________________
312
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(DECEMBER, 1897.
Knives ...
.. 10
,
among records and travellers tales is one that has to be resisted, but the following notes are of such interest and value in the present connection that there is some excuse for inserting them here.
Alexander Hamilton, writing about 1710 of Borneo, Travels,134 Vol. II. p. 149, says: “Sambas is the next Country of Commerce to the Northward of Succadaana. It produces but very little Pepper, but some Gold, Pearls, and Boes-wax, which makes it well frequented by the Chinese, who carry Surat Piece-goods from Malacca and Jahore, and barter to very good Purpose for the aforesaid Commodities. Bees-wax is the current Cash in that country. It is melted but not refined, and cast in moulds of an oblong Square, the Breadth about twoThirds of the Length, and the Thickness Half of the Breadth, and a Rattan Witby to lift them by, cast in the Wax. A Piece weighs a Quarter of a Pecul which comes to in English Weight, 34 Pound, and a Pecul is valued in Payments at 10 Masscies, or 40 Shillings Sterl. They have also for smaller Payments Pieces of Eight to a Pecul and Sixteenths, and for smaller Money they have Couries."
On the 5th of April 1896 the people of Mûs in Car Nicobar had occasion to buy a large canoe from the people of Chowra Island, which was valued at 35,000 Cocoanuts, but after valning it in cocoanuts they paid for it in other articles.
This shews the use of cocoanuts as money of account, payment in kind being accepted in lieu. The following things were paid in exchange for the canoe :Red cloth ... 5 pieces.
... ..6 No. Big spoons ... 2 pairs. Baskets ... .. Two-anna bits ... ... 20 No.
Pigs ... . Silver wire ... ... 3 strands. Fowls ... Silver rings ... ... 10 No.
Chisels ... White long-cloth ... 5 pieces. Big chisels Spoons and forks ... 10 pairs. Big dds (knives) Beads ... ... ... a quantity. Small das Fishing hooks ... ... 12 No.
Rupees... ... Fishing lines ... ... 3 .
Axes ... . Carpenters' axes ... 6
Big, iron spikes ... Small iron spikes ... 6
Miscellanea ... ... ad lib. In addition to the evidence giveti ante, p. 264 f., as to the fixing by savages and semi-savages without a cash currency of a definito money value on articles of barter, there is a valuable note et p, 4 of Maung Tet Pyo's Customary Law of the Chins, 1884, on the point: -
"Hitherto there has been no scalo of valuation of articles given as fine or compensation by the Chins. Consequently much confusion used to be caused when matters of this description were brought into Court. The Chin pasans, or learned men, have been consulted on this point and the following scale of valuation has been laid down : - Articles.
Valae. (a) For presents :
Rs. &. 5 calabash holding kaung (liquor) 1 full-grown hog ...
... 10 0 1 cowrie-embroidered bag... 1 chwé bya ...
... 08 1 small dd ...
... 04 1 forked dd ... ...
... 08 1 bullock ...
... 300 1 Chin spear ...
... 0 14 CV. Stevens, Guide, p. 108, as to barter with Madagascar in 1775 and provippely.
... 28
