18S1.] H. G. Keene — Revenues of the Mugliul Empire. 91 



The following papers were read — 

 1. On the Revenues of the Mughul Empire. — By H. G. Keene, C. S. 



(Abstract.) 



The Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Part I, No. IV, 18S0, 

 contained a paper by Mr. C. J. Rodgers on the copper coins of Akbar. 

 The object of the present paper is to show that Mr. Rodgers' views regard- 

 ing the amount of Akbar's revenue are not tenable, and for this purpose 

 various evidence is adduced from historical writings (<?. g., the Badsluih- 

 namah) and general considerations. The conclusion at which the author 

 arrives is, that " ten krores are the right figure of Akbar's Revenue, and that 

 the murddi tanhah is neither the one-fifth of a dam, nor the modern ' doable 

 pyce,' but an imaginary integer of copper accounts, whereof sixty-four 

 equal one silver Rupee." 



This paper will be published in the Journal, Part I. 

 2. On the origin of the Myth about Kerberos. — By Dr. R. Mitea. 



The earliest notice of dogs as warders at the entrance of Hades occurs 

 in the Sailhita of the Rig Veda. Yama, the regent of that region, it is 

 said, had two canine attendants, each having four eyes, and these brought 

 the dead from the earth to the nether regions. The passages in which 

 they are mentioned are short and sometimes obscure, but their purport is 

 clear enough. The most important of those passages runs thus " (0 Agni) 

 hasten on by an auspicious path, avoiding the two four-eyed brindled 

 dogs, the offspring of Sarama. Then approach the bountiful Pitris who 

 dwell in festivity and with Yama. (To Yama) place the spirit under the 

 care of thy two four-eyed dogs which guard the roads and thy mansion, 

 and whom men avoid, and keep it in ease and free from disease. The two 

 brown messengers of Yama, broad of nostrils, delighting in other's life, and 

 of great power, wander about among men. May they give us again the 

 auspicious breath of life, that we may again behold the sun." (R. V. XV, 

 10 — 12). These are quoted in the Yajur Veda, and their counterparts occur 

 in the Atharva Veda. The later literature of the Hindus casually, but very 

 obscurely, refers to them. Thus in the Mahabharata, Yudhisthira in his way 

 to heaven is said to have been led by a dog. These dogs are either called 

 Svdnau " two dogs," or Sdrameyau, " the two sons of Sarama," the Dawn. 



In Greek mythology the story of the dogs occurs repeatedly, and is well 

 known to classic scholars ; but for purposes of comparison it is necessary that 

 a few of its salient points should be noticed here. The oldest notice of a do°« 

 as the warder of Hades is to be found in the Iliad of Homer where Herakles 

 refers to his "Haling out hateful Pluto's dog from darksome Erebos." 



