“_Azimgurh._”—“Azim” is the Arabic for great, and is used wherever
Moslems have spread, in names of towns and in titles, such as Azimgurh,
Azimpur, or Azim-us-Shan, meaning splendid.—_Balfour._
“_Kazi._”—From the Arabic, and means a judge or justice—one who
determines and decrees in Mahomedan law.
In days long gone by the ruling of the Kazi was thought more absolute
than it is now, and there was then no appeal from his judgment. As a
class they were greatly respected, though some were believed to be able
to read the law pretty much as it suited them.
The natives tell a story of one of these old Kazis who had two
favourite sons, named Juttoo and Juttal, and during a severe famine
these lads were seen to be eating the flesh of an animal that had died
a natural death, which is strictly contrary to the Mahomedan law. The
complaint was made to the Kazi of the evil example they had set to the
people, but he, willing to screen them, enquired of the deputation what
the animal was. They replied, “Kotha” (an ass). “And what colour might
it have been?” he further asked. They replied, “Chitta” (white). Then
making a pretence of hunting up several of his law books, he said, “I
find an exception here in the case of a white ass, and I therefore thus
decree:
Julloo and Jullal
Chitta kotha Hullal.