Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 9.djvu/122

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96 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s.ix. JULY so, 1921.

Senapati will only have the powers of Senapati in Satrang, but if the first Senapati is taken the new one gains his full powers, i.e., can move as a Queen in our game. Pawns reaching the opposite side of the board on other squares become the piece on whose square they arrive. My note does not say what happens if there is already a full complement of these pieces.

Satrang appears to be exactly the same game as played in Europe prior to the 15th century, v. Encyl. Britt., vol. 6, p. 102 c. The Elephant still represents the Bishop. The Boat represents the Ship as mentioned by John W. Brown (12 S. vi. 49). The "board" on which both games are played is uncoloured, the squares simply being marked by cross-lines. Satrang was evidently imported into Manipur from either Bengal or Burma. I have never played Chess with a Burman, but I have played a few games with Indian gentlemen, and, as far as I recollect, they played much as we do. If I am correct, it would appear that the isolation of Manipur has led to the survival there of the ancient game. J. Shakespear.


Six LORDS : CHEWAB (12 S. ix. 50). The sign of ' Six Lords ' is not mentioned in Larwood and Hotten's ' History of Sign- boards. ' Is it possible that it originated with a sympathizer with the Jacobite party, and alluded to the Earl of Derwentwater, the Earl of Nithisdale, the Earl of Carnwath, Viscount Kenmure, Lord Widdrington and Lord Nairn, who were impeached for high treason for the part they took in the Re- bellion of 1715, and having pleaded guilty were together brought to the Bar of the House of Lords and together sentenced to death ? It is true there was a seventh lord, the Earl of Winton, also implicated, but as he pleaded not guilty he was tried separately at a subsequent date. This rather militates against my suggestion, as there were thus seven lords altogether brought to trial, though perhaps the fact of the first six having been sentenced together fixed that number in the public mind. With reference to ' Chewar,' Halliwell's ' Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words ' gives " chewer " as a West Country word for " a narrow passage." It is probably a variant of " chare," which is to be found in ' N.E.D.,' where the following forms of it are given : 13th century " chihera," 14th century " chere," 15th century " chare " ; also 16th century "* chayer," 18th century " chair," and it is explained as " local name for a narrow lane, alley, or wynd, in New- castle and some neighbouring towns ; also for some country lanes and field tracks, e.g., the three which converge at Chare Ends, by the landing-place on Holy Island." ' N.E.D.' queries whether it is the same as " chare," a turning, and suggests a comparison with the Scotch " wynd." WM. SELF-WEEKS. West wood, Clitheroe. BOMENTEEK (12 S. viii. 510; 12 ix. 39, 77). This word was in common use in Essex, and an old wheelwright in my employ frequently used it, when he found it in the course of repairs, and he thought it out of place to stop a hole or to hide a defect ; in his mouth it seemed a jeering word applied only when he wished to ridicule the work of some other man of less ability than himself. W. W. GLENNY. Barking, Essex. AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL W T RITERS : BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS WANTED. i (12 S. ix. 52). Britten and Boulger's ' Bio- ! graphical Index of British and Irish Bota- ! nists ' (1907) mentions Nos. 2, 3 and pro- | bably 5. 2. George London (d. 1713). Apprentice to | Rose. Gardener to Bishop Compton, William and Mary, and Anne. In partnership with Henry Wise at Brompton Park. Nursery, 1694-1701. 3. John Bartram( 1699-1777). Born at Marple . Co. Delaware, Penn., March 23, 1699. " King's Botanist in America," 1765. Linnaeus said he was " the greatest natural botanist in the world." 5. ? James Donald (1815-72). Born at Forfar, 1815 ; died at Hampton Court, Dec. 13, 1872. At Chiswick, 1839-42. Pupil of Lindley. Superin- tendent, Hampton Court, from 1856. Left an Herbarium, and wrote on Begonias. ?V ARCHIBALD SPARKE. I have been' told that George London in- vented or developed the useful border plant that is commonly called " London Pride," but is properly named " London's Pride." C. S. B. SCHOOL MAGAZINES (12 S. ix 54). The Blackheathen was still in existence when I left the Blackheath Proprietary School in 1871 or 1872. It was published by a book- seller named Burnside. - The school expired, I believe, a few years ago. H. F. O. H.