No. 43. — 1892.] WEIGHTS AND measures. 



177 



manchddiya. Different specimens of the seed were tried by 



Dr. Davy, and they varied in weight from 3 to 3'9 grains, their 



average being 3*6 grains. The standard weight of a madati- 



ya is, however, fixed by the tables hereinbefore given. 



12 manchadis = 1 gold pagoda 6 

 42 mafichaclis = 1 rupee 



A manchadi'm. English weight is a little less than 4 grains, 



and a rupee weighs 180 grains. 



III.— Measures of Capacity. 



Whether it be apothecaries' or troy weight, land or dry 

 measure, the starting unit is represented by 3 tala-etas, and 

 the table as given before followed. 



The smallest measure of quantity, whether dry or liquid, 

 which is in everyday use, is the hunduwa and its multiples : — 



4 hunduwas = 1 neli, orseru 

 4 neli or seru = 1 laha 



Davy refers to this as a punchi-laha, one and a half of 



which go to a loku-laha, ten loku-lahas being equal to &pela. 



They apply to the Kandyan Provinces. 



4 lahas = 1 timba 



10 lahas == 1 pela 



4 pelas = 1 amunam 



These latter are in the Kandyan Provinces merely nominal 

 to express large quantities. The loku-laha is the largest dry 

 measure in actual use, and the neliya the largest liquid 

 measure. Both kinds are employed only in measuring grain 

 and oil. For grain the measure is made of rattan, for oil of 

 bamboo. Pridham says, speaking of these measures, they 

 " varied, and no two were to be found exactly alike. When 

 these measures prevailed, standard gauges were deposited for 

 reference in every kachcheri as a protection against fraud 

 through defective weights — a precaution absolutely requisite, 

 where the natives would frequently place the wooden 

 measures in boiling water, then dry them in the sun, and 

 complete this roguery by coating the interior surface with a 

 thick layer of transparent dammer or pine resin." 



