Hello all For what it is worth and not entering into argument, I note from my Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, revised 1955, that Cutcha or Kutcha is a noun meaning sun-dried bricks and that Pukka is used only as an adjective - with the meaning (as regards buildings, and nearest to Sylvia's) of permanent. The dictionary naturally gives its best Hindi derivations, being rendered as "Kachcha" and "Pakka" respectively. Rupert Butler -----Original Message----- From: india-british-raj-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:india-british-raj-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Sylvia Murphy Sent: 13 July 2008 13:24 To: INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ@rootsweb.com Subject: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Upper and Lower Roomed Houses (Pucka variety ofcourse!) Hi listers I am analysing the 1840 census* of Serampore for a University assignment, with respect to the European and Indo-European (my term) population of the town. Their residences are described variously as: Pucka Upper Roomed Building Pucka Lower Roomed Building (or similar terms) Now, from both Hobson-Jobson and from Ivor Lewis' 'Sahibs, Nabobs & Boxwallahs' - I get the understanding that Pucka or Pukka in this context means built of proper bricks (i.e. fired) and mortar as opposed to mud bricks (which would be Cutcha) - argument will be entered into! However, I would be pleased to have clarification of the "upper roomed" or "lower roomed". Do these terms simply imply that all the living quarters are upstairs, or in the case of lower roomed, maybe just a single story house? * for those readers who raised their eyebrows to doubt such a thing exists - the census was taken by the Danes on 9 November 1840 of the entire population, enumeration sheets do exist and are available on film through the LDS Family History Centres. The Danes sold Serampore (which they called Frederiksnagore) to the English at the end of 1845. The other Danish territory - Tranquebar - had a census taken in 1834 and the enumeration sheets for there have also been filmed, but I haven't looked at them yet. Looking forward to the experts thoughts. Sylvia (in Sydney) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.4.10/1549 - Release Date: 7/12/2008 4:31 PM

While growing up in India - not everyone could afford to rent a house or flat. In many cases finances could only afford to rent a single room in which case the entire family lived in the 'one room' whether on the ground flooor or the upper floors hence the description of 'Pucka Upper Roomed Building'. 'Pucka' probably did mean a brick building rather than a 'kucha' (which also means raw or rough). Molly Sarstedt-Hamilton, Townsville, Australia Researching - Sarstedt/Hitchcock/Osborne/Cullen/Pringle/Vargas/Hamilton/Slark/Samworth/Fury/Short/Lawcock/Smith Beautiful autumn weather at present