An account of the Money of Asia. Part II. 



the Indies. His Silver Money partes no-where but in his own Country, not be- 

 ing futfer'd in the Mogul's. His Silver Money goes for a quarter of a Roupy 

 at 7 Sous 6 Deneer's? but the Silver is bale. His Gopper Money goes for 

 6 Dencers, and is currant in the Mogul's Dominions as far as Agra. For his 

 finaller Money he makes ufe of thofe Shells whereof we have already fpo- 



Lr<»n • 



'Pieces of Gold called Tagods, which are currant in the Territories 

 of the King of Golconda, the King 0/ Vifapour, the Great Raja 

 of Carnatica, the Raja of Vclouchc, and at the diamond Mines. 



AL L the Pieces of Gold reprefented in the Plate of Golconda-Money, pais 

 through all thefe Countries at the fame value., and are about the weight of 

 our half Piftol 5 but the Gold is of a baler Mettal, fo that an Ounce is not worth 

 above 42 or 43 Livres ; not going for more than four Roupies. 



Fig. 1. Is one of the ancient Pagods, at the time when the Rajas were 

 Mailers of the Kingdom of Golconda, and they are only itampt upon one fide 

 as you fee. They are as heavy as the new ones ; and though they be no 

 better Gold, yet fome years fince they went at 20, and 2j per cem. more 

 than the new ones i the reafon is, for that the Bankers being all Idolater?, 

 they are fo fuperftitious as to believe, that if they melt down that Money, 

 fome calamity will befall their Country ; and they hold this for fuch a cer- 

 tain truth, that for fear the King of Golconda mould melt it. they paid him 

 for certain years 20000 Pagods. But you muft obferve, that thefe old pagods 

 are no-where currant but in the Kingdom of Golconda. For my part, I think it is 

 more for their profit than out of any fuperftition, that they make ufe of them in 

 that manner. For in all the Kingdom of Golconda, in matter of trade, they never 

 mention any but the old Pagods, though they make their payments in new Pagods, 

 or Roupies , and in this cafe they who receive thofe new Pagods,or thofe Roupies, 

 play their game fo well, that they gain a fourth part, or a half, and fometimes one 

 per Cent.^ alledging for the reafon, that thofe new Pagods are either the King of 

 fifapour's, cr the Raja of Carnat tea's, or the Raja of V douche's, or the Englijh, 

 or the Hollanders. And they make as much of the Roupies ; tor there is no 

 confiderable payment made, which is not received by the Cher iff or Banker, 

 making it good to the Seller, who fometimes has no need of his Money in 

 a month or two, and fo he receives the intereft of it, though it be but for 

 two days. If the payment be made in old Pagods, and that the fum amount 

 to two or three hundred, or three or four thouiand, the Banker takes them 

 all, and viewing them one after another, he divides them into five or fix 

 parts ; and then poifing them all, he fays of fome, that they are more us'd 

 than others, and that having paired through many hands, there is a waite of the 

 mettal about one per Cent. Others, fays he, want not above half one ptr 

 Cent, others but a fourth part. Thefe Pagods have been bor'd fome half tho- 

 rough, others a quarter thorough ; and it is a wonderful thing what this boring 

 amounts to. For in regard thefe Pagods are very thick, and cannot be dipt, 

 thofe that are Mafters of the trade, take a Piercer, and pierce the Pagod tho- 

 rough the fide, half way or more, taking out of one piece as much Gold as 

 comes to two or three Sous. And provided they be nojtetaken in the fad, 

 they chufe rather to follow this trade than any other j there being no handy- 

 craft tradesmen among the Indians, that gain more that, three Sous a day. 

 After they have drawn out the piercer, they knock ugem the holes with a 

 little hammer, and are fo cunning in clofing up the hjes again, that he muft 

 be very skilful indeed, that can difcover the cheat. fe>r this reafon, they ne- 

 ver receive any payment till they have fhew'n the Pieces to the Cberaff or 

 Banker ; and though he looks only on two or three Pieces, he takes a Sous. 

 They have alfb another cunning trick, and the more the Banker is in credit, 



the 



