Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.12835

c10.12835

RUTTEE, RETTEE, s. Hind. rakti, Skt. raktikā, 'red.' The seed of a (*Abrus precatorius*, L.) sometimes called the country liquorice—a pretty scarlet pea with a black spot—used from time immemorial in India as a goldsmith's weight, and known in England as ‘Crab’s eyes.’ Mr. Thomas has shown that the ancient *ratti* may be taken as equal to 1·75 grs. Troy (*Numismata Orientalia*, New ed., Pt. I. pp. 12-14). This work of Mr. Thomas’s contains interesting information regarding the old Indian custom of basing standard weights upon the weight of seeds, and we borrow from his paper the following extract from Manu (viii. 132): “The very small mote which may be discerned in a sunbeam passing through a lattice is the first of quantities, and men call it a *trasareṇu*. 133. Eight of these *trasareṇus* are supposed equal in weight to one minute poppy-seed (*likhyā*), three of those seeds are equal to one black mustard-seed (*raja-sarshapa*), and three of these last to a white mustard-seed (*gaura-sarshapa*). 134. Six white mustard-seeds are equal to a middle-sized barley-corn (*yava*), three such barley-corns to one *kṛiṣhṇala* (or *raktika*), five *kṛiṣhṇalas* of gold are one *māsha*, and sixteen such *māshas* one *suvarṇa*,” &c. (ibid. p. 13). In the *Āīn*, Abul Fazl calls the *ratti* *surkh*, which is a translation (Pers. for ‘red’). In Persia the seed is called *chashm-i-khurūs*, ‘Cock’s eye’ (see Blochmann’s E.T., i. 16 n., and Jarrett, ii. 354). Further notices of the *ratti* used as a weight for precious stones will be found in Sir W. Elliot’s *Coins of Madras* (p. 49). Sir Walter’s experience is that the *ratti* of the gem-dealers is a double *ratti*, and an approximation to the *manjādi* (see MANGELIN). This accounts for Tavernier’s valuation at 3½ grs. [Mr. Ball gives the weight at 2·66 Troy grs. (*Tavernier*, ii. 448).]