MISCELLANEA ETHNOCRAPH fCA. 



203 



by a string at the centre has a pan hung at each end by three strings. The weights 

 are rough lumps of stone and there is no pointer ; so the seller and buyer watch for 

 the horizontality of the beam, and the buyer keeps an open eye to see that the seller 

 does not hold the suspending string too close to the beam, nor assist the horizontality 

 with a little finger. A common trick of the dishonest tradesman is to make the arm 

 on the weight side slightly longer than the other. This gives short weight, but the 



— F.G.I .- 



&= 



FiG. 2. 



-$ 



M. 



-L- 



-r -- 



- Fig. 3: 



7T 



IF 



Fig 4 — 



■Fie.e — 



F 1 F 2 



Fig. 12.- 



r == ^ 



F3 F 4 



purchaser can counter the swindle by insisting on the article and weights being reversed 

 in the pans. Then he will get more surplus than previously he was in defect. 



From the crude form there is every gradation in shape, size and material up to 

 the delicate balance of the chemist which can weigh fractions of a milligramme. In 

 these balances the adjustable weights in the pan are supplemented by a moving 

 weight or rider on the beam and the device then falls into class 4. Occasionally the 



