INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. xxm
The words bearer, mate, cotwal, partake of this kind of dual or doubtful ancestry, as may be seen by reference to them in the Glossary. Before concluding, a word should be said as to the orthography used in the Glossary.
My intention has been to give the headings of the articles under the most usual of the popular, or, if you will, vulgar quasi-English spellings, whilst the Oriental words, from which the headings are derived or corrupted, are set forth under precise transliteration, the system of which is given in a following “Nota Bene.” When using the words and names in the course of discursive elucidation, I fear I have not been consistent in sticking either always to the popular or always to the scientific spelling, and I can the better understand why a German critic of a book of mine, once upon a time, remarked upon the etwas schwankende yulische Orthographie. Indeed it is difficult, it never will for me be possible, in a book for popular use, to adhere to one system in this matter without the assumption of an ill-fitting and repulsive pedantry. Even in regard to Indian proper names, in which I once advocated adhesion, with a small number of exceptions, to scientific precision in transliteration, I feel much more inclined than formerly to sympathise with my friends Sir William Muir and General Maclagan, who have always favoured a large and liberal recognition of popular spelling in such names. And when I see other good and able friends following the scientific Will-o’-the-Wisp into such bogs as the use in English composition of sipáhí and jangal, and verandah — nay, I have not only heard of bagí, but have recently seen it— instead of the good English words ‘sepoy,’ and ‘jungle,’ ‘veranda,’ and ‘ buggy,’ my dread of pedantic usage becomes the greater.[1]
For the spelling of Mahratta, Mahratti, 1 suppose I must apologize (though something is to be said for it), Marathi having established itself as orthodox.
NOTE A.— LIST OF GLOSSARIES. 1. Appended to the Roteiro de Vasco da Gama (see Book-list, p. xliii.) is a Vocabulary of 138 Portuguese words with their corresponding word in the Lingua de Calicut, i.e. in Malayalam. 2. Appended to the Voyages, &c., du Sieur de la BouUaye-le-Gouz (Book-list, p. xxxii.), is an Explication de plusieurs mots dont Vintelligence est nkessaire ait Lecteur (pp. 27). 3. Fryer's New Account (Book-list, p. xxxiv.) has an Index Explanatory^ in- cluding Proper Names, Na7nes of Things, and Names of Persons (12 pages). 4. "Indian Vocabulary, to which is prefixed the Forms of Impeachment." 12mo. Stockdale, 1788 (pp. 136). 5. "An Indian Glossary, consisting of some Thousand Words and Forms com- monly used in the East Indies .... ex- tremely serviceable in assisting Strangers to acquire with Ease and Quickness the Language of that Country." By T. T. Robarts, Lieut., &c., of the 3rd Eegt. Native Infantry, E.I. Printed for Mur- ray & Highley, Fleet Street, 1800. 12mo. (not paged). 6. "A Dictionary of Mohammedan Law, Bengal Revenue Terms, Shanscrit, Hindoo, and other words used in the East Indies, with full explanations, the leading word used in each article being printed in a new Nustaluk Type," &c. By S. Rousseau. London, 1802. 12mo. (pp. lxiv.-287). Also 2nd ed. 1805.
- ↑ ‘Buggy’ of course is not an Oriental word at all, except as adopted from us by Orientals. I call sepoy, jungle, and veranda, good English words; and so I regard them, just as good as alligator, or hurricane, or canoe, or Jerusalem artichoke, or cheroot. What would my friends think of spelling these in English books as alagarto, and huracan and canoa, and girasole, and shuruffu?
