Chapter MAMLUTDAR to MANDARIN of M by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

Cellates and native Malays come all the Mandarins, who are now the gentlemen (fidalgos) of Malaca.”— Ibid. II. vi. 1.

1598.—“They are called … Mandorijns, and are always borne in the streetes, sitting in chariots which are hanged about with Curtaines of Silke, covered with Clothes of Gold and Silver, and are much given to banketing, eating and drinking, and making good cheare, as also the whole land of China.”—Linschoten, 39; [Hak. Soc. i. 135].

1610.—“The Mandorins (officious officers) would have interverted the king’s command for their own covetousnesse” (at Siam).— Peter Williamson Floris, in Purchas, i. 322.

1612.—“Shah Indra Brama fled in like manner to Malacca, where they were graciously received by the King, Mansur Shah, who had the Prince converted to Islamism, and appointed him to be a Mantor.”—Sijara Malayu, in J. Ind. Arch. v. 730.

c. 1663.—“Domandò il Signor Carlo se mandarino è voce Chinese. Disse esser Portoghese, e che in Chinese si chiamano Quoan, che signifia signoreggiare, comandare, gobernare.”—Viaggio del P. Gio. Grueber, in Thevenot, Divers Voyages.

1682.—In the Kingdome of Patane (on E. coast of Malay Peninsula) “The King’s counsellors are called Mentary.”—Nieuhof, Zee en Lant-Reize, ii. 64.

c. 1690.—“Mandarinorum autem nomine intelliguntur omnis generis officiarii, qui a mandando appellantur mandarini linguâ Lusitanicâ, quae unica Europaea est in oris Chinensibus obtinens.”—T. Hyde, De Ludis Orientalibus, in Syntagmata, Oxon. 1767, ii. 266.

1719.—“… one of the Mandarins, a kind of viceroy or principal magistrate in the province where they reside.”—Robinson Crusoe, Pt. ii.

1726.—“Mantrís. Councillors. These give rede and deed in things of moment, and otherwise are in the Government next to the King.…” (in Ceylon).—Valentijn, Names, &c., 6.

1727.—“Every province or city (Burma) has a Mandereen or Deputy residing at Court, which is generally in the City of Ava, the present Metropolis.”—A. Hamilton, ii. 43, [ed. 1744, ii. 42].

1774.—“… presented to each of the Batchian Manteries as well as the two officers a scarlet coat.”—Forrest, V. to N. Guinea, p. 100.

1788.—“… Some words notoriously corrupt are fixed, and as it were naturalized in the vulgar tongue … and we are pleased to blend the three Chinese monosyllables Con-fû-tzee in the respectable name of Confucius, or even to adopt the Portuguese corruption of Mandarin.”—Gibbon, Preface to his 4th volume.

1879.—“The Mentrí, the Malay Governor of Larut … was powerless to restore order.”—Miss Bird, Golden Chersonese, 267.

Used as an adjective:

[c. 1848.—“The mandarin-boat, or ‘Smug-boat,’ as it is often called by the natives, is the most elegant thing that floats.”—Bern-castle, Voyage to China, ii. 71.

[1878.—“The Cho-Ka-Shun, or boats in which the Mandarins travel, are not unlike large floating caravans.”—Gray, China, ii. 270.]