Chapter GUZZY to GYNEE of G by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

GUZZY to GYNEE

GUZZY, s. Pers. and Hind. gazi; perhaps from its having been woven of a gaz (see GUDGE) in breadth. A very poor kind of cotton cloth.

1701.—In a price list for Persia we find: “Gesjes Bengaals.”—Valentijn, v. 303.

1784.—“It is suggested that the following articles may be proper to compose the first adventure (to Tibet):…Guzzie, or coarse Cotton Cloths, and Otterskins.…”—In Seton-Karr, i. 4.

[1866.—“…common unbleached fabrics…used for packing goods, and as a covering for the dead…These fabrics in Bengal pass under the names of Garrha and Guzee.”—Forbes Watson, Textile Manufactures, 83.]

GWALIOR, n.p. Hind. Gwaliar. A very famous rock-fortress of Upper India, rising suddenly and picturesquely out of a plain (or shallow valley rather) to a height of 300 feet, 65 m. south of Agra, in lat. 26° 13.’ Gwalior may be traced back, in Gen. Cunningham’s opinion, to the 3rd century of our era. It was the seat of several ancient Hindu dynasties, and from the time of the early Mahommedan sovereigns of Delhi down to the reign of Aurangzib it was used as a state-prison. Early in the 18th century it fell into the possession of the Mahratta family of Sindhia, whose residence was established to the south of the fortress, in what was originally a camp, but has long been a city known by the original title of Lashkar (camp). The older city lies below the northern foot of the rock. Gwalior has been three times taken by British arms: (1) escaladed by a force under the command of Major Popham in 1780, a very daring feat;¹ (2) by a regular attack under Gen. White in 1805; (3) most gal lantly in June 1858, by a party of the 25th Bombay N. I. under Lieutenants Rose and Waller, in which the former officer fell. After the two first captures the fortress was restored to the Sindhia family. From 1858 it was retained in our hands, but in December 1885 it was formally restored to the Maharaja Sindhia.The name of the fortres according to Gen. Cunningham (Archaeol. Survey, ii. 335), is derived from a small Hindu shrine within it dedicated to the hermit Gwali or Gwali-pa, after whom the fortress received the name of Gwaliawar, contracted into Gwaliar.

c. 1020.—“From Kanauj, in travelling south-east, on the western side of the Ganges, you come to Jajáhotí, at a distance of 30 parasangs, of which the capital is Kajuráha. In that country are the two forts of Gwáliár and Kálinjar.…”—Al-Biruni, in Elliot, i. 57–8.

1196.—The royal army marched “towards Galewar, and invested that fort, which is the pearl of the necklace of the castles of Hind, the summit of which the nimble-footed wind from below cannot reach, and on the bastions of which the clouds have never cast their shade.…”—Hasan Nizami, in Elliot, ii 227.

c. 1340.—“The castle of Gälyur, of which we have been speaking, is on the top of a high hill, and appears, so to speak, as if it were itself cut out of the rock. There is no other hill adjoining; it contains reservoirs of water, and some 20 wells walled round are attached to it: on the walls are mounted mangonels and catapults. The fortress is ascended by a wide road, traversed by elephants and horses. Near the castle-gate is the figure of an elephant carved in stone, and surmounted by a figure of the driver. Seeing it from a distance one has no doubt about its being a real elephant. At the foot of the fortress is a fine city, entirely built of white stone, mosques and houses alike; there is no timber to be seen in it, except that of the gates.”—Ibn Batuta, ii. 193.

1526.—“I entered Guâliâr by the Hâtipûl gate.…They call an elephant hâti, and a gate pûl. On the outside of this gate is the figure of an elephant, having two elephant drivers on it.…”—Baber, p. 383.

[c. 1590.—“Gualiar is a famous fort, in which are many stately buildings, and there is a stone elephant over the gate. The air and water of this place are both esteemed good. It has always been celebrated for fine singers and beautiful women.…”—Ayeen, Gladwin, ed. 1800, ii. 38; ed. Jarrett, ii. 181.]

1610.—“The 31 to Gwalere, 6 c., a pleasant Citie with a Castle.…On the West side of the Castle, which is a steep craggy cliffe of 6 c. compasse at least (divers say eleven).…From hence to the top, leads a narrow stone cawsey, walled on both sides; in the way are three gates to be passed, all exceeding strong, with Courts of guard to each. At the top of all, at the entrance of the last gate, standeth a mightie Elephant of stone very curiously wrought.…”—Finch, in Purchas, i. 426–7.

1616.—“23. Gwalier, the chief City so called, where the Mogol hath a very rich Treasury of Gold and Silver kept in this City, within an exceeding strong Castle, wherein the King’s Prisoners are likewise kept. The Castle is continually guarded by a very strong Company of Armed Souldiers.”—Terry, ed. 1665, p. 356.

[ „ “Kualiar,” in Sir T. Roe’s List, Hak. Soc. ii. 539.]

c. 1665.—“For to shut them up in Goualeor, which is a Fortress where the Princes are ordinarily kept close, and which is held impregnable, it being situated upon an inaccessible Rock, and having within itself good water, and provision enough for a Garison; that was not an easie thing.”—Bernier E.T. 5; [ed. Constable,