198 N. ANNANDALE : 



The scale (text-figure i) is marked on the beam by means of small round pins of 

 white metal let into the wood and hammered flat. These pins are arranged in trans- 

 verse and horizontal lines and in circles. Every fifteenth transverse line ends in a large 

 circle and between every pair of horizontal lines there are five pins arranged thus 



• •■ • The circles are from 6 to 6*5 cm. apart, those at the broader end of the beam 

 being a little nearer together than those at the narrow end. There is a single pin in 

 the centre of each circle. The distance between the centres of each two consecutive 

 circles represents a weight of 5 viss ; that between each transverse line of pins of 

 1 viss, and that between each dot in the longitudinal series 2 tikals. 



Fig. 1. — Broader end of the beam in steelyard (No. 11117), pi. XUI, rig. 2 ; showing part of scale. 



Actual size. 



The weight (pi. XLIII, fig- 7) that is moved along this scale weighs ii^- lb., and 

 has a diameter of 12 cm. ; it is of white metal, circular in form, flattened at the base 

 and rounded above. It is suspended from the beam by means of a short loop of cord 

 and an iron chain of S -shaped links of rather artistic design. 



The specimen is considerably smaller than some that are used in the Intha 

 bazaars. The steelyard is used in these markets for weighing heavy objects such as 

 large baskets of rice or dried fish, blocks of ornamental stone, etc. I have no photo- 

 graph showing it in use. 



No. 11118. Bismer (PI. XUI, fig. 3; pi- XIvV, fig. 1). 



Burmese (Intha) name. — Peikthagangdo ( = " viss-beam " ). 



Locality. — Fort Stedman. 



This is a bismer, or weighing-beam without moveable weights, of very simple 

 construction, with five suspending strings fixed in position. 



The beam is of white wood hacked into shape with a dao or large knife. Its 

 cross-section in the middle is roughly circular but at one end, which bears the strings, 

 the upper surface is ridged and at the other, from which the scale-pan is hung, a 

 little flattened. The length is 44 cm. and the greatest diameter about 4 cm. 



The strings are passed through V-shaped passages in the ridged part of the 

 beam. These passages have been bored by means of a hot iron. They occupy only 

 the upper part of the beam. Each string is a loop of thin and coarsely twisted two-ply 

 cord. The loop is formed by knotting the two ends of the cord together. Each is 

 about 8 -5 cm. long. 



