/ 



4 An account of the Money of Asia. Part II. 



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

 ing fufFer'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 Copper Money goes for 

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

 fmaller Money he makes ufe of thole Shells whereof we have already fpo- 

 ken. 



Tieces of Gold called Tagods, which are currant in the Territories 

 of the King of Golconda, the King e/'Vifapour, the Great Raja 

 of Carnatica, the Raja of Velouehe, and at the ^Diamond Mines. 



ALL the Pieces of Gold reprefented in the Plate of GoAro^-Money, pafs 

 through all thefe Countries at the lame value., and are about t'he weight of 

 our half Piftol ; but the Gold is of a bafer 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 Raja's were 

 Matters of the Kingdom of Golconda, and they are only ftampt 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 2 y fer cent, more 

 than the new ones ; the reafon is, for that the Bankers being all Idolaters, 

 they are fb 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 if, they paid him 

 for certain years 20000 Pagods. But you mull obferve, that thele old Pagods 

 are no-where currant but in the Kingdom of Golconda. For my parr, 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 j and in this cafe they who receive thole new Pagods,or tholè Roupies, 

 play their game fo well, that they gain a fourth part, or a half, and lbmetimes om 

 per Cent, alledging for the reafon, that thole new Pagods are either the King of 

 Fifapour's, or the Raja, of Carnaticds, or the Raja of Filouche's, or the Englijh, 

 or the Hollanders. And they make as much of the Roupies -, for there is no 

 confiderable payment made, which is not received by the Cher off 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 thoufand, the Banker ta>kes them 

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

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

 than others, and that having paffed through many hands, there is a walte of the 

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

 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 thele 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 not taken in the faft, 

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

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

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

 little hammer, and are fb cunning in clofing up the holes again, that he muft 

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

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

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

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



