Chapter HOOGLY RIVER to HOOLUCK of H by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

HOOGLY RIVER to HOOLUCK

HOOGLY RIVER, n.p. See preceding. The stream to which we give this name is formed by the combination of the delta branches of the Ganges, viz., the Baugheruttee, Jalinghee, and Matabanga (Bhagi rathi, Jalangi, and Matabhanga), known as the Nuddeea (Nadiya) Rivers.

HOOKA, s. Hind. from Arab. hukkah, properly ‘a round casket.’ The Indian pipe for smoking through water, the elaborated hubble-bubble (q.v.). That which is smoked in the hooka is a curious compound of tobacco, spice, molasses, fruit, &c. [See Baden-Powell, Panjab Products, i. 290.] In 1840 the hooka was still very common at Calcutta dinner-tables, as well as regimental mess-tables, and its bubble- bubble-bubble was heard from various quarters before the cloth was removed —as was customary in those days. Going back further some twelve or fifteen years it was not very uncommon to see the use of the hooka kept up by old Indians after their return to Europe; one such at least, in the recollection of the elder of the present writers in his childhood, being a lady who continued its use in Scotland for several years. When the second of the present writers landed first at Madras, in 1860, there were perhaps half-a-dozen Europeans at the Presidency who still used the hooka; there is not one now (c. 1878). A few gentlemen at Hyderabad are said still to keep it up. [Mrs. Mackenzie writing in 1850 says: “There was a dinner party in the evening (at Agra), mostly civilians, as I quickly discovered by their huqas. I have never seen the huqa smoked save at Delhi and Agra, except by a very old general officer at Calcutta.” (Life in the Mission, ii. 196). In 1837 Miss Eden says: “the aides-de-camp and doctor get their newspapers and hookahs in a cluster on their side of the street.” (Up the Country, i. 70). The rules for the Calcutta Subscription Dances in 1792 provide: “That hookers be not admitted to the ball room during any part of the night. But hookers might be admitted to the supper rooms, to the card rooms, to the boxes in the theatre, and to each side of the assembly room, between the large pillars and the walls.”—Carey, Good Old Days, i. 98.] “In former days it was a dire offence to step over another person’s hooka- carpet and hooka-snake. Men who did so intentionally were called out.” (M.-Gen. Keatinge).

1768.—“This last Season I have been without Company (except that of my Pipe or Hooker), and when employed in the innocent diversion of smoaking it, have often thought of you, and Old England.”—MS. Letter of James Rennell, July 1.

1782.—“When he observes that the gentlemen introduce their hookas and smoak in the company of ladies, why did he not add that the mixture of sweet-scented Persian tobacco, sweet herbs, coarse sugar, spice, etc., which they inhale … comes through clean water, and is so very pleasant, that many ladies take the tube, and draw a little of the smoak into their mouths.”— Price’s Tracts, vol. i. p. 78.

1783.—“For my part, in thirty years’ residence, I never could find out one single luxury of the East, so much talked of here, except sitting in an arm-chair, smoaking a hooka, drinking cool water (when I could get it), and wearing clean linen.”—(Jos. Price), Some Observations on a late Publication, &c., 79.

1789.—“When the cloth is removed, all the servants except the hookerbedar retire, and make way for the sea breeze to circulate, which is very refreshing to the Company, whilst they drink their wine, and smoke the hooker, a machine not easily described. …”—Munro’s Narrative, 53.

1828.—“Every one was hushed, but the noise of that wind … and the occasional bubbling of my own hookah, which had just been furnished with another chillum.”— The Kuzzilbash, i. 2.

c. 1849.—See Sir C. Napier, quoted under GRAM-FED.

c. 1858.—

“Son houka bigarré d’arabesques fleuries.”

Leconte de Lisle, Poèmes Barbares.

1872.—“… in the background the car-case of a boar with a cluster of villagers sitting by it, passing a hookah of primitive form round, for each to take a pull in turn.” —A True Reformer, ch. i.

1874.—“… des houkas d’argent emaillé et ciselé. …”—Franz, Souvenir d’une Cosaque, ch. iv.

HOOKA-BURDAR, s. Hind. from Pers. hukka-bardar, ‘hooka-bearer’; the servant whose duty it was to attend to his master’s hooka, and who considered that duty sufficient to occupy his time. See Williamson, V. M. i. 220.

[1779.—“Mr. and Mrs. Hastings present their compliments to Mr. —— and request the favour of his company to a concert and supper on Thursday next. Mr. —— is requested to bring no servants except his Houccaburdar.”—In Carey, Good Old Days, i. 71.]

1789.—“Hookerbedar.” (See