Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.16015

c10.16015

These are the Chāngars of whom Mr. Ibbetson (*Panjab Ethnog.* 308) gives an account. A full description of them has been given by Dr. G. W. Leitner (*A Sketch of the Changars and of their Dialect*, Lahore, 1880), in which he shows reason to doubt any connection between them and the *Zingari*. De Goeje (*Contributions to the Hist. of the Gypsies*) regards that people as the Indian *Zott* (*i.e.* Jatt of Sind). He suggests as possible origins of the name first *shikārī* (see SHIKAREE), and then Pers. *changī*, ‘harper,’ from which a plural *changān* actually occurs in Lane’s *Arabian Nights*, iii. 730, note 22. [These are the Al-Jink, male dancers (see Burton, *Ar. Nights*, viii. 18).]