oct. — dec. 1856.] Notes on Indian Currencies. 21 



will subside to the bottom of the evaporating vessel ; it can be re- 

 moved by means of a colander, drained, subsequently washed and 

 dried ; the solution will then contain carbonate of soda chiefly ; 

 by further concentration it will crystallize. A second solution of 

 the carbonate in a limited quantity of water, and evaporation, will 

 give crystals in a pretty pure state. 



If it be considered worth while to purify salt No. 5, it must be 

 chiefly for the purpose of extracting the common salt it contains, 

 for which a ready market exists in this country ; in doing so, how- 

 ever, the price of the article so obtained should be weighed against 

 the selling value of this article obtained by solar evaporation from 

 sea water or brine springs. 



II. Notes on Indian Currencies. By J. W. Breeks, of the 

 Madras Civil Service. 



Of all countries, Egypt perhaps excepted, the history of none 

 retrogrades so far into the mist of fable and tradition as the Mytho- 

 logical Stories of Hindostan. The four great ages or Yugs of the 

 Satya, the Treta, the Dwapa and the Cali descriptively distinguish- 

 ed as the Golden, the Silver, the Copper and the Earthen, intro- 

 duce us to a most extravagant antiquity and represent every occur- 

 rence in a drapery of marvel and allegory under a regime of Solar 

 and Lunar Kings. 



Out of such fabulous materials to hazard an opinion as to whe- 

 ther the use of a currency* was understood in those times, would 

 be folly. Even in Menu's Code written in all probability 10 or 

 11 centuries B. C, the existence of a recognised Currency is al- 

 luded to in as familiar a manner, as a modern author might tell of 

 a pound weight, or a yard measure at the present day. 



In one part of the venerable volume, we find the interest of 

 money judiciously regulated at x for the Twice-Born, and 2 x for 



* When the term "money" or " currency" occurs, it is not restricted to Coin 

 Stamped by Public Authority, but includes also metal and other substances used 

 as a medium of trade. 



