Page:A Statistical Account of Bengal Vol 1 GoogleBooksID 9WEOAAAAQAAJ.pdf/30

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

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WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

The The local weights and measures are given in detail at pp. 152 and 153. In some instances in the following volume, these weights and measures have been converted into their English equivalents and the native names have not been added. In such cases the reconversion from the English equivalents may be effected with sufficient accuracy in accordance with the following tables :—

MONEY.
1 pie (${\tfrac {1}{12}}$ of an ánná) = ${\tfrac {1}{2}}$ farthing.
1 pice (${\tfrac {1}{4}}$ of an ánná) = $1{\tfrac {1}{2}}$ farthing.
1 ánná (${\tfrac {1}{16}}$ of a rupee) = $1{\tfrac {1}{2}}$ pence.

The rupee is worth, according to the rate of exchange, from 1s. 9d. to 2s.; but for ordinary purposes it is taken at 2s.

WEIGHTS.

The unit of weight is the ser (seer), which varies in different Districts from about $1{\tfrac {1}{2}}$ lbs. to 2^•205 lbs. This latter is the standard ser as fixed by Government, and corresponds to the metrical kilogramme. For local calculations in Lower Bengal, the recognised ser may be taken at 2 lbs. The conversion of Indian into English weights would then be as follows :—

1 chaták (${\tfrac {1}{16}}$ of a ser) = 2 oz.
1 ser (${\tfrac {1}{40}}$ of a maund) = 2 lbs.
1 man or maund (say) = 82 lbs.

LAND MEASURE.

The unit of land measure is the bighá, which varies from ${\tfrac {1}{3}}$ of an acre to almost 1 acre. The Government standard bighá is 14,400 square feet, or say ${\tfrac {1}{3}}$ of an acre; and this bighá has been uniformly adopted throughout the following volume.