Chapter BOXWALLAH to BOY of B by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

Boye, c’est a dire Bœuf pour porter quelque pesãt faix que ce soit.”—Pyrard de Laval, ii. 27; [Hak. Soc. ii. 44. On this Mr. Gray notes: “Pyrard’s fanciful interpretation ‘ox,’ Port. boi, may be due either to himself or to some Portuguese friend who would have his joke. It is repeated by Boullaye-de-Gouz (p. 211), who finds a parallel indignity in the use of the term mulets by the French gentry towards their chair- men.”]

1673.—“We might recite the Coolies … and Palenkeen Boys; by the very Heathens esteemed a degenerate Offspring of the Holencores (see HALALCORE).”—Fryer, 34.

1720.—“Bois. In Portuguese India are those who carry the Andores (see ANDOR), and in Salsete there is a village of them which pays its dues from the fish which they sell, buying it from the fishermen of the shores.”—Bluteau, Dict. s.v.

1755-60.—“… Palankin-boys.”—Ives, 50.

1778.—“Boys de palanquim, Kàhàr.”—Gramatica Indostana (Port.), Roma, 86.

1782.—“… un bambou arqué dans le milieu, qui tient au palanquin, and sur

les bouts duquel se mettent 5 ou 6 porteurs qu’on appelle Boués.”—Sonnerat, Voyage, i. 58.

1785.—“The boys with Colonel Lawrence’s palankeen having straggled a little out of the line of march, were picked up by the Morattas.”—Carraccioli, Life of Clice, i. 207.

1804.—“My palanquin boys will be laid on the road on Monday.”—Wellington, iii. 553.

1809.—“My boys were in high spirits, laughing and singing through the whole night.”—Ld. Valentia, i. 326.

1810.—“The palankeen-bearers are called Bhois, and are remarkable for strength and swiftness.”—Maria Graham, 128.