operates as a trades' union — Suggestions — Suppression of suttee and infanticide — Their connexion with caste — Concluding reflections ... 112

CONTENTS. VU

CHAPTEE V.

MOHAMMEDANISM.

PAGB

Fraction of the population — Various origin — Half Hindu — United only in religion — Islam — Salvation, or resignation — Moslem — Pious phraseology— Foundations of Islam— Koran — Its compilation — Not the work of Mohammed — Magian contributions — Sergius — Jews — Respect for Holy Scripture — Kebla — Subsequent change — Mecca — Ignorance of Old and New Testament — Apocryphal writings — Talmud — Mistake as to the Holy Trinity — Paraclete — Mohammed the last of the prophets — Doctrine of abrogation — Pretended eternity of the Koran — The night Alkader — Style — Tokens of veneration — Gibbon's admission — Comparison with Job — Indebted to older religions — Mohammed's friends in search of a religion — His disordered imagination— Former revelations debased and corrupted — Inferiority of views of God — His names — Eosary — Predestination — Angels — Jins — Eesurrection — Monkir and Nakir — Day of Judgment — Hell — Paradise — Omission of women — Tradition — Sonnites and Shiyahs — Different collections — Corruptions in India — Four practical duties — Prayer — . Accompanied by ablutions — Five times daily— Eepetitions — Congregational prayer or Khotbeh — Sermon — Eecited by sovereigns — Definition of a king — Inconsiderate indulgence to king of Delhi — Alms — Fasting — Eamadhan — Mohurrum — Origin — Imitation of Hindu feast — Tazzias — Lamentations— Peculiarities in India — Procession— Saturnalia — Faquirs — Characters represented — Taboots — Plain of Kurbulla — The Barawagat— Prophet's footstep — Booraq — Eemarks on processions — Pilgrimage to Mecca — Eelic of heathenism — Arab tradition of the Caaba — Ishmael — Mohammed's inconsistency — • Sacrifice unmeaning — Heathen ceremonies — Omar's remonstrance — Obligatory on true believers— Description — Sacred spots — Difficulties of the pilgrimage — Extravagant enthusiasm — Animal sacrifices — Buckra-eed — Medina — Shiyahs — Pilgrimage in India — Attachment to the prophet — Summary— No redemption, atonement, nor regeneration— No grace — Morality inferior to other systems — Sensuality — Position of the female sex — Mussulman polygamy worse than Hindu — Obstacles to conversion — Self-righteousness .... 137

CHAPTEE VI.

POLITICAL GOVERNMENT.

Influence of government — Former despotisms — Constant war — Ignorance of representative institutions — Arbitrary power — Injury to native character — No political virtues or qualifications — British government— Public employ— Native army— Pay— Native officers- Advantages of the service— Military character— Mutiny— Disloyalty of caste— Native aristocracy— Tenure of land— Villages— Cultivation of lands — Tanks — Jungle — Municipal system — Crown rights — Property of the soil — Permanent assessment — Eyotwar — Village

Vlll CONTENTS.

PAGE

system— Eegulations— General indigence— Police— Madras collections —Elastic system in the North- Western provinces— Questions of title- Popular preferences — Administration of justice — Native system— Dewannee — Nizamut — Supreme court of judicature — Company's courts — Litigiousness of natives — Judicial integrity — Perjury — Punchayets

— Indifference to the law — Connexion with religion — Patronage of idolatry— Home reprobation— Despatch of Mr. C. Grant— Cessation of the system — Difficulties of government — Spirit of the public servants 171

CHAPTEK VII.

PEIVATE LIFE.

Strength of family ties — Early marriages — Widowhood — Astrology — Hindu marriage rites— Procession — Expenditure — Mussulman rites- Legal requisites — Polygamy, Hindu and Mohammedan — Kuleen Brahmans — Tippoo Sultan — General practice — Divorce — Condition of female sex — Seclusion introduced by Moslems — Children — Preference of sons — Inheritance — Birth ceremonies — Names — Hindu — Mussulman — Eeligious initiations — Hindu funeral rites — Banks of Ganges — Firing the pile — Shradh — Mussulman obsequies — Death and burial — Funeral procession — Zeearut in imitation of the Shradh • — Eepetition of the Koran — Sorcery — Exorcism — Possession — Medical science — Astronomy — Physiognomy — Clothing and ornaments — Houses — Furniture — Daily habits — Shops — Money lenders — Streets

— Conveyances — Mode of travelling — Palanquins — Food — Tobacco

— Pawn — Bang — Strong liquors — Amusements 211

CHAPTEE VIII.

STATE OF KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION.

Profession of the native religions — Popular ignorance— Old-world knowledge— Division of classes — Injury to science, philosophy, and religion — Decay of literature— Superiority of modern civilization— Impotence of Brahmanism — Former attainments — Caste — Decline of learning — General ignorance — Female sex — Want of history and geography — Mathematics — Fine arts — Agriculture — Implements — Productions — State of rural population — Manufactures — Want of capital — Tariff — Education — Early measures — Oriental literature — Vernacular teaching—Eaglish — Missionary education — Caste — Distinctions — Popular-preference — Enlarged scheme of native education — Universities — Colleges — Anglo-vernacular schools — Vernacular — Different plans — Normal schools— Female education — Grants in aid — Mission schools — Opposition of " old Indians" — Reply — Quality of the education — Defects — Caste — Inconsistency of its recognition — Brahman admissions— Exclusion of the Bible — Excessive caution — All education subversive of Idolatry — Native testimony — Eeforrn of the Shastras — New worship — Infidelity — Hindu bigotry — Dharma Sobha — Necessary agitation of thought— ONWAED— Duty of government— Need of the Bible . . 210

CONTENTS. ix

CHAPTER IX.

CHEISTIANITY— EAELY EFFOBTS.

PAGE

Roview of leading agencies in India — Indirect influence of Christianity —Foreseen by Wilberforce — Direct evangelization twice failed — Syrian churches— Lack of missionary zeal — Disputes with Portuguese —Numbers and condition— Tenets— Eelations with English church— Eupture — Present state — Morals — Church of Rome — Portuguese missions — Inquisition — Xavier — Numerous conversions — Eetention of caste — Feast, etc. — Assimilation to heathen— Spiritual condition — Eecent efforts from Eome — Schism of Portuguese clergy — Numbers — British government — "Traditional policy" — Early favourable indications— Services — Churches — Chaplains — Missionaries — Ecclesiastical establishments — First Protestant Mission at Tranquebar — Translation of Scriptures — Assistance in England — British missions at Madras and Cuddalore — Increase and effect of the missions — Swartz's plans — Native agents — Schools — Conversations — Funds — Simple living — Eesults — Native ministry — Letter of a convert — Bengal — Kiernander — Mission Church, Calcutta — Liberal views . . . 281

CHAPTER X.

CHRISTIANITY— EXISTING MISSIONS.

New era — Change of feeling in India and at home — Government connexion with idolatry — Declarations against missionaries — Home feelings— Baptist ministers— Carey— Difficulties at Calcutta— Ward and Marshman — Serampore mission — Translations — Preaching — Eepudiation of caste — London Missionary Society — Eesistance in Calcutta— American missionaries ordered to return — Fly to Bombay — Captured — Permitted to remain — Movement in Parliament — Act of emancipation — Ecclesiastical 'establishments — Society for the Propagation of the Gospel — Tinnevelly missions — Happy contrast — Contradistinguished from Eome — Madras — Bishop's College, Calcutta — Church Missionary Society — Kishnagur — Company's chaplains — General Baptist Society — Orissa — Victims rescued from Khonds — Preaching mission — Wesleyan Missionary Society — Madras and Mysore — Scottish Missionary Society — Free Church — Educational character — American and German missions— General results — Masses not reached — Idolatry powerful — Arduous struggle — Believer's hope — Instruments — Diversity of aspect — Practical union — Questions submitted— Political and ecclesiastical peculiarities— Church of India — Foundation-stone— Acts of the Apostles— Faith required— Witness of false creeds— CHEIST the personal Saviour 313

INDEX 337

PEEFACE.

THE contents of the following pages were originally designed to form part of a publication which has already appeared under the title of " INDIA : AN His- TOEICAL SKETCH." In determining to issue them as independent works, some trifling repetition has been rendered unavoidable. Each is now complete in itself : while taken together, . they form as full an account of the ancient and modern state of India as the author was able to condense into the prescribed limits.

In a work of • this description, it has not been thought advisable to encumber the pages with too many references. Nothing has been stated as a fact which the author has not verified, either from personal experience or from authorities universally admitted. The works of which most frequent use has been made, are, Elphinstone's History of India ; Professor H. H. Wilson's Translation of the Big- Veda Sanhita; Mr. Muir's Sanscrit Texts ; Mr. Caldwell's Comparative Grammar of Dravidian Languages ; Dr. Macbride's Mohammedan Eeligion Explained ; The Qanoon-e-Islam, or Customs of Mussulmans in India, by Jaifur Shurreef ; Dr. Allen's India, Ancient and Modern, (published at Boston) ; Thornton's G-azetteer ; and the Reports of the Eeligious Societies.

"For the opinions and suggestions which will be

PKEFACE. XI

found interspersed, the author alone is responsible. He is not content simply to re-echo the conclusions of other minds ; but, in submitting each question to the review of a judgment which can lay no claim to the submission of others, he has endeavoured briefly to assign the reasons which have convinced himself.

If the reader shall derive from his labours some more definite conceptions, than are generally entertained, of the extent and nature of the dominion which a gracious Providence has intrusted to the British Crown in India, may the result be to augment the efforts for the subjugation of its vast and varied population to the sceptre of CHEIST. No political or financial reforms can be compared in urgency with this indispensable obligation ; nor will any be successful, save in proportion as the higher object is faithfully kept in view.

It is not to the political government, but to the heart of the British Christian, that India sends her cry for the gospel. The author is anxious, indeed, to see the great questions of caste, and the position of the Bible in native education — happily all that now remain of the long controversy with Indian statesmen — entertained in a broader and loftier spirit, than seems as yet to have been inherited by the Ministers of the day. But this will follow when the British public shall be in earnest for the conversion of the natives, and testify their zeal by multiplying a thousandfold the men and the means for the direct preaching of GOSPEL TEUTH among them.

GLOSSARY.

A, Arabic; C, Canarese; M, Mahratta; H, Hindustanee ; 8, Sanscrit; T, Tamil.

Ab (H), water; e.g., Doab, two waters; Trimab, three waters; Punjab, five waters.

Abad (H), dwelling or city, as Allahabad (God's house).

Adawlut (H), court of justice.

Aeen (H), laws or regulations by secular authority, in distinction to those of the Koran or sacred tradition.

Ameen (H), a native judge.

Ameer or Amir (H), noble or chief.

Amil and amildar (H), a native collector of revenue.

Aswamedha (S), Horse sacrifice, which,perfonned a hundred times, raises the sacrificer to the rank of Indra.

Aum (8), the mystic monosyllable secretly uttered before all prayer, supposed to typify the three Vedas, or Brahma, Siva, and Vishnu.

Avatara (8), descent or incarnation of a deity.

Ayeen (H), see Aeen'.

Bagh (H), a garden ; also a tiger.

Bahadur (H), title of rank.

Bajra (H) , a kind of millet (panicum spicatum) .

Begum (H), a princess (Mohammedan).

Bhang (H), an intoxicating preparation of hemp.

Brahm (S), the Divine essence.

Brahma (S), the personal Creator.

Brahmin or Brahman (H), the first of the four Hindu castes.

Bund (H), a dyke or bank.

Byragees (H), Ut.t one devoid of passion ; a religious mendicant, properly a worshipper of Vishnu.

Caliph or Khalifa (H), the successors of Mohammed.

Cazee or Kazee (A), Mohammedan judge, formerly presiding in towns, now chiefly employed as advisers to the British Court.

Chowt or chouth (H), a fourth part of the government collections, demanded by the Mahrattas as the price of forbearing to ravage the country.

drear (H), a district.

GLOSSAKY.

Xlll

Cooly (T), daily hire; a day labourer.

Cot and cottah (H), a fort.

Crore (II), ten millions, a hundred lakhs.

Deccan (H), the south.

Deen or din (H) , religion, especially

the Mohammedan, Desmook (M), a hereditary native

officer of police and revenue.

Dewan (II), a royal court (divan);

the head financial minister; the

head of a department.

Dewannee (H), the office of Dewan j

also used for the territory from

\vlik-h the revenue was receivable. Dharma (S), law divine.

Shastra, the Hindu code.

Dodb (H), " two waters;" a tract of

land between two rivers.

Droog (H), a hill fort.

Durbar (II), the royal court or

levee.

Dwarpar Tug (S), the third age of

the world.

Emir, corruption of ameer.

Enam (H), a grant of land rent free,

varying in right according to the

authority of the grantor.

Faquir (H), an indigent person, generally a Mohammedan religious mendicant.

Fateeha (H), lit., opening or commencement ; the first sura or chapter of the Koran ; prayers for the dead.

lirman (II), a mandate ; grant or patent.

l-lorikin, a small species of the bustard.

Ohdt (H), a mountain pass; also a lauding place or flight of steps on a river.

Gosayen or Gossain (S), lit.t one who restrains his passions; a religious mendicant, worshipping Mahadeo (or Siva), and wearing yellow or orange, his emblematical colour; the term is also applied to vagrants in general.

Guru (S), lit., heavy; a person of weight; a spiritual teacher or guide.

Haj (A), the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Saji or Hadgi (H), a Mohammedan

who has performed the pilgrimage

to Mecca.

Harem or Hdram (H), sacred; the

women's apartments.

Havildar(H.), lit., an office-bearer;

in the army equivalent to a aer-

geant.

Hegira (A), the flight of Mohammed

from Medina.

Islam (II and A), the Mohammedan

religion. ly/iin (H), a termination signifying •

country, as Afghanistan, the

country of the Aflghans.

Jagkire (H), a fief or grant of the revenue and government of a district for a time or for life ; sometimes renewable to the heir on payment of a fine.

Jemadar (H), a native subaltern officer; a leader; a lieutenant.

Jin (A), a genie or goblin.

Jowar (H), a kind of millet (kolcu» jorghumj.

Jummabundy (H), a revenue settlement.

Kali Yug (S), the fourth, or present

age of the world.

Kalpa (S), the day or period for

M Itich Urahm assigns the universe

to the sacred triad.

Kanoon (H),rule or regulation.

Klmn (11), a title borne by Moham-

XIV

GLOSSAE1.

medans of Persian or Patan

descent.

Koran, properly Ruran (A), sacred

book of the Mohammedans.

Kshettriya (S) ,the second or military

caste of the Hindus.

Lakh or lac (H), a hundred thousand.

Lingam (S), lit., a mark or sign, the symbol of Siva.

Miras (H), inheritance, whence

Mirasdar or Heerasdar, the holder of hereditary lauds or office in a village.

Meer or Mir (H), a chief, head of a department ; also a title borne by the Syeds.

Mofussil (H), " separate;" a district or jurisdiction; the provinces as opposed to the town, or Sudr.

Mohurrum (H), " sacred ;" the first month of the Mohammedan year, in which it is unlawful to make war; the feast held in this month.

Monsoon, the trade wind ; also the period for which it continues.

Moolla Mulla (H), a Mohammedan lawyer or learned man ; a judge, the deputy of a Kazee ; also applied to village schoolmasters.

Moonsiff" (R) ," equitable;" a judge; under British government a native civil judge of the lowest rank.

Moslem, Mussulman, Musliman, Muslim (H), a believer in Islam or Mohammedanism.

Moulvie or MufLi (H), a Mohammedan law officer, whose duty was to expound the law for the Kazee to execute.

Muntra (S), a prayer; a magical formula.

Musjid or Mosque, Mohammedan place of worship.

Musnud, a throne.

Nabob, English corruption of

nawab.

Naib (H), deputy or viceroy.

Namaz (H), prayer (Mohammedan).

Nautch or Ndch (H), dancing or

acting.

Nawab (H), plural of naib; used

honorifically as a title of rank

(Mohammedan) .

Nazim or Nizam (H), viceroy, or

chief administrator of criminal

laws (Mohammedan).

Nuggur (H ), a town.

or ravine.

Oordu or Urdu (H), a camp ; the Hindustani language, spoken by the Mohammedans generally throughout India.

Omrah (H), plural of ameer ; ameerul-omrahy chief of the nobles ; sometimes "commander-in-chief."

Padishah or Padshah (H), a king (Mohammedan); title of Mogul emperors.

Padre (Portuguese), common term in India for a Christian clergyman.

Pagoda, Portuguese word for heathen temple.

Patan, a term applied to the old Affghan Mohammedans, as distinguished from the Moguls.

Peishwah (M), chief minister of the Mahratta court.

Pergunnah (H), a district or province ; less than a zillah.

Perwanah (H), a permit or pass.

Polian or Pulayan, caste of slaves in Malabar.

Pollar (T), caste of shoemakers.

Poojah or Puja (S), worship.

Poly gar (C), a petty chieftain, formerly independent, now a landholder.

GLOSSARY.

XV

Prusad or Prasad (S), "favourer kindness;" term applied to food or sweetmeats offered to an idol, and then distributed among the worshippers. May be eaten by all castes.

Punchayet or Punchayat (H), a native court of arbitration, consisting properly of Jive members.

Pundit (S), a Brahman learned in the Vedas and other Shastras.

Pur, poor, or pore (S), a town or city, mostly used in composition, as Sirram-pur, vulgarly Serampore.

Purana (S), old; the especial designation of the eighteen books of Hindu traditions and legends, which are really more modern than the Vedas.

Jtaggi (H), a grain extensively cultivated in the south of India (the cynosurus corocanua).

"Raja and Rai (H), a king, a prince (Hindu) ; given as a title by Mohammedan governments.

Ranee (H), feminine of raja.

Rig (S), a stanza; whence

Rig- Veda, the first or principal Veda.

Rupee (H), a silver com, worth about two shillings, formerly bearing the impress of the emperor Shah Alum and other native authorities; but in 1835 the " Company's rupee" was issued and made current throughout British India, bearing the effigy of the British sovereign.

Ryot or Rayat (H), a cultivator, farmer, or peasant, whence

Ryotwar, settlement ; a land assessment levied direct from the cultivators.

Sastra or Shastra (S), scripture.

Saiya F» g (S), the first age of the world.

Sepoy or Sipahi (H), a soldier.

Shah (H), a king, a prince (Mohammedan) ; used as a title.

Shahzada (H), son of the king.

Shastra (S), Hindu scripture.

Shastree, a Brahman learned in the Shastras.

Sheikh (H), " an old man ; " elder; given to Mohammedan saints ; head of an Arab tribe ; also used to designate the descendants of Mohammed, of Abubeker, and of Omar.

Shias or Shiites (H), one of the great Mohammedan sects; "followers" of AH, the son-in-law of the prophet, and esteeming the three caliphs, Abubeker, Omar, and Osman as usurpers. To this sect belong the Persians generally, the royal family of Oude, and most of the lower orders of Mussulmans in India.

Shradh (S), a funeral ceremony, in which food and water are offered to the deceased ancestors.

Sirdar (H), a chief.

Sirdeshmooki (M), the claim of the desmook, ten per cent, on the revenue exacted in addition to the chout.

SirTcar (H), the state or government.

Soonnees (H), the orthodox Mussulman party, who maintain the lawful succession of the three caliphs before Ali, and pay great deference to the "traditions" of Islam.

The Arabs, Turks, Affghans, and most of the educated Mussulmans of India are of this class, and style themselves orthodox, the Shias being regarded as heretics.

Stan, see Istan.

SuboJi (H), a province or government; hence

Suladar, a governor or viceroy ; also a captain in the army.

Suddur (H), chief, supreme, as S2tdder adawlut, the Company's supreme court of justice.

XVI

GLOSSABY.

Sudra (S), the fourth, or servile caste of the Hindus ; now vaguely applied also to all the mixed castes.

Sultan (H), a sovereign prince (Mohammedan); also a title borne by the younger members of the royal family, especially Delhi.

Sunnud (H), a grant or diploma.

Swami or Sami (S), a master or lord ; title given to idols.

Syed or Said (H), a lord; designation of the descendants of Ali.

Taboot (H), a coffin or bier, carried

in the procession of the Mohur-

rum.

Tahsildar (H), a native collector of

revenue.

TalooJc (H), an estate usually

smaller than a zemindarry, but in

North- West provinces presents

various peculiarities.

Tank, a term applied in India to an

artificial lake or reservoir, large

or small.

Tazzia (H), model of the tomb of

Hussan and Hussein.

a robber or assassin.

Treta Yug (S), the second age of the

world.

Tulwar, a sword.

Vaishya (S), the third of the Hindu castes.

Vakeel, a proxy or advocate.

Veda (S), "the book," or the Hindu sacred scriptures; properly four, or some say three, but the term is extended to other works.

Vedanta (S), a system of pantheistic philosophy, founded on scattered texts of the V'edas.

Vizier (H), the principal minister in a Mohammedan sovereignty.

Vizierut (H), the office of vizier.

Yogi (S), a religious mendicant.

Zeearut (H), pilgrimage to a grave. Zemin or Zamin (H), the earth;

whence

Zemindar, a landholder ; and Zemindary, the district or estate of

a zemindar.

Zillah (H), a large district.

THE NATIVES OE INDIA.