POLYGAR, properly Palegara, is derived from the Tamil Palifun, a fort, and Karan, a defender, plural Karar. In Southern India, in the time of Orme, it was a term applied to the semi-independ ent chiefs in mountainous and woodland districts of the Tamil region. Of these were Aryalore, Bangar Yatcham, Bomraj, Coilor-pettah, Elerem penah, Ettapuram, Madura, where their districts lie along the foot of the mountains to the west. Others, in Tinnevelly, in that neighbourhood were styled the Tondimau raja, the greater and lesser Maravar ; Nattam I\elli Cotah, and Nellitangaville, the last styled Pullitaver. North of Madras were the Polygars of Bangar Yatchant, Damerha, and Bomraj, against whom, in 1756, Muhammad Ali and Colonel Kilpatrick marched. A Polygar possessed the fort of Savanore, one settled at Oodiagherry, and another near Verda chelum, when, in July 1751, Mr. Pigot and Clive drove off another at Warrior-polliam. The most northern Polygar chief was the Dessaee of Sawuntwari. Those of Jooneer and Punala were reduced by Sivaji —Orme.
POLYGONACEiE. Lindl. The buckwheat tribe of plants, comprising the genera Konigia, Rumex, Oxyria, Rheum, Coccoloba, Ceratogon, Ampelygonum, Polygonum, and Fagopyrum.
Polygonum linifolium, as also P. aviculare and affinis, grow about Lahore, where they are well known, but little used. P. macrophyllum and P. molle grow among the Kashmir mountains, where the roots are officinal. P. Chinense and P. barbatum yield a blue dye like indigo, in China and Japan. Wight gives P. ambiguum, aviculare, barbatum, Chinense, Donii, glabrnm, horridum, Indicum, molle, Nepalense, pedun culare, strictuin, Wallichii; a variety of P. orien tale is the Patti marich of Bengal. P. tomentosum is eaten by cattle.
Polygonum, sp.
Bijband, Kuwar, HIND, Kamin, Hunraz, HIND.
Used in N.W. India for spitting of blood and rheumatism. A substitute for rhubarb in double doses.
Polygonum amphibium, Smith, smart-wood. T'ien-liau, Liu, . CHIN. I Guree, . . . KASH.
The acrid seeds of this Chinese plant are emetic and stimulant, and are applied to scald head and wounds. The root has been recom mended as a substitute for sarsaparilla, which its root - like sterns resemble. It vegetates in Kashmir, and is considered as a veterinary medicine ; whence its name, guree (horse).
Polygonum aviculare, Linn., knot-grass.