Identifier: bombaywesternind02doug Title: Bombay and western India, a series of stray papers; Year: 1893 (1890s) Authors: Douglas, James, 1826-1904 Subjects: Publisher: London : S. Low, Marston & company Contributing Library: University of California Libraries Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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Text Appearing Before Image: Though we have already written on the Arsenal, a second visit, this timeunder the guidance of Major Spring,Chief of the Ordnance Department,to whom we are indehted for muchinformation, furnishes us with somefresh material which may be of in-terest to our readers. The area ofthe Castle proper is about 20,903square yards, while that which isoutside near the Town Hall is about-8,319 srpiare yards.

Text Appearing After Image: BOMBAY CASTI.E : THE OLD BRAB TRKE. Among the interesting memorials within the Castle wallsthere is still preserved, in what was formerly the Governors JONATHAN DUNCAN. 223 House, a book rejoicing in the name of the Grand ArsenalIViujhinij Book, in wliicli the names of a great many Bombaymen, long dead and gone, flit before us, and many of themattest their weights by their signatures. This weigliing customis an old one in India. It was a favourite diversion with the Mughal Emperors and Eajas of Hindustan, liotli Jaliaiigirand Sivaji weighed themselves against gold, and distributed the proceeds among the poor: a most ])ious and praiseworthy example to all people similarly situated.* The custom obtainsalso at our clubs and other places of resort. The weighing machine at the Arsenal seems to have been the first of its kind in Bombay, and the records commence in 1808,or seventy-five years ago. The weight is given in stones andpounds a\oirdupois. In these days they appear to havemanaged

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