a
Nanny or nursemaid (Hindi).
b
During British colonial rule, a word Indians used
to address or refer to a European woman.
c
Species of tropical shrubs or trees bearing large,
showy flowers in various colors.
d
House built in a style to mitigate intense light
and tropical heat, with one story, few rooms, high ceilings, large
windows and doors, and verandas on all sides; common in rural
India.
e
Beads made from a shiny black form of natural
carbon.
f
Black-dyed, thin fabric of crinkled texture, worn
for mourning.
g
Light, horse-drawn carriage, closed on all sides;
the driver sits outside in front.
h
Hardy species of dense shrubs found in moorland
areas; they grow aggressively and produce clusters of fragrant
yellow and bell-shaped, pinkish-purple flowers.
i
Excessively eager to obey.
j
Bows of greeting in which the right palm is placed
on the forehead; in Arabic, salaam means “peace.”
k
Molasses.
l
Stressed, confused.
m
Elephant keepers and drivers.
n
Covered litters or couches resting on poles.
o
Female fox; also used to denote a quarrelsome or
malicious woman.
p
Types of daffodils; bulbous plants grown for their
white or yellow flowers.
q
Irises.
r
Thin, unleavened cake made from oatmeal.
s
Bachelor.
t
Blue flower of the species Delphinium.
u
Plant with a small greenish flower and a sweet
scent; once highly valued in perfumery for its essential
oils.
v
Pampered, refined.
w
Brown bird with a speckled breast, noted for its
beautiful song and its shyness; eats mistletoe berries and thus
helps propagate the plant.
x
Rich fabric with a raised design, often of a
floral pattern.
y
Gray crystal marked with bands of color.
z
Dialect of Hindi adopted by the Muslim conquerors
of Hindustan in northern and central India.
aa
Short for typhoid fever, an acute infectious
disease caused by bacteria in food or water and characterized by
high fever, headache, coughing, intestinal hemorrhaging, and
rose-colored spots on the skin.
ab
Indian prince, chief, or ruler.
ac
Hot drink made from water in which lean beef has
been boiled.
ad
Great, considerable.
ae
That is, potassium bromide, used medicinally as a
sedative.
af
Starving.
ag
London residence of the British royal
family.
ah
The husband of a sovereign queen; in this case,
Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1819-1861), husband of Queen
Victoria.
ai
Broom made of twigs.
aj
Indian religious monks who beg for a living and
often claim magical powers.
ak
Muslim ascetics who perform whirling ecstatic
dances and chant as acts of devotion.
al
Perhaps an allusion to the Yorkshire village of
Haworth, family home of English writers Charlotte, Anne, and Emily
Brontë from 1820 to 1854.
am
Words or syllables spoken or chanted in ritual
magic.
an
Short Christian song of praise to God as Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
ao
Narrow inlets of sea enclosed by high
cliffs.
ap
Perennial plants with vivid blue flowers that
flourish in north-temperate and alpine regions.
aq
Alpine province of western Austria.
ar
Beautiful lake in the alpine region of northern
Italy.