Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/43

 9">S. IV. Jcly8,'99.] 27 NOTES AND QUERIES. of the kind. The Amoy name for tkis tea is Kong-hu, so that the omission of the/is due to the local Chinese dialect. The ' Century ' again derives Twankay from the standard Chinese Tun-chi; but the Amoy Tun-Ice is nearer, and the Cantonese Tun-kei nearer still, its second syllable being absolutely the same in sound as the English. The Twankay is a stream in the east of the province of Nganhwui, where Twankay tea grows. The ' Century' also derives Souchong from the standard Chinese Siao-chunq, yet it directs the name to be pronounced in the French manner (with the first syllable like the French word sou), which can only represent the Cantonese Siu-chung. Older dictionaries, such as Walker, Jones, Jameson, give another pronunciation (with the first syllable pronounced like sot*), which might be derived from the standard Chinese, though it might also be the Amoy form Siao-chiong. While it will be thus seen that both pronunciations of Souchong are correct, the parallel name Powchong can only be pronounced one way : the first syllable rimes with sow. In the Cantonese ortho- graphy we write it Pao-chung, in that of Amoy Piao-chiong. James Platt, Jun. Qsoiti, We must request correspondents desiring infor- mation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct. Family Portrait Group. — Can any of your readers inform me if they are acquainted with the original of a family portrait group, small whole-lengths in the style of Vandyke ? There are eleven figures—a man in armour, a lady seated, in white satin, holding a naked child, two ladies, six other children—and a mastiff, grouped round a table on which is a plate of fruit. I have been unable to identify the original of this picture or to learn if it has been engraved, and should be most grateful for any information. M. Fortescue. Mackworth House, Derby. 'Comical Pilgrim's Pilgrimage.' — In 'Flower Lore,' by Mrs. J. Paterson, is a quotation from a work entitled 'Comical Pilgrim's Pilgrimage.' By whom written and when publisned ? Unable to identify it in bibliographical dictionaries. T. N. Brushfield, M.D. F.S.A. "Gy."—This word is said to imply in the Whitby dialect course or direction. In Robin- son's 'Glossary' the phrase "at an idle gy" is paraphrased "at a loose end." Is this phrase known elsewhere ? A. L. Mayhew. Oxford. " Girst."—In a song by Walter Watson, a native of Cadder, in the county of Lanark (born 1780), I find the following :— Tis no for the breadth o' the ocean, 'Tis no for the girst o' the wave, That I wad gie up the bit notion O' hobblin' awa' wi' the lave. I quote from Watson's 'Poems and Songs,' Glasgow, 1853. Can anybody living in Lanarkshire, or somewhere near, tell ine the precise meaning of "girst"? A. L. Mayhew. Oxford. Stowe Sale of Pictures.—Is it possible to ascertain who were the purchasers of the pictures sold at the great Stowe sale in 18421 M. Fortescue. Mackworth House, Derby. Amen Court.—Is any historical and senti- mental information to be found concerning that tranquil little spot, Amen Court, where dwell canons of St. Paul's? The houses in adjoining court have link-extinguishers. M. W. B. [A little information is given in Cunningham and Wheatley's ' London.'] Heraldic Survivals.—Can any of your readers inform me what is a " survival," and to whom the following arms belong? 1. Several eagles displayed on a field parted per pale sa. and or. Crest, an eagle or vulture arg. surmounting a profiled helmet. 2. Three survivals in a field (tincture unknown). Crest, an eagle. T. A. J. Pile Fletching Vicarage, Sussex. Byron's Maternal Grandfather. — George Gordon, laird of Gight, Aberdeen- shire, died at Bath, 9 January, 1779. I have seen it stated that he really drowned himself in the Bath Canal. Is there any record of this? J. M. Bulloch. 118, Pall Mall. "Off" for "Of."—Is the use, among the uneducated, of off for of, in such phrases as " I had it off Jones," " I bought it off Smith," general, or is it horue-county speech ? I am not inquiring when what is regarded as the proper distinction between of and its variant off became established, but am simply curious to know whether the phraseology I refer to is common. Off' followed by of even is some- times heard : "I bought it off of Robinson." " To buy off," in the sense of to redeem, is, of course, no more vulgar than " to let off." It