Chapter ELEPHANT-CREEPER to EYSHAM of E by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

8 miles to the south of Angrézábád (English Bázár), the civil station of the district of Máldah. …”—Ravenshaw’s Gaur, p. 1.

[ESTIMAUZE, s. A corruption of the Ar.—P. iltimas, ‘a prayer, petition, humble representation.’

[1687.—“The Arzdest (Urz) with the Estimauze concerning your twelve articles which you sent to me arrived.”—In Yule, Hedges’ Diary, Hak. Soc. ii. lxx.]

EURASIAN, a. A modern name for persons of mixt European and Indian blood, devised as being more euphemistic than Half-caste and more precise than East-Indian. [“No name has yet been found or coined which correctly represents this section. Eurasian certainly does not. When the European and Anglo-Indian Defence Association was established 17 years ago, the term Anglo-Indian, after much consideration, was adopted as best designating this community.”— (Procs. Imperial Anglo-Indian Ass., in Pioneer Mail, April 13, 1900.)] [1844.—“The Eurasian Belle,” in a few Local Sketches by J. M., Calcutta.—6th ser. Notes and Queries, xii. 177.

[1866.—See quotation under KHUDD.]

1880.—“The shovel-hats are surprised that the Eurasian does not become a missionary or a schoolmaster, or a policeman, or something of that sort. The native papers say, ‘Deport him’; the white prints say, ‘Make him a soldier’; and the Eurasian himself says, ‘Make me a Commissioner, give me a pension.’”—Ali Baba, 123.

EUROPE, adj. Commonly used in India for “European,” in contradistinction to country (q.v.) as qualifying goods, viz. those imported from Europe. The phrase is probably obsolescent, but still in common use. “Europe shop” is a shop where European goods of sorts are sold in an upcountry station. The first quotation applies the word to a man. [A “Europe morning” is lying late in bed, as opposed to the Anglo-Indian’s habit of early rising.]

1673.—“The Enemies, by the help of an Europe Engineer, had sprung a Mine to blow up the Castle.”—Fryer, 87.

[1682-3.—“Ordered that a sloop be sent to Conimero with Europe goods. …”— Pringle, Diary, Ft. St. Geo., 1st ser. ii. 14.]

1711.—“On the arrival of a Europe ship, the Sea-Gate is always throng’d with People.” —Lockyer, 27.

1781.—“Guthrie and Wordie take this method of acquainting the Public that they intend quitting the Europe Shop Business.” —India Gazette, May 26.

1782.—“To be Sold, a magnificent Europe Chariot, finished in a most elegant manner, and peculiarly adapted to this Country.”— Ibid. May 11.

c. 1817.—“Now the Europe shop into which Mrs. Browne and Mary went was a very large one, and full of all sorts of things. One side was set out with Europe caps and bonnets, ribbons, feathers, sashes, and what not.”—Mrs. Sherwood’s Stories, ed. 1873, 23.

1866.—“Mrs. Smart. Ah, Mr. Cholmondeley, I was called the Europe Angel.”— The Dawk Bungalow, 219.

[1888.—“I took a ‘European morning’ after having had three days of going out before breakfast. …”—Lady Dufferin, Vice-regal Life, 371.]

EYSHAM, EHSHÂM, s. Ar. ahsham, pl. of hashm, ‘a train or retinue.’ One of the military technicalities affected by Tippoo; and according to Kirkpatrick (Tippoo’s Letters, App. p. cii.) applied to garrison troops. Miles explains it as “Irregular infantry with swords and matchlocks.” (See his tr. of H. of Hydur Naik, p. 398, and tr. of H. of Tipú Sultan, p. 61). [The term was used by the latter Moghuls (see Mr. Irvine below).

[1896.—“In the case of the Ahsham, or troops belonging to the infantry and artillery, we have a little more definite information under this head.”—W. Irvine, Army of the Indian Moghuls, in J.R.A.S., July 1896, p. 528.]