A History of the Mahrattas v1.c15.98

v1.c15.98

¹ Dr. Fryer mentions that he weighed about 16,000 pagodas, which is equal to about ten stone. [See note on p. 206 of vol. i. of Fryer’s Travels (Hakluyt), ed. Crooke, 1909: ‘This rite, known as Tulā-dāna was practised by many Hindu princes. The Rājās of Mārwār and Amber used to weigh themselves against gold, gems and precious cloths at the Pushkar pilgrimage, the articles being afterwards distributed among the priests (Tod, Annals, i. 537). Even at the present day the golden lotus through which the Mahārājā of Travancore passes, and which is broken up and given to Brahmans, must be his exact weight (Mateer, Land of Charity, 170; Manual of Travancore, i. 171, 172). Akbar was weighed twice a year against gold and other valuables (Āīn, i. 266 f.). The weighing of Jahāngīr is described by Sir T. Roe (i. 252) and by Terry (p. 395). The same custom prevailed in the time of Aurangzeb (Manucci, ii. 348; Tavernier, ed. Ball, i. 379 ff.; Bernier, 270).’]