MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 123 
Accounts are commonly kept in Canter'raia Palams , and in an CHAPTER 
imaginary money containing ten of these ; by the Mussulmans v 
called Chucrums , and by the English Cautery Pagodas , a corruption Ma J 20 > &c * 
of Canter' ram Pagoda. It must be observed, that, in the table, 
the value of the silver coins is estimated from that of the gold, 
according to the rate of exchange. That of gold coins is fixed by 
comparing the pure gold that each contains, with that of a guinea : 
but the Canter' raia Palam, being much adulterated, passes for more 
than its real value. This would occasion much confusion. I shall 
therefore, in all calculations, consider it as worth one ‘twelfth part 
of the Sultany Pagoda. The coins were assayed at the Calcutta 
mint by Mr. Davidson. 
The value of the different coins was frequently changed by the Regulations 
late Sultan in a very arbitrary and oppressive manner. When he money.™” 8 
was about to pay his troops, the nominal value of each coin was 
raised very high, and kept at that standard for about ten days ; 
during which time the soldiery were allowed to pay off their debts 
at the high valuation. After this, the standard was reduced to the 
proper value. Ever since the place has been in the hands of the 
English, the value has been fixed by the commanding officer. The 
value put upon the copper, by this regulation, is higher than the 
market price of that article ; owing, probably, to a difficulty in 
getting copper money to pay the troops the fractional parts of their 
allowances. The Batta, or price exacted by the money-changers for 
converting coin of one kind into another, is moderate ; but the 
dealers are accused of imposing on those who are unacquainted with 
business ; and, as scarcely any of the coins are aliquot parts of an- 
other, they have great opportunities for this kind of fraud. I have, in 
the table, stated the quantity of copper given, by the Shrofs , for gold 
and silver; when they give gold or silver for copper, they charge 
240 Dubs for a Sultany Pagoda , which is a difference of per cent. 
According to the regulations of the late Sultan, the Seer is the Weights, 
standard weight and measure, and is of two kinds ; called in the 
Vol. I. S 
