178 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XII. 



The following table taken from the Ceylon Blue Book for 

 1889, Part I., shows the equivalents of the above in English 

 standard measures : — 



1 amunam = 4 pelas 



The Dutch parrah was adopted in its several proportions 

 and subdivisions as the legal standard measure of capacity 

 in all transactions within the Island by Regulation No. 3 of 

 1816, which came into operation on the 1st of May, 1816. It 

 was defined as a perfect cube HfVo inches in length, depth, 

 and breadth. It was divided into half parrah, its internal 

 dimensions being 9 T ^ inches in length, depth, and breadth, 

 and quarter parrah 7-j^- in. The parrah was divided into 

 24 seers. Each seer was in its dimensions a perfect cylinder 

 of a depth equal to its diameter, namely, 4 x 3 q 5 ^ inches, and 

 divided into subdivisions of half and quarter seer, the same 

 being cylinders whose depth and diameter were $ywo inches 

 and 2^ inches, respectively. 



The weight of the parrah measure, according to the 

 Custom-house account, was for coffee from 35 to 60 lb.; 

 pepper 27 to 30 lb.; salt 52 to 55 lb.; paddy, rice, and husk, 

 30 to 33 lb.; rice 42 to 46 lb.; candy or bahar, 500 lb. avoir- 

 dupois or 461 lb. Dutch troy weight. 



One amunam is equal to 5 bushels, if 32 seers be reckoned 

 to the bushel, but if each seer is " pressed down," as it is 

 called, only 28 seers go to the bushel. 



40 lahas, or kuruni 



8 parrahs 



5 bushels 

 20 pecks 



160 quarts, or seers, or neli 



1 pela 



10 lahas, or kuruni 



2 parrahs 

 bushel 



5 pecks 

 40 quarts, or seers, or neli 



4 quarts, 8 * or seers, or neli 



5 lahas, or kuruni 



20 quarts, or seers, or neli 



1 laha 

 1 parrah 



