Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.299

c10.299

But it is in Malabar that we trace the apparent origin of the Malay term in the existence of certain desperadoes who are called by a variety of old travellers *amouchi* or *amuco*. The nearest approach to this that we have been able to discover is the Malayālam *amar-kkan*, ‘a warrior’ (from *amar*, ‘fight, war’). [The proper Malayālam term for such men was *Chaver*, literally those who took up or devoted themselves to death.] One of the special applications of this word is remarkable in connection with a singular custom in Malabar. After the Zamorin had reigned 12 years, a great assembly was held at Tirunāvāyi, when that Prince took his seat surrounded by his dependants, fully armed. Any one might then attack him, and the assailant, if successful in killing the Zamorin, got the throne. This had often happened. [For a full discussion of this custom see *Frazer, Golden Bough*, 2nd ed., ii. 14 sq.] In 1600 thirty such assailants were killed in the enterprise. Now these men were called *amar-kkār* (pl. of *amar-kkan*, see Gundert *s.v.*). These men evidently ran a-muck in the true Malay sense; and quotations below will show other illustrations from Malabar which confirm the idea that both name and practice originated in Continental India. There is indeed a difficulty as to the derivation here indicated, in the fact that the *amuco* or *amouchi* of European writers on Malabar seems by no means close enough to *amarkkan*, whilst it is so close to the Malay *āmuk*; and on this further light may be hoped for. The identity between the *amoucos* of Malabar and the *amuck* runners of the Malay peninsula is clearly shown by the passage from *Correa* given below. [Mr Whiteway adds— "Gouvea (1606) in his *Iornada* (ch. 9, Bk. ii.) applies the word *amouques* to certain Hindus whom he saw in S. Malabar near Quilon, whose duty it was to defend the Syrian Christians with their lives. There are reasons for thinking that the worthy priest got hold of the story of a cock and a bull; but in any case the Hindus referred to were really Jangadas.” (See JANCADA).