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Art. V.—Memoir on the Length of the Illahee Guz, or Imperial Land Measure of Hindostan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2011

Extract

In submitting to the Royal Asiatic Society the following remarks on the very important inquiry, as to the length of that unit on which is founded the simple but perfect system of land measurement, by bigahs and their subdivisions, adopted by the most enlightened of the Moghul sovereigns of Hindustan, the Emperor Akbar, I hope I may be excused for entering into much more detail than the subject may at first seem to require; and before entering into the investigation, that I may be allowed to submit some preliminary remarks.

Type
Original Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1843

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References

page 45 note 1 Akbery, Ayeen, Vol. I. part iii. Illahee Guz, 4to. Edition, 1800, p. 302.Google Scholar

* This is the inclosure called the Tripoli, between the Dehli gate of the Fort and the Masjid.

* This length could not he well determined, there being octagonal buildings at the corners.

This could not he satisfactorily measured, on account of circular buildings at the ends.

By observations made in November and December, 1825, I find the latitude of the centre of the tomb to be 27° 10′ 21″.—J. A. H.

§ This, the mean of the measurements of the four sides, (corrected,) affords the most satisfactory result; the marble platform is as nearly a square as it is possible for art to make so large a mass of masonry.

* This is a vault containing the graves of the Emperor and Empress.

* For the accommodation of visitors who pay their devotions at the opposite mosque.

This measure is faulty, from its shortness, and the doubt whether the surface of water or containing walls are meant.

These places are without the great gate; the last result must be rejected; on account of surrounding bazars, it could not be well measured, and I suspect a mistake in the length.

§ These measurements are very ill-defined and uncertion.

* This Chauk is not within the principal inclosure. Its dimensions could not be measured, as it is abstracted by rubbish and huts.