Indian Antiquary Vol 27

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 19

JANUARY, 1898.] CURRENCY AND COINAGE AMONG THE BURMESE.
15
And a corollary to the above observation is that, if the Siam9s9-Burm 383 quaternary scale is traceable to an Indian source on the basis of a common origin, the whole Further-Eastern System, from Burms through the Shan States and Cambodia, is likewise so traceable.
As regards money of account of higher dạnoninations than the tiokal or rupee, we have seen the tamlüng or four tickals, the ching or eighty tickals, the hap or four thousand tickals of the Siamese, and also the pêkba or hundred tickals of the Burmese, which last is the equivalent of the suí of the Shâns. But amongst the Shins there are evidently a number of auch terms worth following up, some of which are recorded by Dr. Cashing, thus :
English.
Dr. Cashing.
Siamese.
Given myself by Shans.
kyap, wat
...
...
bât
...
1 rapee 2 rupees
...
.........
lapkyap, bàt, chetke7 ngünbau ngâmûkê
haung taung
tamlüng
ngnbêng koʻnalàm
hoi
k'an
...
chên, chang
pan soi
100 200
kum...
......
Since the above remarks on Sia nose weights ware prepared for the press, my old corre. spondents, the managers of the Musée Guimet, heve been good enough to send me Vol. I. of the Voyage dans le Laos of the Mission Etienne Aymonier, 1895. This consists chiefly of full and exceedingly intelligent diaries of journeys undertaken in 1882-3 off both banks, but principally off the right (Western) bank, of the Grand Fleuve, best known to us by its Siamese name of Mêkhong, the French apparently preferring the Shâa name Nam Khong for it. And as M. Aymonier constantly records prices, values, rates, taxes, dues, demands, presents, offerings and such like, for all parts of the country traversed, the volume is of great value for the present parpose. The book, however, is essentially a journal of a tour, and the collection, tabulation and comparison of the facts recorded in it have involved a careful perasal and collation of the whole of its 350.pages..
Journeying through a great number of villages occupied by a variety of tribes more or less wild, M. Aymonier came across several forns of carrency used under a considerable variety of terms therefor. He also employs occasionally translations into his own tongue of the vernacular words, which at first are a considerable pazzle to the English reader. I will, therefore, first consider here the terms employed and then the results of his representations of the currency and weights of the Siamese Shans.
Translated Terms. 1. Balance. - This is a literal translation of châng, the Siamese word for a catty, and also for balance and weight. It is used for the Siamese catty (pp. 18, 89) and as a synonym for live siamoise (p. 122).
• In quoting Dr. Cashing I have rondernd his words as best I can and perhaps not always as he would, for Shan writin, though intended to be phonetio, allowa Roveral sounds to the same vowel symbol. To the list here given might be addad fron Aymonier, Voyage dans le Laos, Vol. I. p. 133, anching or 40 rupees, i..., 5 chang.
1 Por kyat or kyap closely..