Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.756

c10.756

BAHAR, s. Ar. bahār, Malayāl. bhāram, from Skt. bhāra, ‘a load.’ A weight used in large trading transactions; it varied much in different localities; and though the name is Indian origin it was naturalised by the Arabs, and carried by them to the far East, being found in use, when the Portuguese arrived in those seas, at least as far as the Moluccas. In the Indian islands the *bahār* is generally reckoned as equal to 3 peculs (q.v.), or 400 avoirdupois. But there was a different *bahār* in use for different articles of merchandise; or, rather, each article had a special surplus allowance in weighing, which practically made a different *bahār* (see PICOTA).