Page 29, note 1. Through the kindness of Messrs. H. B. Andris and
Co., I am able to add the following information regarding Kandian dry
measures, chiefly furnished by Mr. A. J. W. Marambe, Ratemahatmaya of
Uda Bulatgama. In the Kandian districts only heaped dry measures are
employed, that is, the grain or whatever is being measured is raised
up above the edge of the measure in as high a cone as is possible
while pouring it out loosely.
Kandian Dry Measures.
2 heaped pat (pl. of pata) = 1 heaped manawa [336]
(0.01146 c. ft.).
2 heaped mana = 1 heaped naeliya (0.02292 c. ft.).
2 heaped naeli = 1 heaped seruwa (0.04584 c. ft.).
28 heaped seru (or 32 cut seru) = 1 imperial or cut bushel
(1.28366 c. ft.).
5 heaped seru = 1 standard kuruniya or lahe.
10 heaped kuruni, lahas or las = 1 paela.
4 pael = 1 amuna.
20 amunu = 1 yala.
A seruwa is a quart. Although the standard Kandian kuruniya is said
by Mr. Marambe to be one of five heaped seru, there are others,
according to him, of 4, 6 and 7 heaped seru, the latter being said
to be employed in the Wanni or northern districts. In the interior
of the North-Western Province, to the north and east of Kurunaegala,
where most of the folk-tales were collected, the kuruniya was said to
contain four heaped seru, according to which the local amuna would
be 5.71 bushels. The Kandian amuna, at five seru to the kuruniya,
would be equal to 7.1 bushels. An amuna of land is the extent sown by
one amuna of seed, and varies according to the quality of the soil,
less seed being needed for good land than poor land, where the plants
are small. In the North-Western Province, an amuna of rice field is
about two and a quarter acres, the amount of seed varying from two
to three bushels per acre. One and a half heaped seru of kurahan
(small millet) yield an amuna of crop in good chena soil; the yield
from one heaped seruwa of tana, an edible grass cultivated in hill
chenas, varies from one to two amunas; for the same out-turn with
meneri four seru of seed are necessary.