Chapter KUZZANNA to KYTHEE of K by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

KUZZANNA to KYTHEE

KUZZANNA, s. Ar.—H. khizana, or khazana, ‘a treasury.’ [In Ar. khazinah, or khaznah, means ‘a treasure,’ representing 1000 kis or purses, each worth about £5 (see Burton, Ar. Nights, i. 405).] It is the usual word for the district and general treasuries in British India; and khazanchi for the treasurer.

1683.—“Ye King’s Duan (see DEWAUN) had demanded of them 8000 Rupees on account of remains of last year’s Tallecas (see TALLICA) … ordering his Peasdast (Peshdast, an assistant) to see it suddenly paid in ye King’s Cuzzanna.”—Hedges, Diary, Hak. Soc. i. 103.

[1757.—“A mint has been established in Calcutta; continue coining gold and silver into Siccas and Mohurs … they shall pass current in the provinces of Bengal, Bahar and Orissa, and be received into the Cadganna. …”—Perwannah from Jaffier Ally Khan, in Verelst, App. 145.]

KUZZILBASH, n.p. Turki kizilbash, ‘red-head.’ This title has been since the days of the Safavi (see SOPHY) dynas ty in Persia, applied to the Persianized Turks, who form the ruling class in that country, from the red caps which they wore. The class is also settled extensively over Afghanistan. [“At Kabul,” writes Bellew (Races of Afghanistan, 107), “he (Nadir) left as chandaul, or ‘rear guard,’ a detachment of 12,000 of his Kizilbash (so named from the red caps they wore), or Mughal Persian troop s. After the death of Nadir they remained at Kabul as a military colony, and their descendants occupy a distinct quarter of the city, which is called Chandaul. These Kizilbash hold their own ground here, as a distinct Persian community of the Shia persuasion, against the native population of the Sunni profession. They constitute an important element in the general population of the city, and exercise a considerable influence in its local politics. Owing to their isolated position and antagonism to the native population, they are favourably inclined to the British authority.”] Many of them used to take service with the Delhi emperors; and not a few do so now in our frontier cavalry regiments.

c. 1510.—“L’vsanza loro è di portare vna berretta rossa, ch’auanza sopra la testa mezzo braccio, a guisa d’vn zon (‘like a top’), che dalla parte, che si mette in testa, vine a essar larga, ristringendosi tuttauia sino in cima, et è fatta con dodici coste grosse vn dito … ne mai tagliano barba ne mostacchi.”—G. M. Angiolello, in Ramusio, ii. f. 74.

1550.—“Oltra il deserto che è sopra il-Corassam fino à Samarcand … signorreggiano Iescil bas, cioè le berrette verdi, le quali benette verdi sono alcuni Tartari Musulmani che portano le loro berrette di feltro verde acute, e cosi si fanno chiamare à differentia de Soffiani suoi capitali nemici che signoreggiano la Persia, pur anche essi Musulmani, i quali portano le berrette rosse, quali berrette verdi e rosse, hanno continuamente hauuta fra se guerra crudelissima per causa di diversità di opinione nella loro religione.”—Chaggi Memet, in Ramusio, ii. f. 16v. “Beyond the desert above Corassam, as far as Samarkand and the idolatrous cities, the Yeshilbas (Iescilbas) or ‘Green-caps,’ are predominant. These Green-caps are certain Musulman Tartars who wear pointed caps of green felt, and they are so called to distinguish them from their chief enemies the Soffians, who are predominant in Persia, who are indeed also Musulmans, but who wear red caps.”

1574.—“These Persians are also called Red Turks, which I believe is because they have behind on their Turbants, Red Marks, as Cotton Ribbands &c. with Red Brims, whereby they are soon discerned from other Nations.”—Rauwolff, 173.

1606.—“Cocelbaxas, who are the soldiers whom they esteem most highly.”—Gouvea, f. 143.

1653.—“Ie visité le keselbache qui y commande vne petite forteresse, duquel ie receu beaucoup de civilitez.”—De La Boullaye-le-Gouz, ed. 1657, pp. 284–5.

„ “Keselbache est vn mot composé de Kesel, qui signifie rouge, et bachi, teste, comme qui diroit teste rouge, et par ce terme s’entendent les gens de guerre de Perse, à cause du bonnet de Sophi qui est rouge.”—Ibid. 545.

1673.—“Those who compose the Main Body of the Cavalry, are the Cusle-Bashees, or with us the Chevaliers.”—Fryer, 356. Fryer also writes Cusselbash (Index).

1815.—“The seven Turkish tribes, who had been the chief promoters of his (Ismail’s) glory and success, were distinguished by a particular dress; they wore a red cap, from which they received the Turkish name of Kuzelbash, or ‘golden heads,’ which has descended to their posterity.”—Malcolm, H. of Persia, ii. 502–3.

1828.—“The Kuzzilbash, a Tale of Khorasan. By James Baillie Fraser.”

1883.—“For there are rats and rats, and a man of average capacity may as well hope to distinguish scientifically between Ghilzais, Kuki Kheyls, Logar Maliks, Shigwals, Ghazis, Jezailchis, Hazaras, Logaris, Wardaks, Mandozais, Lepel- Griffin, and Kizilbashes, as to master the division of the great race of rats.”—Tribes on My Frontier, 15.