1865.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 213 



more than 6 dams (-^g-?) The value then was 353 dams and a little 

 more (-if ?) Again, the round rupee, which, although there was no 

 difference between it and the square, either in weight or fineness, 

 had been estimated at one dam less, was now fixed @ 40 dams until 

 1 surkh short weight ; and 2 surhlis short weight, which was before 

 counted as 2 dams, was hereby made 1 dam and a little more." 



Gladwin, I would observe, invariably uses the word ruttie, but no 

 such weight is throughout mentioned by Abul Fazl, and although 

 both weights seem to have been similarly 8 mashas, I am not perfectly 

 certain that they were exactly identical. His translation moreover 

 of the above passage is very faulty, and one error which would 

 vitiate all calculations made on the basis of his figures is, that he says 

 the rupee was 11J instead o^ 11J mashas. I have consulted five 

 copies on this point. 



" But when Azad-ud-dawlah was sent to Kandesh, Raja Todar Mull 

 caused the value of gold mohurs to be fixed in rupees, and the deficiency 

 on the mohurs and rupees, from the bigotry and self-sufficiency of his 

 disposition, he again fixed at the old rates ; and when Khalij Khan 

 took the management of affairs, he confirmed what the Raja had 

 done, except that the deficiency for which the Raja exacted 5 dams, he 

 caused to be estimated in account at 10 dams, and if up to 1J surkhs, 

 at 20 dams. Coins of a greater deficiency in weight he ordered to be 

 reckoned as bullion." Abul Fazl goes on to say that the Emperor's 

 mind being occupied with other affairs, he did not notice these changes 

 till the 36th year of his reign, when he directed that gold coins of 3, 

 and silver coins of 6 grains short weight, should no longer be held to 

 be of full weight ; which was the only way to prevent mercenary 

 people from defrauding others. Now, setting the " little more than 

 4 dams" in the price of a surkh of gold against the " little more than 1 

 dam" in the price of 2 surkhs of silver, we would have a proportion of 1 

 to 8 ; but although all the copies of Abul Fazl I have consulted agree 

 in stating the price fixed by Akbar's regulation for a deficiency of 2 

 surkhs of silver as a little over 1 dam (ci>~*^ J j* !«> ^) if one rupee 

 or 11^ mashas = 40 dams, and 1 masha = 8 surkhs, 2 surkhs would 

 equal f f = -|~§ dams, or something less than one dam. 



It is not easy, amidst so much confusion on points which properly re- 

 quire the utmost nicety in adjustment, to ascertain exactly what were the 



