Chapter BOMBAY BOX-WORK to BONITO of B by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

BOMBAY BOX-WORK to BONITO

BOMBAY BOX-WORK. This well-known manufacture, consisting in the decoration of boxes, desks, &c., with veneers of geometrical mosaic, somewhat after the fashion of Tunbridge ware, is said to have been introduced from Shiraz to Surat more than a century ago, and some 30 years later from Surat to Bombay. The veneers are formed by cementing together fine triangular prisms of ebony, ivory, green-stained ivory, stag’s horn, and tin, so that the sections when sawn across form the required pattern, and such thin sections are then attached to the panels of the box with strong glue.

BOMBAY DUCK.—See BUMMELO.

BOMBAY MARINE. This was the title borne for many years by the meritorious but somewhat depressed service which in 1830 acquired the style of the “Indian Navy,” and on 30th April, 1863, ceased to exist. The detachments of this force which took part in the China War (1841-42) were known to their brethren of the Royal Navy, under the temptation of alliteration, as the “Bombay Buccaneers.” In their earliest employment against the pirates of Western India and the Persian Gulf, they had been known as “the Grab Service.” But, no matter for these names, the history of this Navy is full of brilliant actions and services. We will quote two noble examples of public virtue:

(1) In July 1811, a squadron under Commodore John Hayes took two large junks issuing from Batavia, then under blockade. These were lawful prize, laden with Dutch property, valued at £600,000. But Hayes knew that such a capture would create great difficulties and embarrassments in the English trade at Canton, and he directed the release of this splendid prize.

(2) 30th June 1815, Lieut. Boyce in the brig ‘Nautilus’ (180 tons, carrying ten 18-pr. carronades, and four 9-prs.) encountered the U.S. sloop-of-war ‘Peacock’ (539 tons, carrying twenty 32-pr. carronades, and two long 18-prs.). After he had informed the American of the ratification of peace, Boyce was peremptorily ordered to haul down his colours, which he answered by a flat refusal. The ‘Peacock’ opened fire, and a short but brisk action followed, in which Boyce and his first lieutenant were shot down. The gallant Boyce had a special pension from the Company (£435 in all) and lived to his 93rd year to enjoy it.

We take the facts from the History of this Navy by one of its officers, Lieut. C. R. Low (i. 294), but he erroneously states the pension to have been granted by the U.S. Govt.

1780.—“The Hon. Company’s schooner, Carinjar, with Lieut. Murry Commander, of the Bombay Marines, is going to Archin (sic, see ACHEEN) to meet the Ceres and the other Europe ships from Madrass, to put on board of them the St. Helena stores.” —Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, April 8th.

BONITO, s. A fish (Thynnus pelamys, Day) of the same family (Scombridae) as mackerel and tunny, very common in the Indian seas. The name is Port., and apparently is the adj. bonito, ‘fine.’

c. 1610.—“On y pesche vne quantité admirable de gros poissons, de sept ou huit sortes, qui sont néantmoins quasi de mesme race et espece … commes bonites, albachores, daurades, et autres.”—Pyrard, i. 137.

1615.—“Bonitoes and albicores are in colour, shape, and taste much like to Mackerils, but grow to be very large.”— Terry, in Purchas, ii. 1464.

c. 1620.—

“How many sail of well-mann’d ships
As the Bonito does the Flying-fish
Have we pursued.…”

Beaum. & Flet., The Double Marriage, ii. 1.

c. 1760.—“The fish undoubtedly takes its name from relishing so well to the taste of the Portuguese … that they call it Bonito, which answers in our tongue to delicious.”—Grose, i. 5.

1764.—
“While on the yard-arm the harpooner sits,
Strikes the boneta, or the shark ensnares.”
—Grainger, B. ii.

1773.—“The Captain informed us he had named his ship the Bonnetta, out of gratitude to Providence; for once … the ship in which he then sailed was becalmed for five weeks, and during all that time, numbers of the fish Bonnetta swam close to her, and were caught for food; he resolved therefore that the ship he should next get should be called the Bonnetta.”—Boswell, Journal of a Tour, &c., under Oct. 16, 1773.