222 Ancient Linear Measures. 



would be best represented by the series of 39, 36, 33, 30, 27, 24, 

 21, 18, 16J, 13J, 101 9 ? 71^ 6, 3|, from 40 to 20 cubit lengths, 

 where a half-rod might have been employed, and for the smaller 

 lengths perhaps a quarter rod, or \\ cubit measure. Here 4f 

 English feet = 3 cubits = J- rod, and 9J- = 6 cubits == 1 rod. 

 From 45 special measures of dagobas, shrines and chakras, I 

 obtained about the same 1 9-inch cubit. 



It is, however, hardly to be expected that the same exact cubit 

 or measure should have been constantly employed over a period 

 of 700 or 800 years, even in the same part of India. In further 

 corroboration of a probable earlier Buddhist unit of about a cubit 

 of 19 inches, I may mention that Williams gives the Japanese 

 thuoc, chih or cubit == 17*12 inches English, specially used by 

 architects. This may have not improbably been introduced by 

 the Buddhists more than 1,000 years ago. Again, in Java, I 

 have got from Raffles' descriptions of old Buddhist or Hindu 

 temples, probably free from European or Mohammedan influences, 

 some 90 measurements, showing apparent favorite maxima 

 numbers of about 3£, 5|, 6|, 7J, 10, 11J-, 12J, 16, 20, 21, and 

 30 English feet, which would again seem to suit best a cubit of 

 19-20 inches, giving roughly say 2, 3J, 4|, 6J, 7, 8, 10, 13, and 

 20 cubits. Here the smaller measures given by Raffles, e.g., 

 below 2 feet, of 12, 12, 14, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, 26 inches indi- 

 cate a very regular gradation of 2 English inches, probably = 2 J- 

 digits. At the same time the old Indian hasta might also yield 

 for 6 J, 7 J, 10, 11 J, 12 and 20 English feet, very nearly the 

 numbers 5, 6 J, 7J-, 8, 9, and 15. 



From some measurements connected with the Amravati tope, 

 Madras Presidency, I get a small hasta of 16*25 inches, for large 

 measures, and of ^ — 16*0, from a number of smaller measure- 

 ments of plinths, tablets, etc., in the British Museum. The two 

 large feet of Buddha from the same tope measure 20 inches in 

 length. From some larger cave-temple measurements at Adjanta, 

 second to tenth century, mentioned by Fergusson in his "Hand- 

 book of Architecture," I get a unit of 17*8 inches, probably the 

 hasta of 17*82 as given by Petrie as a unit of some measurements 

 at the Elora cave temples. One of the oldest Buddhist topes in 

 North India, near Peshawur, is said to be about 20 feet in dia- 

 meter, which might also indicate a small hasta of about 16 inches. 



