Page:Madras journal of literature and science vol 2 new series 1857.djvu/196

186 and 16ths of 40ths; or else in 16ths (annas) and 4ths of 16ths. A decimal subdivision is most desirable; not only is the computation far easier to the surveyors, but records in decimals, are far more intelligible than in Roods and Perches, and money values in relation to areas more easily calculated. The areas recorded in the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain, in which Survey every field is measured, are now in acres, and decimals to the third place. There cannot be a better authority for a decimal subdivision, and it offers no difficulty to the Natives, as regards land measurement. The cawnie, itself, is in several districts in the Madras Presidency, sub- divided into 100ths, and in the present re-survey of the Southern Districts of Madras, the decimal subdivision of the acre has been authorised, as stated in para. 11.

The next subject to be considered is that of Weight; and this is important, inasmuch as the best method of fixing a standard for measures of Capacity, is with reference to the weight of water they will contain.

The difficulty connected with determining a standard of Weight for the whole of India, is increased by the fact that there are conflicting interests and opinions on the subject. Some of the best authorities urge that the Ponderary system of India, already in some degree established, should be founded on the Rupee (the tola of 180 grains), as the standard coin of the country, always accessible in cases of doubt or suspicion. Others there are, who perceive in the increasing trade with Great Britain, the great want of some system by which the Weights and Measures of both countries may be assimilated, and they object to the tola unit, because no number of even tolas will correspond with one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or ten pounds avoirdupois, the nearest ratio being 350 tolas=91b.; a most inconvenient proportion.