Indian Antiquary Vol 48

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 240

236
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
fire others qualified for the purpose to do likewise.
Prof. S. K. Ayyangar has further benefited the present-day reader by giving him the advantage of his great personal knowledge of the subject in his introduction and his abstracts of the quota tions.
A word as to the method adopted in producing the book. A University Research Student, Mr. A. Rangaswami Sarasvati, has been employed to make a "systematic collection of passages in both Telugu and Sanskrit literature bearing upon the History of the Empire of Vijayanagar." This is entirely right.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
SUNNEE, DATED GOLD MOHAR.
Peter Mundy (Travels, Hak. Soc. ed. vol. II, p. 310) makes, in 1633, the following remarks on money in Surat in his day
"Coyne is of good gold, silver, Copper, ette. vizt-Of gold there is only Mohores or Sunnees and half ones ditto, the whole one worth about 5 nobles English, sometymes more or lesse."
The term "Sunnee" is usually explained as a gold mohar and derived from sond, gold. But if the old writers meant sunt, they would have written "soonee" or something similar, and if "sunnee." was a common term for the gold mohar 300 years ago, it is odd that no form like soni, sohani, suni, sunni, is to be found now. The more reasonable explanation seems to be that sant, sanhi, saniyd, sanhiyd, were vernacular forms meaning a dated mohar (from san, sanh, a year), one which deteriorated in value as the date became old, as in the case of sanat or dated (sonaut) rupees. Hence the importance of rapid sale as is shown by the following quotations :
6 Feb. 1628. Sunneas' are not worth above Rs. 13 each." (Foster, English Factories, 1624-1629, p. 235.)
16 March 1628. "Cannot get rid of the 'sunneas sent up, except at a loss." (Ibid., p. 270.) 4 July 1636. "Have sent 30 'sunnees' for trial." (Ibid., 1634-1636, p. 272.) R. C. TEMPLE.
NOTES FROM OLD FACTORY RECORDS. 15. Punishment for Coining.
13 May 1717. Consultation at Fort St. George. The
President acquainting the Board that he has got a black fellow nam'd Peremaul [Perumal] in the
[DECEMBER, 1919
It shows the rising generation of University men the right path in the first place, and it collects casual references to current political events and stories in the ordinary literature of the day. Such references are more likely to have no partizan or other reason for hiding the truth as known to the writer than are set histories or chronicles. Whether the writer knew the truth is another question which can only be solved by the collection of all such references as are available. In this view the value of the method pursued by Prof. Ayyangar comes clearly before us, and I cannot help hoping that the example he has set will encourage his University to continue the task in every direction open to it. R. C. TEMPLE.
Cockhouse, whom he confin'd upon a discovery which the Shroffs [sarraf, money-changer] made of his bringing bad Fanams [small silver coins] to be chang'd, which the said Peremaul upon examination confess'd to him as Follows-That his brother Moorta [? Màrti] a Malabar Madrâsî [East or West Coast at that time] Goldsmith, Inhabitant of St. Thoma, gave him 18 fa. to bring to Madrass to buy silver with of the Shroffs, which silver he was to carry back to his brother in St. Thoma for coining of more Fanams. The said Peremaul was sent for in, and being re-examin'd confess'd the Fact to the board in manner beforemention'd, which affair being debated, and the discredit our Mint may be brought into (which is at present in the greatest repute of any in the Mogull's [Delhi Emperors and Deccan Sovereigns] dominions) consider'd, the board think it highly necessary that the said Permaul should be made a publick example for being accessary to his brother's knavery (there having at times crept in from St. Thoma several parcels of bad Fanams, but this is the first person that could ever bet discover'd); according[ ly ], the Following resolutions are agreed upon.
That the Choultry [Court House] Justices do meet at the Choultry on Fryday next between nine and ten a clock in the morning, to direct the said Permaul to be put in the Pillory where he is to Stand two hours, after which to have both his ears cut off, and be whip'd out of the Hon. Company's bounds, never to set his Foot therein again under penalty of being sent a Slave to the West Coast upon his being discover'd. (Madras Public Consultations, vol. 87).
R. C. TEMPLE.