ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Japan 



and larger moiety is filled with raised letters, and at the same time exhibits 

 a double moonlike figure. Its value is 7 mace 5 eandarines, 



Itaganne and kodama are denominations by which various lumps of 

 silver, without form or fashion, are known, which are neither of the same 

 size, shape, nor value. The former of these, however, are oblong, and the 

 latter roundish, for the most part thick, but sometimes, though seldom, flat. 

 These pass in trade, but are always weighed in payment from one individual 

 to another, and have a dull leaden appearance. 



Seni is a denomination applied to pieces of copper, brass, and iron coin, 

 which bear a near resemblance to our old farthings. They differ in size, 

 value, and external appearance, but are always cast, and have a square hole 

 in the middle, by means of which they may be strung together ; and like- 

 wise have always broad edges. Of these are current Sjumon seni, which 

 pass for half a mace, or 10 common seni. Simoni seni, of the value of 4 

 common seni, are made of brass, and are almost as broad as a halfpenny, but 

 thin. The common seni are the size of a farthing, and made of red copper ; 

 60 of them make a mace. Doosa seni is a cast iron coin, in appearance like 

 the last, of the same size and value, but so brittle that it is easily broken by 

 the hand, or breaks in pieces when let fall on the ground. 



The seni are strung 100 at a time, or, as is most commonly the ease, 

 96' on a rush. The coins in one of these parcels are seldom all of one sort, 

 but generally consist of two, three, or more different kinds ; in this case, 

 the larger sorts are strung on first, and then follow the smaller ; the number 

 diminishing in proportion to the number of large pieces in the parcel, which 

 are of greater value than the smaller. 



The schuit is a silver piece of 4 oz. 18 dwts. 16 grs. troy, and is 11 

 ounces fine, which gives its value 25s. 3d. The name is Dutch, referring 

 probably to its shape, like a boat. 



Weights. — These are the candarine, mace, tale, catty, and pecul, thus 

 divided : — 



10 Candarines make 1 Mace. 



10 Mace .. 1 Tale. 



16 Tales 1 Catty. 



100 Catties 1 Pecul. 



The pecul is 125 Dutch pounds, which are equal to 133^ lbs. avoir- 

 dupois. It is, however, said to weigh only 130 lbs. 



Measures. — The revenues of Japan are estimated by two measures of 

 rice, the man and kokf ; the former contains 10,000 kokfs, each 3000 bales 

 or bags of rice. 



