1892.] M. M. Cliakravarti— Troy weights of ancient Orissa. 
49 
165 grains = - - ~ — kalians 
= 2 t V kahans. 
VI. In the beginning of this century (1803 A. I).), the official 
rate was 
1 rupee = 4 kahans.* 
VII. The present rate (1891 A. D.) is 
1 rupee = 3-g- to 3-f kahans, 
being at the rate of 16 to 18 gundas per pice. 
A glance at these figures will show that the cowries became cheaper 
and cheaper, till we come to the beginning of the eighteenth century. 
Then, all on a sudden, they became dearer, extraordinarily dearer, if the 
Madala Panji is to be believed. After some time, the value of the 
cowries fell to 4 kahans. At present tlie copper pices have driven them 
from the field. In the mofussil, cowries are now used only for fractions 
of pices and annas. 
I conclude this brief essay with an estimate of the income of the 
Orissa kings as given in the Madala Panji. Ananga Bhima Deva, the 
most celebrated monarch of the Gangavamsa, is said to have issued a 
mudul (royal order), reported in extenso in the aforesaid Chronicle. In 
that mudul he is made to say :— 
“ My predecessors beginning with Kesari kings had an income of 
1,500,000 marhas in jiti gold ; I extended my kingdom and added an 
income of 2,000,000 marhas in jiti gold ; my total income is 3,500,000 
marhas.” 
(Abridged translation.) 
1,500,000 marhas of gold = 7,500,000 marhas of silver 
= 525,000,000 grains of silver 
525.000,000 
= -—--modern rupees 
lb5 
or 3,181,818 Rupees 
Similarly 3,500,000 marhas of gold 
= Rs. 7,121,212. 
Dr. Hunter estimates the first income at Rs. 4,602,500f or nearly 
50 per cent, more; but, if my reasonings be correct, neither his measures 
of gold, nor his ratio of gold to silver, can be accepted. In fact he him¬ 
self has expressed some doubts about their validity. 
* Dr. Hunter’s History of Orissa, Vol. 1, note 337. 
f Ibid., Yol. I, note 309. 
G 
