CHAP. VI. Weights and Measures.
In Pólavaram, between the maund and the putti, come the yédumu of 5 maunds, and the pandumu of 10 maunds. These words are respectively corruptions of aidu tumulu, 'five tums' and padi tumulu, 'ten tums.' Wholesale merchants also buy and sell in terms of bags (basthas) supposed to weigh 166 lb.
Oil and ghee are sold retail by weight in the shops, and wholesale or retail by measure by the Telukulas and Gollas; milk and curds always by measure; long chillies by weight, and short ones by measure, though at Rajahmundry and Pólavaram both kinds are said to be sold by weight. Jaggery and tamarind are described in kantlams in addition to the above weights; one kantlam being equivalent to nine maunds everywhere in the district except at Peddápuram, where it is ten and a half maunds. Tape is sold by weight in terms of yettus and its submultiples (half, quarter, etc.). Fuel in large towns is sold by the following table:—
| 5 | maunds | ... | ... | = | 1 | kávadi, yédumu or pattu. |
| 4 | kávadis | ... | ... | = | 1 | putti. |
Weights below a pattu are described in submultiples of that weight.
The table used in Bhadráchalam is quite different. That taluk is situated above the Gháts, and no doubt the influence of the Nizam's Dominions and the Central Provinces predominates. The weights are:—
| 2 | chatáks | ... | ... | ... | = | 1 | pávu sir. |
| 2 | pávu sirs | ... | ... | ... | = | 1 | ardha sir (= ½ seer). |
| 2 | ardha sirs | ... | ... | ... | = | 1 | seer (= 24 tolas). |
| 5 | seers | ... | ... | ... | = | 1 | viss. |
| 8 | visses | ... | ... | ... | = | 1 | maund. |
| 20 | maunds | ... | ... | ... | = | 1 | putti. |
Peculiar to this taluk is the selling of oil retail by weight. At Pólavaram a balance resembling the Danish steel-yard is used. One end of a longish stick is marked with notches denoting different weights. The article to be weighed is hung from this end of it, and the stick and article are lifted by a string loop which fits into the notches and is tried in one after the other of them until the stick hangs horizontally. The notch in which the loop then lies indicates the weight of the article.
Measures of capacity.
The following table of measures is recognized, with one or two exceptions, in all the taluks outside the Agency:—
| 5 | tolas weight of rice | ... | = | 1 | gidda. | ||
| 4 | giddas | ... | ... | ... | = | 1 | sóla. |
| 2 | sólas | ... | ... | ... | = | 1 | tavva. |
