JULY—SEPT. 1857.] 
for India. 
199 
I would propose as a Measure of Capactly, a vessel to be 
called a " Seer," but exactly equivalent to an Imperial Quart. 
The present " seer-measure" averages a capacity of 66 J cubic 
inches : the Quart is 69*3185. The present seer-measure" con- 
tains when struck, about 74 tolas of rice, or 76 of mixed grain, 
and about 80 tolas of either when heaped : the Quart would con- 
tain 78 tolas of Rice, or 86 of mixed grain when struck, and (with 
a diameter of 4 inches,) about 86 tolas when heaped ; but heaped 
measure should not be recognised by Government. I cannot but 
think that if there exists an English Measure wliich corresponds 
(taking struck cciytent) so closely either to the Native " seer" of 
80 tolas, or to the "•seer" of 77| tolas which I have proposed, 
that it should be adopted, whichever of the two " seers" of iceight 
the Government may select. It is also to be added, that the Quart 
will contain an even number of tolas (rupees) weight in water ; 
namely, 17460 grains, or 97 tolas exactly, at a temperature of 84° 
Fahrenheit. Tliis may be calculated from the Table at page 212. 
The " Seer-measure" then, would be defined as a vessel con- 
taining 97 tolas of water at a temperature of 84°, and its bulk 
69*3185 cubic inches. A reference to the water being distilled, or 
to the height of the Barometer, will not be necessay in practice. 
The Barometer in the Tropics fluctuates very slightly, and a fall 
of 1 inch, due to an elevation of about 940 feet, would only make 
a difference of '615 grain, to be deducted from the normal 97 tolas 
assigned to the Quart-seer. 
It would not be necessary, if the Government recognised 
struck measure only, to define the diameters (or even the shapes) 
of the vessels of capacity, for all that is required is that they con- 
tain a certain number of tolas weight of water. Still for uniformity's 
sake, and the more easy discovery of fraud, the vessels should be 
cylindrical, and it would be desirable that the models, as well as 
all vessels made up at the Government Stores, should have a dia- 
meter proportionate in some simple ratio, to the depth. *The dia- 
meter the same as the depth would be the best, but those who are 
accustomed to measuring grain and salt, assert that this would be 
too broad to be convenient, and a diameter one half the depth too 
f 
