Chapter SHIBAR to SHINKALI of S by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

SHIBAR to SHINKALI

[SHIBAR, SHIBBAR, s. A kind of coasting vessel, sometimes described as a great pattamar. Molesworth (Mahr. Dict. s.v.) gives shibar which, in the usual dictionary way, he defines as ‘a ship or large vessel of a particular description.’ The Bombay Gazetteer (x. 171) speaks of the ‘shibadi, a large vessel, from 100 to 300 tons, generally found in the Ratnagiri sub-division ports’; and in another place (xiii. Pt. ii. 720) says that it is a large vessel chiefly used in the Malabar trade, deriving the name from Pers. shahi- bar, ‘royal-carrier.’

[1684.—“The Mucaddam [MOCUDDUM] of this shibar bound for Goa.”—Yule, in Hedges’ Diary, Hak. Soc. II. clxv.; also see clxxxiv.

[1727.—“… the other four were Grabs or Gallies, and Sheybars, or half Gallies.”—A. Hamilton, ed. 1744, i. 134.

[1758.—“… then we cast off a boat called a large seebar, bound to Muscat. …”—Ives, 196.]

SHIGRAM, s. A Bombay and Madras name for a kind of hack palankin carriage. The camel-shigram is often seen on roads in N. India. The name is from Mahr. sighr, Skt. sighra, ‘quick or quickly.’ A similar carriage is the Jutkah, which takes its name from Hind. jhatka, ‘swift.’

[1830.—At Bombay, “In heavy coaches, lighter landaulets, or singular-looking shigrampoes, might be seen bevies of British fair …”—Mrs. Elwood, Narr. ii. 376.

[1875.—“As it is, we have to go … 124 miles in a dak gharri, bullock shigram, or mail-cart. …”—Wilson, Abode of Snow 18.]

SHIKAR, s. Hind. from Pers. shikar, ‘la chasse’; sport (in the sense of shooting and hunting); game.

c. 1590.—“Ain, 27. Of Hunting (orig. Ain - i - Shikar). Superficial worldly observers see in killing an animal a sort of pleasure, and in their ignorance stride about, as if senseless, on the field of their passions. But deep enquirers see in hunting a means of acquisition of knowledge. … This is the case with His Majesty.”—Ain, i. 282.

1609–10.—“Sykary, which signifieth, seeking, or hunting.”—W. Finch, in Purchas, i. 428.

1800.—“250 or 300 horsemen … divided into two or three small parties, supported by our infantry, would give a proper shekar; and I strongly advise not to let the Mahratta boundary stop you in the pursuit of your game.”—Sir A. Wellesley to T. Munro, in Life of Munro, iii. 117.

1847.—“Yet there is a charm in this place for the lovers of Shikar.”—Dry Leaces from Young Egypt, 3.

[1859.—“Although the jungles literally swarm with tigers, a shickar, in the Indian sense of the term, is unknown.”—Oliphant, Narr. of Mission, i. 25.]

1866.—“May I ask what has brought you out to India, Mr. Cholmondeley? Did you come out for shikar, eh?”—Trevelyan, The Dawk Bungalow, in Fraser, lxxiii. 222.

In the following the word is wrongly used in the sense of Shikaree.

[1900.—“That so experienced a shikar should have met his death emphasises the necessity of caution.”—Field, Sept. 1.]

SHIKAREE, SHEKARRY, s. Hind. shikari, a sportsman. The word is used in three ways:

a. As applied to a native expert, who either brings in game on his own account, or accompanies European sportsmen as guide and aid.

[1822.—“Shecarries are generally Hindoos of low cast, who gain their livelihood entirely by catching birds, hares, and all sorts of animals.”—Johnson, Sketches of Field Sports, 25.]

1879.—“Although the province (Pegu) abounds in large game, it is very difficult to discover, because there are no regular shikarees in the Indian acceptation of the word. Every village has its local shikaree, who lives by trapping and killing game. Taking life as he does, contrary to the principles of his religion, he is looked upon as damned by his neighbours, but that does not prevent their buying from him the spoils of the chase.”—Pollok, Sport in Br. Burmah, &c., i. 13.

b. As applied to the European sportsman himself: e.g. “Jones is well known as a great Shikaree.” There are several books of sporting adventure written circa 1860–75 by Mr. H. A. Leveson under the name of ‘The Old Shekarry.’

[c. A shooting-boat used in the Cashmere lakes.

[1875.—“A shikari is a sort of boat, that is in daily use with the English visitors; a light boat manned, as it commonly is, by six men, it goes at a fast pace, and, if well fitted with cushions, makes a comfortable conveyance. A banduqi (see BUNDOOK) shikari is the smallest boat of all; a shooting punt, used in going after wild fowl on the lakes.”—Drew, Jummoo, &c., 181.]

SHIKAR-GAH, s. Pers. A hunting ground,