336 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
Small sums are the ilavoamena . . one-half voamena. 
eranambatra . one-third ditto, 
latsa-pahenina, less by a sixth than a voamena. 
And then, as ten rice-grains are counted to one eranambatra, sums under an 
eranambatra are counted one grain, two grains, &c. up to nine— 
720 grains 
one dollar 
360 ... 
one-half 
loso 
180 ... 
one-fourth 
kirobo 
90 ... 
one-eighth 
sikajy 
60 ... 
one-twelfth 
roavoamena 
45 ... 
one-sixteenth 
lasiray 
30 ... 
one-twenty-fourth 
voamena 
10 ... 
one-seventy-second ... 
eranambatra 
The money-changers form a distinct class of traders; 
they carry on their business in the markets, not by lending 
money at interest, but exchanging it. If the money-changer 
gives a whole round dollar for the weight of it in cut 
money, or pieces of a dollar, the receiver of the whole 
dollar must give sandamporansa, from one-twenty-fourth to 
one-eighth of a dollar extra, according to the rate of 
exchange on that day. When the money-changer buys in 
whole dollars, he also gives in pieces of money, whatever 
the rate of exchange may be beyond the weight of the 
dollar. The rate of exchange varies almost daily, and a 
whole dollar is sometimes worth, in cut money, one-sixth 
more than its own weight. It is always highest when the 
army takes the field, as many who possess cut money wish 
to exchange it for whole dollars, and at this time the money¬ 
changers reap a plentiful harvest.* 
Money is nearly the only article weighed in the markets. 
Most of the goods are sold by measure: rice by means of 
bushels; meat, by the eye; snuff, by the spoon, or small 
measure; native lambas, by the length; wood, by its dimen- 
* The Malagasy generally carry the money they have about their persons, 
tied up in one corner of their lamba or scarf. The cutting of this corner 
is deemed one of the capital offences, and is very severely punished. 
