Slant, 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



4as 



to be killed which had been presented to, but not accepted by, the King ; 

 and because they were unwilling to be searched when on shore. 



Provision?; and Refreshments. — Bullocks, sheep, and goats are in 

 plenty; but the former are not permitted to be killed, from religious 

 motives. Poultry of all kinds is in abundance, and cheap. They have 

 all the tropical fruits, and the sea yields excellent fish of all kinds, particularly 

 flounders, which are dried, and exported to all the eastern ports. Here is 

 procured the best balachong, a composition of dried shrimps, pepper, salt, 

 and sea- weed, &c. beaten together, to the consistence of a tough paste, and 

 then packed in jars for use and exportation ; it is much sought after by 

 the Malays, but to an European palate it is not very pleasing. 



Coins. — Accounts are kept in tales, ticals, miams, fouangs, and cowries, 

 thus divided : — 



800 Cowries equal to 1 Fouang, called by tl\e natives Phuani. 



2 Fouangs , 1 Miani, or Mneu 



\ Miams ■ 1 Tien!, or Baiit 



4 Ticals . 1 Tale, or Tamluni 



20 Tales « 1 Catty. 



There are likewise silver coins called songfais, 2 to a fouang; and 

 fainungs, 2 to a songfai. 



10 miams are equal to a China tale, and 5 Siam tales are always rec- 

 koned at 8 China tales. 



The coins are gold ticals, which pass for 10 silver ticals ; miams, 

 fouangs, and samporfs, the latter !>eing one-quarter of a fouang. The silver 

 tical weighs 236 grains, and is from 11 oz. 4dwts. to 11 oz. 12dwts. fine ; 

 these coins are often adulterated. Two ticals pass commonly for a Spanish 

 dollar, and 2\ ticals for a Dutch ducatoon. 



The fineness of gold and silver is expressed, as in China, by touches. 



Weights. — Great weights are ticaJs, catties, and peculs, tints di 

 vided :— 80 ticals make one catty of 20 tales ; and 50 Siam catties should 

 be equal to 1 China pecul of 133t lbs. avoirdupois ; for all their goods 

 are weighed by the China dotcliin ; but the King's pecul at Siam is never 

 found to give more than 129 lbs., and the catty 41 oz. 4£ drs. The common 

 fashion is to divide the pecul into 100 parts. 



Gold and silver are weighed by the tical, which is equal to 9 dwU 

 10 grs. 



Measures. — The largest measure for corn is the cochi, of 40 sestes; 

 the seste contains 40 sats, and weighs 100 Siam catties, or 25S lbs. avoir- 

 dupois, 



Ee2 



