34 



Suggestions for a New 8la?idard for 



[Jan. 



of different size, the puddi, or measure, at the same place is almost 

 always the same aliquot part of it. 



The standard of length in Malay alum is a small seed called in the 

 language of that country yevun ; but, elfcepting there, the English 

 yard, foot and inch are in general use among the natives of this Pre- 

 sidency. The acre is completely introduced in the Salem district, and 

 the Madras cawny* is in general use in the measurement of rice fields 

 in every district of the Presidency, notwithstanding the original land 

 measures were as various as the weights or measures of grain. These 

 alterations have taken place quietly and gradually, and show that 

 similar changes may be effected without extreme inconvenience. 

 . The pendulum is a standard of length not easily to be brought into 

 common use in India ; but the newly coined rupee is a measure of 

 length and weight furnished and certified by government, easily appli- 

 cable, constantly at hand— (although not in the abundance one might 

 desire, yet generally sufficient for the verification of weights, &c.) — 

 not liable to vary in dimension, and depending upon the accurate and 

 absolutely unchangeable standards of measurement established in 

 Europe. It is probable that this use of the coin may have been 

 thought of, when its diameter was fixed at one tenth of a foot. It 

 would have been more convenient, had it been made exactly, probably, 

 one inch, and had the ends of the diameter been marked by larger dots 

 in the milling ; in which way the subdivisions of the inch into eighths 

 or tenths might also have been shown. f 



The pagoda and rupee have been occasionally referred to, in fixing 

 the weights in use at Calcutta and Madras. I would propose the latter 

 as the universal standard ; changing not the names but the quantity 

 of the measures and weights at present in use. In lieu of making 

 the relation of the measures to weights depend upon paddy, 

 I would have it depend upon water, as less variable and the principal 

 change would be fixing the pullum weight universally at 3 rupees 

 weight = 540 grains, instead of at 10 pagodas weight = 547 grains. 



* The Madras cawny is a more convenient measure than the English acre. It is an 

 exact square of 240 feet sides ; very nearly half a circle of 400 yards circumference, and 

 since it contains 6,400 yards square, is divisible into 16 or 320 parts without remainder. 

 The advantage of this is evident when it is considered that the Tamul fractions have 

 always 320 its multiple or measure for denominator, and that the fractions in use among 

 other natives of India are in like manner measures or multiples of 16. In this Presidency, 

 too, the cawny is already more generally known. 



+ It is questionable, also, whether the gratuitous ' information contained in the words 

 on the reverse " one rupee" and " yek roopaee" might not be advantageously replaced 

 with something else. 



Coins themselves might be made vehicles of useful information. Their relation to one 

 another, and their weight and measurement, might all be stamped on them. I do not see 

 why the English digits and alphabet might not be inscribed on the reverse of the copper 

 and silver coin, &c. The moralist would be pleased to see knowledge and riches thus 

 go together ! 



