Burmese Days Glossary 2

1. Chokra Young man, boy "The invisible chokra who pulled the punkah rope outside was falling asleep in the glare."

2. Eheu! fugaces labuntur anni Alas! our fleeting years pass away (Latin) "Ah well, eheu fugaces! Those days are gone for ever, I am afraid."

3. Havildar British Indian Army rank equivalent to Sergeant, next above Naik (Indian)

4. Bo-kadaw A white man's wife (Burmese)
5. Machan  A safety platform in a tree used when hunting big animals such as tigers and leopards Indian)

6. Catlap Milk or weak tea, "only fit for the cat to lap" (English)

7. Dudh Milk? (Indian)

8. Talab Payment; wages? (Burmese?) "...wail something about his 'talab', which was eighteen rupees a month."

9. Civis Romanus sum I am a Roman citizen (Latin) "Good gracious, no one would believe anything against ME. Civis Romanus sum. I'm an Englishman - quite above suspicion."

10. Durwan A live-in doorkeeper (Indian)

(Also Pax Britannica The British Peace (Latin); Pukka Genuine; authentic (Indian) B.F. Bloody Fool? (English) "With the curious air of spite that some men can put into their tiniest action, he re-pinned the notice on the board and pencilled a tiny, neat 'B. F.' against Mr Macgregor's signature.")