Part 240

KOULER-AGASI, a distinguished military character in Persia, who has the command of a body of men called Kouls. He is usually governor of a considerable province.

KOULIE, a courier, a porter, a slave.

KOURIE, Ind. a sea-shell used as money in many parts of India.

KOULS, a corps of Persian soldiers who rank as a third body among the five that constitute the king’s household troops; they mount guard under the portico which stands between the first and second gate leading to the palace. The Kouls are men of note and rank; no person can arrive at any considerable post or situation, who has not served among the Kouls. Their number is computed at 4000 men.

KOYAL, Ind. a weighman.

KOYALEE, Ind. fees for weighing.

KRAMA, Ind. wooden sandals which are worn by the natives of India during the wet season.

KUFFEET, Ind. An Indian term for security.

KUL, the Turkish word for slave to the prince. The grand vizier, the bachas, the beiglerbeys, and all persons who receive pay or subsistence from situations dependent upon the crown, are so called. This title is in high estimation among the Turkish military, as it authorizes all who are invested with it, to insult, strike and otherways ill use the common people, without being responsible for the most flagrant breach of humanity. Horrid pre-eminence, and fitted only to Mahomedan civilization!

KULLUSTAUNS, Ind. Christians.

KUNDNEE, Ind. A sum of money which is annually paid by an inferior governor to his superior.

KUPELE, Straights so called in India, through which the Ganges disembogues itself into Hindustan. They are distant from Delhi about 30 leagues, in the longitude of 96, and in the latitude of 30.2. These straights are believed by the Indians, who look very little abroad, to be the sources of the Ganges: and a rock 15 miles distant from them, bearing some resemblance to the head of a cow, has joined in the same part of the nations, two very important objects of their religion: the grand image of the animal which they almost venerate as a divinity, and the first appearance of that immense body of holy water which washes away all their sins. It was at these straights that the Indians made some shew of resistance, when the famous Tamerlane invaded India. The field of this victory is the most distant term of that emperor’s conquest in India and on the globe. See Dissertation on the establishments made by Mahomedan conquerors in Hindustan, in Orme’s History of the Carnatic, page 14, and 15.

KURROL, Ind. The advanced guard of a main army.

KURTCHI, a militia is so called in Persia. It consists of one body of cavalry, which is composed of the first nobility belonging to the kingdom, and of the lineal descendants of the Turkish conquerors, who placed Ismael Sophi on the throne. They wear a red turban, made of particular stuff, into twelve folds. This turban was originally given them by Ismael, in consideration of their attachment to the religion and family of Ali. The twelve folds are in remembrance of the twelve Imaans or Mahomedan preachers who descended in a direct line from Ali, and distinguished themselves so much in that sect. The turban is red, for the purpose of provoking those who wear it to avenge upon the Ottomans, the death of Ali and Hussein, who were murdered by the chief of Sunis, to whose sect the Turks belong. In consequence of their wearing this turban, the Persians are always called by the Turks kitil-baschi or red-heads. The noblemen in Persia have adopted the term, with a slight alteration, and call themselves kesil-baschis or golden-heads. The Kurtchi form a body of nearly eighteen thousand men. The chief or commanding officer is called kurtchi-baschi. This was formerly the most distinguished situation in the kingdom, and the authority annexed to it was equal to what the constable of France originally possessed. At present his power does not extend beyond the Kurtchis.

KUSH-BASH, Ind. Persons who enjoy lands rent free, upon condition of serving government in a military capacity when called upon. The term also signifies, people of middling circumstances who do not cultivate their lands themselves, but hire servants to do it while they hold other employments.

KUTTY, Ind. Closets.

KUVVAUS, Ind. Servants attending on the king’s person.

KUZANA, Ind. A treasury.

LAAK, Ind. One hundred thousand.

LABARUM, a celebrated standard which was used among the Roman emperors, and frequently means any imperial or royal standard. The original one, so called, consisted of a long lance, at the top of which was fixed a stick that crossed it at right angles, and from which hung a piece of rich scarlet cloth, that was sometimes ornamented with precious stones. Until the days of Constantine the great, the figure of an eagle was placed upon the top of the labarum; but that prince substituted in its room, a cross, with a cypher expressing the name of Jesus.

LABORATORY signifies that place where all sorts of fire-works are prepared, both for actual service, and for pleasure, viz. quick matches, fuses, portfires, grape-shot, case-shot, carcasses, hand-grenades, cartridges, shells filled, and fuses fixed, wads, &c. &c.

Aigrettes. See MORTARS.

Balls are of various sorts, shapes and forms; as

Chain-shot, are two shot linked together by a strong chain of 8 or 10 inches long; they are more used on board men of war, than in the land service. The famous M. de Witt was the first inventor, about the year 1665.

Light-balls, of which there are several sorts: the best composition is mealed powder 2, sulphur 1, rosin 1, turpentine 2¹⁄₂, and saltpetre 1¹⁄₂. Then take tow, and mix and dip it in this composition, till of a proper size, letting the last coat be of mealed powder. Or take thick strong paper, and make a shell the size of the mortar you intend to throw it out of, and fill it with a composition of an equal quantity of sulphur, pitch, rosin, and mealed powder; which being well mixed, and put in warm, will give a clear fire, and burn a considerable time.

The composition for filling balls that are intended to set fire to magazines is, mealed powder 10, saltpetre 2, sulphur 4, and rosin 1; or mealed powder 4, pounded glass 1, antimony ¹⁄₂, camphor ¹⁄₂, sal-ammoniac 1, common salt ¹⁄₄; or mealed powder 48, saltpetre 32, sulphur 16, rosin 4, steel or iron filings 2, fir tree saw-dust boiled in saltpetre ley 2, and birch wood charcoal 1. With any of these compositions fill the sack, and ram it, if possible, as hard as a stone, putting in the opening, a fuse, and about the same an iron ring ¹⁄₅th of the ball’s diameter wide; and on the opposite end, another ring ¹⁄₆th of the ball’s diameter; then with a strong cord of ¹⁄₄th of an inch diameter, lace round the hoops, or rings, from one end of the ball to the other, as often as is requisite; this is called the ribbed coat; then lace it again the contrary way, which is called the check coat.

Between each square cord, iron barrels are driven in, ¹⁄₃d of which are filled with powder, and a bullet: at the end of each a small vent is made, that the composition may inflame the powder, and drive the balls out on every side, which not only kill numbers of people, but prevent any one from extinguishing the fire-ball. The whole must, when finished, be dipped in melted pitch, rosin and turpentine oil; which composition fastens the whole together.

Smoke-Balls, are made and contrived to give an uncommon smoke, and thereby prevent the enemy from seeing what you are about. They are prepared as above, only the composition must be 5 to 1 of pitch, rosin, and saw-dust: the ingredients are put into iron shells, having 4 holes each to let out the smoke, and are thrown out of mortars.