98 



NOTES AND QUERIES. [2-><i S. VI. 135., July si. '58. 



Caste (2"'* S. v. 455.) — I think that in the In- 

 stitutes of Menil, the castes are denominated 

 Dchadi : but having just now no means of refer- 

 ence, must leave the decision to those better ac- 

 quainted with the subject. 



The word caste is evidently derived from the Por- 

 tuguese. Casta is both Spanish and Portuguese ; 

 and, in all probability (as suggested by Mr. War- 

 wick), is from the Arabic, kaza, a tribe. 



The elements of those languages are Latin, 

 Gothic, Arabic, and some Celtic. Now, no such 

 word as casta occurs either in Latin or (I believe) 

 in its immediate offspring the Italian, which has 

 not (like its two sister languages of the Peninsula) 

 been subjected for so long a period to Moorish 

 influence. Nor does it occur in any other Indo- 

 European language to which I have access ; at 

 least in the sense indicated by our caste. There 

 is a casta in the Gaelic, and a cast in the Welsh, 

 but both have very different meanings. 



In languages of the Germanic family the near- 

 est approach in point of sound, at least, is found 

 in hasten (Germ.), cest or cyst (Anglo-Sax.), kista 

 (Icel.), kista (Swed.), kiste (Dan.), chest (Eng.), 

 all having a sense of containing, comprehending — 

 which is also the sense of tribe or caste. Again, 

 there is the Latin cista, and Greek kista ; the Latin 

 castrum and castellum, and in Persian kast?; which 

 may be taken in a similar sense. However, it is 

 not without considerable hesitation that I venture 

 on such observation. 



If Mr. Warwick will refer to Webster, and 

 Todd's Johnson, he will find the word spelt cast, 

 and perhaps it may be given in a similar form by 

 Richardson. A. C. M. 



Judges' Gowns, S,~c. (2'"^ S. vi. 48.)— In addition 

 to the inquiries made by X. X., I would beg for 

 information respecting the kinds o£hat, or chapeau- 

 bras, worn or rather borne by judicial olKcers. 

 I believe that in India, and some of the colonies, 

 the judges, though robed like English judges, do 

 not wear wigs. What kind of hat do they wear? 



The silk gown, alluded to by X. X., I have 

 always understood to be appropriated to legal ap- 

 pointments under the croivn. Hence it is worn by 

 the judges of the Superior Courts (on certain oc- 

 casions), and by Queen's Counsel. On this ground 

 I conceive it- to be the correct costume for a 

 County Court judge. I believe that recorders 

 were not entitled to wear a silk gown, until by 

 the Municipal Reform Act the appointment was 

 vested in the crown. Meletes. 



Academical Dresses (2"'' S. v. 477.) — I believe 

 that it will be found, upon investigation, that the 

 different dresses of the different degrees at the 

 Universities are a good deal the result of our an- 

 cient sumptuary laws. The different materials of 

 stuff, silk, fur of different kinds, scarlet cloth, 

 velvet, &c., being each appropriated by statute to 



different ranks of society to which the different 

 degrees corresponded. Now the nature of the 

 materials are not much attended to, and Bachelors 

 of Arts wear both silk hoods and gowns, to which 

 they are not entitled, their rank only giving them 

 the privilege of wearing fur of a cheap sort. The 

 Sophista Generalis wore a hood without fur. The 

 Master of Arts wore silk ; the Doctor scarlet 

 cloth and ermine if he chose ; the Bishop sable. 

 I should be glad to see this I'act illustrated by a 

 correspondent well versed in the old sumptuary 

 laws. With respect to the form of the gowns, the 

 two great divisions are what are supposed to be 

 the lay and the clerical ; the type of the one being 

 the Oxford S. C. L. gown, of which the under- 

 graduate's is a corruption ; the other being the 

 scholar's gown, of which the B. A. and M. A. 

 appear to be developments. It used to be said 

 that the Oxford Proctors' gown was the original 

 M.A. gown, and that the present one was compa- 

 ratively modern. Tiie Proctor at Oxford wears 

 an ermine hood also in right of his ofiice. 



William Frasek, B.C.L 

 Alton Vicarage, Staffordshire. 



General Pbison Bunham (2'"^ S. vi. 48.) — 



According to Hardwicke's Annxial Biography, 



General Pinson Bonham died at Great Warley, 



Essex, April 19, 1855, aged ninety-two. 'AAieus. 



Dublin. 



Miss Elizabeth Bonham (daughter of the late 

 Gen. Pinson Bonham) begs t(5 inform the Editor 

 of " N. & Q." that her father departed this life, at 

 his seat, Great Warley Place, Brentwood, Essex, 

 on April 19, 1855, in the ninety-third year of his 

 age. If H. J. H. wishes to know any farther 

 particulars, he can write to Miss E. Bonham, at 

 37. Upper Brunswick Place, Brighton. 



Stains on Engravings (2"'' S. v. 483.) — The 

 second edition of a very excellent manual has just 

 been published : — 



" Essai sur I'Art de restaurer les Estampes et les Livres, 

 ou Traite sur les meilleurs Precedes pour blanchir, de'- 

 tacher, d<^colorier, rtiparer et conserver les Estampes, Livres 

 et Dessins. Par A. Bonnardot. Seconde Editiou, refondue 

 et augmeutfe, suivie d'un Expose des divers Systemes de 

 Reproduction des Anciennes Estampes et des Livres Rares. 

 Paris, Chez Castel. 1858." 



This extremely useful little volume can be had 

 of Mr. Nutt, 270. Strand. M. L. 



Friday Dreams (2°"» S. v. 594.)— The following 

 is amongst the folk lore attached to Friday 

 dreams : — 



" Friday's dreams, and Saturday told, 

 Is sure to come true if it's ever so old." 



H.J. 



y/ie JesMiVOsonas (2'"> S. V. 477.)— Sigma will find 



an account of this unfortunate martyr in Tanner's 



Societas Jesu usque ad SaJigiiinis et Vita Profusio- 



