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208
THE INDIAN IXTIQUARY
NOVEMBER, 1927
** 4th. Yen, or Eem-eang, "salt dutiex." It is dificult to account for these being of so low a standard, the salt trade being entirely a government monopoly. This class is superior only to
“5th. Mut-iae, or Wuh-lae. The name of which signifying "uncleansed or unpurified," designates it as the worst of all. It is seldom used, except for the purpose of plating, or rather washing, baser metals.
"The tael of Sycoc in the East India Company's accounts is reckoned at 68. 8d. sterling. When assayed in London, this metal is frequently found to contain a small admixture of gold. Mercantile account sales give the following average out-turn of China bullion remittances to London, Calcutta, and Bombay; that
100 taels £ 316, at 58. an oz. (including 11 per ct. for gold). of Sycee 3078 Sicca Rs. or with charges 3062 Rs. at Calcutta.
yield ( 3335 Bombay Rs. or with charges 3302 Rs. at Bombay." Sycce is again alluded to by Staunton (Account of Macartney's Embassy to China, 1797, p. 97): "Silver is more properly among the Chinese a merchandise. None of it is coined, but large payments are made in lumps of it in the form of the crucibles in which it was refined and with the stamp of a single character upon it to ascertain its weight, mostly of ten ounces. The value of silver in the current coin varies according to the relative scarcity or plenty of that metal issued from the Imperial Treasury."
Sycec, as a term, was employed for both gold and silver stamped and certified lumps of currency metal, and regarding it that fine English merchant in the Far East, Lockyer, writing in 1711 (Trade in India, pp. 132-4) says in his informing way :-“Gold makers sin Canton] (as they are commonly call'd) cast all the Gold, that comes thro' their Hands, into Shoos of about 10 Talo weight, or 12 oz. 2 dut. 4 gr. of an equal Fineness. As one makes them 93 Touch, another is famous for 94, &c. A private Mark is stampt in the Sides, and a piece of printed Paper pasted to the middle of them, by which every one's Make is known, as our Catlers, and other Mechanicks do in their Trades. Both Ends of the Shoos are alike, and bigger than in the middle, with thin Brims rising above the rest, whence the upperside somewhat resembles a Boat. From the middle, which in cooling sinks into a small Pit, arise Circles one within another, like the Rings in the Balls of a Man's Fingers, but bigger. The smaller and cloger these are the finer the Gold is. When Silver, Copper, or other Metal is inclosed in casting, as sometim3s you may meet with it in small Bits, the Sides will be uneven, knobby, and & Rising instead of Sinking in the Middle. Sometimes they make it not above 50 or 60 Touch, and guild it four or five times over; so that relying on our smooth Stones, you are liable to be imposed on. Therefore I look on the rougher ones that are used by the Banians of Indostan, with a Ball of Black Wax, to be the best. But for want of these raise the sides with a Graver, or cut it half through with a Chizel, and break the rest ; whence you may see the Colour and Grain, and easily detect their Fraud. Should you cut it quite thro', the Chizel will so draw the Gold over the Allay, that you can learn nothing by it. This they'll not willingly permit, but on the contrary, be affronted at a Request that shews so great a Distrust of them. Therefore the best way is to make a Bargain before you begin the Trial, and you may manage them afterwards as you will. They are call'd after the Makers' Names. or from the Places whence they come; but I think the former; for there is a great deal made at Pekin; but none of that Name. Chuja and Chuckja are 93 Touch. Tingza, Shing, and Guanza 94. Of theso the former turn to the best Account. Sinchupoa and Chuchepoa are reckon'd 96 and 95 Touch. The Chincse in Gold and Silver (whom, for the Generality of the People. I look on as the best acquainted with, and most knowing in those Metals of any Nation in the World) always reckon one Touch finer than it really is, and will allow you so in the Receipt of Money. Gold in Bars or Ingots comes chiefly from Cochinchina and Ton. queon, and differs in Fineness from 75 to 100 Touch. "Tis of several sizes, and easier much
