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210
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(NOVEMBER, 1927
Central Asia is yannbú. There are cuts of the gold ingots in Tavernier, whose words suggest what is probably the true origin of the popular English name, viz., & corruption of Dutch Goldschuyt."
"1566.'.... valuable goods exported from this country (China). ... Are first a quantity of gold, which is carried to India in loaves in the shape of boats ....' --C. Federici, in Ramusio, iii, 391 b."
"1611. Then, I tell you, from China I could load ships with cakes of gold fashioned like boats, containing, each of them, roundly speaking, 2 marks weight, and so each cake will be worth 280 pardaos.'-Couto, Dialogo do Soldado Pratico, p. 155."
"1676. "The Pieces of Gold mark'd Fig. 1, and 2, are by the Hollanders called Goltschut, that is to say, a Boat of Gold, because they are in the form of a Boat. Other nations call them Loaves of Gold .. . The Great Pieces come to 12 hundred Guilders of Holland Money, and thirteen hundred and fifty Livres of our Money.'-Tavernier, E.T., ii. 8."
"1702. Sent the Moolah to be delivered the Nabob, Dewan, and Buxie 48 China Oranges.... but the Dewan bid the Moolah write the Governor for a hundred more that he might send them to Court ; which is understood to be One Hundred shoes of gold, or so many thousand pagodas or rupees.'-In Wheeler, i. 397."
"1704. Price Currant, July, 1704 (at Malacca).... Gold, China, in Shoos 94 Touchi'-Lockyer, 70."
"1862, 'A silver ingot Yambu weighs about 2 (Indian )seers ....=41bs., and is worth 165 Co.'s rupees. Koomoosh, also called Yambucha, or small silver ingot, is worth 33 Rs... .. 5 yambuchas, being equal to 1 yambu. There are two descriptions of 'yambucha ;' one is a square piece of silver, having a Chinese stampon it; the other ...in the form of a boat, has no stamp. The Yambu is in the form of a boat, and has a Chinese stamp on it.' - Punjab Trade Report, App. ccxxvi-xxviii. 1."
"1875. The ydmbů or kûrs is a silver ingot something the shape a deep boat with projecting bow and stem. The upper surface is slightly hollowed, and stamped with a Chinese inscription. It is said to be pure silver, and to weigh 50 (Cashghar (Kashgar]) ser =30,000 grains English.'-Report of Forsyth's Mission to Kashghar, 494." . • Lockyer, like other merchants of his time, was very close and precise in the matter of currency, as the following quotation from Trade in India, (1711), pp, 135-6, will show :"Formerly they used to sell for Sisee, or Silver full fine; but of late the Method is alter'd. 10 Tale of Gold 93 fine, sold for 94 Tale weight of Sisee Silver is 7 above Touch. 10 Tale of Gold 100 Touch, sold for 94 Tale Sisee Silver is Touch for Touch. 10 Tale of Gold Touch 94 for 100 Sisee, is 127 above. To reduce Sisee into Currant Silver, multiply by 100, and divide by 94. The Hoppos divide by 93. All the Eastern People allay their Gold with Silver, therefore &.. Copperish Hue is Grounds for Suspicion. The coursest, or Gold of the lowest Touch is most advisable6: For, in a parting Essay you get all the Silver that is mixt, with it for nothing, viz. 80 Tale weight Touch 58, is 58 Tale of pure Gold and 22 Tale of Silver Allay, which you pay not a Farthing for."
In writing thus Lockyer was following the custom of his day. Witness the remarks of Stevens, Guide to East India Trade, 1766 (p. 125): "At China they divide Things decimally, As in buying Gold or Silver, which is esteemed by the one-hundredth Part, and their Touching Needles (by which they generally try the Fineness of the Gold and Silver) are marked and numbered accordingly. The finest Gold among them is one hundred Touch, called Sycee, that is, pure Gold without any Allay in it. So if a Shoe of Gold touch 93, then it hath 93/100 Parts fine Gold, and 7/100 Parts of Allay in it. Goldrises and falls in China according to the
• This remark shows Lockyer's judgment in currency matters.
