Chapter LARRY-BUNDER to LASCAR of L by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

was already general on the west coast at the beginning of the 17th century, [also see quotation from Pringle below]; whilst the curious distinction which Pyrard makes between Lascar and Lascari, and Dr. Fryer makes between Luscar and Lascar (accenting probably Lúscar and Lascár) shows that lashkari for a soldier was still in use. In Ceylon the use of the word lascareen for a local or civil soldier long survived; perhaps is not yet extinct. The word lashkari does not seem to occur in the Ain.

[1523.—“Fighting men called Lascaryns.”—Alguns documentos, Tombo, p. 479.

[1538.—“My mother only bore me to be a Captain, and not your Lascar (lascarin).”—Letter of Nuno da Cunha, in Barros, Dec. IV. bk. 10, ch. 21.]

1541.—“It is a proverbial saying all over India (i.e. Portuguese India, see s.v.) that the good Lasquarim, or ‘soldier’ as we should call him, must be an Abyssinian.”—Castro, Roteiro, 73.

1546.—“Besides these there were others (who fell at Diu) whose names are unknown, being men of the lower rank, among whom I knew a lascarym (a man getting only 500 reis of pay!) who was the first man to lay his hand on the Moorish wall, and shouted aloud that they might see him, as many have told me. And he was immediately thrown down wounded in five places with stones and bullets, but still lived; and a noble gentleman sent and had him rescued and carried away by his slaves. And he survived, but being a common man he did not even get his pay!”—Correa, iv. 567.

1552.—“… eles os reparte polos lascarins de suas capitanias, q assi chamão soldados.”—Castanheda, ii. 67. [Mr. Whiteway notes that in the orig. repartem for reparte, and the reference should be ii. 16.]

1554.—“Moreover the Senhor Governor conceded to the said ambassador that if in the territories of Idalshaa (see IDALCAN), or in those of our Lord the King there shall be any differences or quarrels between any Portuguese lascarins or peons (piães) of ours, and lascarins of the territories of Idalshaa and peons of his, that the said Idalshaa shall order the delivery up of the Portuguese and peons that they may be punished if culpable. And in like manner …”—S. Botelho, Tombo, 44.

1572.—“Erant in eo praesidio Lasquarini circiter septingenti artis scolopettariae peritissimi.”—E. Acosta, f. 236v.

1598.—“The soldier of Ballagate, which is called Lascarin. …”—Linschoten, 74; [in Hak. Soc. i. 264, Lascariin].

1600.—“Todo a mais churma e meneyo das naos são Mouros que chamão Laschãres. …”—Lucena, Life of St. Franc. Xav., liv. iv. p. 223.

[1602.—“… because the Lascars (lascaris), for so they call the Arab sailors.”—Couto, Dec. X. bk. 3, ch. 13.]

c. 1610.—“Mesmes tous les mariniers et les pilotes sont Indiens, tant Gentils que Mahometans. Tous ces gens de mer les appellent Lascars, et les soldats Lascarits.”—Pyrard de Laval, i. 317; [Hak. Soc. i. 438; also see ii. 3, 17].

[1615.—“… two horses with six Lasceras and two caffres (see CAFFER).”—Foster, Letters, iv. 112.]

1644.—“… The aldeas of the jurisdiction of Damam, in which district there are 4 fortified posts defended by Lascars (Lascaris) who are mostly native Christian soldiers, though they may be heathen as some of them are.”—Bocarro, MS.

1673.—“The Seamen and Soldiers differ only in a Vowel, the one being pronounced with an u, the other with an a, as Luscar, a soldier, Lascar, a seaman.”—Fryer, 107.

[1683–84.—“The Warehousekeeper having Seaverall dayes advised the Council of Ship Welfares tardynesse in receiving & stowing away the Goods, … alledging that they have not hands Sufficient to dispatch them, though we have spared them tenn Laskars for that purpose. …”—Pringle, Diary Ft. St. Geo., 1st ser. iii. 7 seq.; also see p. 43.]

1685.—“They sent also from Sofragan D. Antonio da Motta Galvaon with 6 companies, which made 190 men; the Dissava (see DISSAVE) of the adjoining provinces joined him with 4000 Lascarins.”—Ribeyro, H. of the I. of Ceylan (from French Tr., p. 241).

1690.—“For when the English Sailers at that time perceiv’d the softness of the Indian Lascarrs; how tame they were … they embark’d again upon a new Design … to … rob these harmless Traffickers in the Red Sea.”—Ovington, 464.

1726.—“Lascaryns, or Loopers, are native soldiers, who have some regular maintenance, and in return must always be ready.”—Valentijn, Ceylon, Names of Offices, &c., 10.

1755.—“Some Lascars and Sepoys were now sent forward to clear the road.”—Orme, ed. 1803, i. 394.

1787.—“The Field Pieces attached to the Cavalry draw up on the Right and Left Flank of the Regiment; the Artillery Lascars forming in a line with the Front Rank the full Extent of the Drag Ropes, which they hold in their hands.”—Regns. for the Hon. Company’s Troops on the Coast of Coromandel, by M.-Gen. Sir Archibald Campbell, K.B. Govr. & C. in C. Madras, p. 9.

1803.—“In those parts (of the low country of Ceylon) where it is not thought requisite to quarter a body of troops, there is a police corps of the natives appointed to enforce the commands of Government in each district; they are composed of Conganies, or sergeants, Aratjies, or corporals, and Lascarines, or common soldiers, and perform the same office as our Sheriff’s men or constables.”—Percival’s Ceylon, 222.

1807.—“A large open boat formed the van, containing his excellency’s guard