Indian Antiquary Vol 48

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

Page 158

154
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(Sept., 1919
For a century later we have the evidence of Stevens' Guide to East India Trade, 1775, p. 128f. "Tocopa. Tin is the only produce of this Port; about 100 Bahars of which may be had, if there has not been any Ship at the Port for some Time before. The only Coin of this place is Tin, which is distinguished as follows 3 Pingas are one Puta, 4 Putas are 1 Viss, 10 Viss are 1 Capin, 8 Capins are 1 Bahar equal to 6 Factory Maunds 15 seers Bengal. You must be very careful not to sell upon Trust here, and must always go on Shore armed."
Maxwell refers to all this at p. 142 of his Malay Manual, 1882, where he says :-" In Porak lumps of tin were formerly current as coin ;9 in addition then, Dutch and Spanish silver coins were also employed. The following are some of the old mcdes of reckoning - Tin colnago : 2 boya are 1 tampang (value the 10th part of a dollar) : 5 boya are l bidor (value the 4th part of a dollar). The weight of the tampang in Perak was one kati. It was a small gubical lump of tin with a pattern stamped on it. The bidor weighed 21 kati or the 40th part of a pikul."
As already noted, lead, spelter erd tin have been mixed up by travellers, who have ned the same expressions representing vernacular words to express all three. The following passages, quoted under the heads of Tutnag, Calin and Ganza will both give the ordinery equivalents used and show the extent to which the terms and the metels they represent have been mixed up.
TUTNAG. 1605. 4500 Pikels of Tintenaga ( misprint for tutenaga ) or Spelter. Valentijn, vol. V. p. 329 (quoted in Yule, Hobson-Jobson, 8.0. Tootpague).
1644. That which they export (from Cochin to Orisee) is pepper, although it is prohibited, and all the drugs of the South, with Celleym, Tutanaga, wares of Chira erd Fortugal; jewelled ornaments; but much less now edeys, for the reasons already stated..... Bocarro, MS. f. 316 (quoted in Yule, Hobson-Jobson, 8.v. Tootnague).
1668. The product of the Country thereabouts besides Rice erd other eatables is Tutaneg, a sort of Tin : I think coerser than ours.... For this Tutaneg or Tin is a valuable Commodity in the Bay of Bengal and here (Dinding) purchased reasonably by giving other Commodities in exchange: neither is the Commodity peculiarly found hereabouts, but further Northerly also on the Coast; and perticularly in the Kingdom of Quede there is. much of it. Dampier, Voyages, Vol. II, p. 171 (quoted in Maxwell, Lutch in Perak, p. 256f).
1875. From thence with Dollers to China for Sugar, Tea, Porcelane, Laccered Ware Quicksilver, Tuthinag, and Copper ... Fryer, p. £6 (quoted in Yule, Hobson-Jobecn, 8.0. Tootdague).
1879. Letter from Decca reporting... that Decca is not a good market for Gold, Copper, Leed, Tin or Tutenague. Fort St. George Consultations, Oct. 31, in Notes and Extracis (quoted in Yule, Hobson-Jobson, 8.0. Tootnague).
1688. Wednesday the 7 (February). Att & Consultation Extraordinary. Ordered that a sloop be sent to Conimero with Europe Gocds Vizt. Lead Tutenague and Cloth. . Friday 9 (March). Att & Consultation Extraordinary Afternoon ... The particular and prises are as followeth Vizt. ... Tutenagao ps. 20311 att P. 31+ per Cattee. Pringle, Madras Consultations, 1st Series, vol. II, pp. 14, 24.
# Seo Obsoleto Malay Tin Currency, anto, vol. XLII, pp. 88 ff.