Слике страница
PDF
ePub

The coyan is also known by merchants, and usually reckoned at 20 piculs; paddy is reckoned at 16 piculs of 1333 lbs. each, but the coyan ranges from 18 to 22 piculs, according to articles.

The Measures of length are :

[blocks in formation]

Timber is bought by the yok of 64 sok in length by 1 sok broad, equal to 36,864 niu, or Siamese inches of 18 inches English each; that is, 169 feet long by 1 inch thick.

The dry and liquid measures are few; cocoanuts and buckets are much used to measure articles.

20 Tanans of 14 pint each make 1 Tang of 30 pints.

25 Tanans

100 Tangs or 80 sats

1 Sat.

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

J Coyan.

SIAMESE DIVISIONS OF TIME.

The Siamese mode of dividing time contains a mixture of the Hindu and Chinese systems, and has many perplexing peculiarities. The cycle of sixty years is made by combining that of 12 called pee, with that of 10 called sok. The names of each term is as follows::

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

year

These two are combined when mentioning a year; thus 1862 is Peeraka treeni-sok, or the year of the Cock. But the Siamese run through the larger cycle five times in completing a cycle of 60 years, and designate each lesser duodecenary cycle by adding the name of the in the decenary cycle. Thus 1863 is pee-chaw treeni-sok, but 1865 is pee-chuat chattawa-sok, and 1866 is pee-chalu chattawa-sok, and so on. In this respect it is unlike the Chinese mode, from which the plan has been taken.

The day of 24 hours is divided into wan and koon, i.e. day and night. The first begins at 6 A.M., and the hours are reckoned 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, up to noon, and are collectively called péla chow; the six hours of afternoon are also numbered 1 to 6, and collectively called péla bai. Hours of the day are called mong; those of the night toom. The hours of koon or night, run on from 1 to 12, beginning at 6 o'clock P.M.; divided into 4 yam or watches. 9 o'clock A.M. is sam-mong-chow; 3

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Each day of a week has its own name, as follows:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

The first half, or 15 days of each month is called kang kun, or waxing moon; the second half is numbered from 1 to 14 or 15, and is called kang raam, or waning moon. The even months have 30 days, and the odd months 29 days-a rule which frequently alters the number of the day in a given month from that in the Chinese calendar. The intercalation of three days in 19 years, besides the seven months required by this computation to complete the 235 months of the Metonic cycle, is made by the astrologers, who occasionally add a day to the seventh moon. The twelve months are numbered, except the 1st month called duan Aì, or month Ai; and the 2d called duan Yee, or month Yee; the others are duan sam, duan see, duan ha, duan hook, duan ket, duan peet, duan kau, duan sib, duan sib-it, and duan sib-song, i.e. 3d month, 4th month, to 12th month, as in China. The 1st and 2d months are called winter, the 3d, 4th and 5th are called little summer, and the remaining seven, great summer.

The Siamese year is luni-solar, and intercalary months are added in the same manner as in China; but the civil new year comes about two months later in the latter part of March, in the fifth or sixth moon of the sacred year, which begins in the new moon of our November or December.

The Siamese sacred era is reckoned from the reported death of Budha, B. C. 545; it is called Puta sakkarat, or Budha's era, and is used only in religious matters. The year 1863 is the 2406th year of this era ; the 2407th begins in May 1863. The civil era, called Chula sakkarat, is reckoned from the time when Phra Ruang, a celebrated Siamese king, established it in A.D. 638, shortly after the Hejira; 1863 corresponds to the 1225th year of this era. In writing a date, the Siamese express the year of the era, the day of the week, the day of the waxing or waning moon, the month, and the cyclic name of the year; this is done by uniting the words from the two cycles as has been explained. In writing dates, it is usual to place the day of the week, day of the waxing or waning moon, and the number of the month, at the four points of a cross; thus 2+4 is Monday, the 5th day of waning moon of the 4th month.

Astrology has great influence among the Siamese, and every person is taught to remember the exact date of his birth, and the list of years in the two cycles, but especially in the larger of 12 years. If a man is asked his age, he begins by reciting over the names of the cyclic years from his birth, until he has run through the twelve, keeping tally with his fingers; then he repeats the cycle again and again, till he reaches the existing year, and then reckons up the total. The Siamese do not usually reckon consecutively by the year of either the sacred or civil era, nor by the year of the reigning monarch, as the Chinese do; this explains, somewhat, their greater usage of the duodecenary cycle.

Section 4.

NETHERLANDS INDIA.

THE monetary system of Netherlands India has latterly been assimilated to that of Holland. The silver standard coin is the Netherlands gülden, which is divided into 100 centen; and there are also half and quarter gülden, and dimes of 10 centen. The only copper money is the centen, the old duiten having been all called in. Every other kind of copper coin is prohibited. Gold and silver coins of all descriptions are admitted into Java, but are articles of trade and not parts of the currency. Ten gülden pieces, Dutch gold ducats, both new and old, English sovereigns, and doubloons, are all more or less common.

A paper currency is also issued under governmental control by the Java Bank, at Batavia; with branch offices at Soerabaya and Samarang. The notes are for f.1000, f.500, f.300, f.200, f.100, f.50, and f.25, for silver only.

The weight for gold and silver is the Dutch mark troy, divided into 9 reals, each weighing 422 grs. English. The commercial weights in common use are based on the Chinese weights, thus:

16 Taels

100 Catties

3 Piculs

44 Piculs

[blocks in formation]

1 Catty;
1 Picul:

[blocks in formation]

1 small Bahar,
1 large Bahar;

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

= 408 99
612 99

In foreign trade, however, the Dutch troy pound of 2 marks is generally used. The proportions of Dutch and English weights are,

1 Dutch troy pound

1 Dutch commercial pound

=

7576 grs. troy Eng. - 7625 99

The measures for rice and grain are the picul and coyan, and for smaller quantities, the timbang and gantang. The coyan weighs at

Batavia,
Samarang,
Soerabaya,

27 piculs, or 3375 lbs. troy Dutch.

28

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

99

or 3500 lbs.
99
30 99 or 3750 lbs. 99

The timbang contains 5 piculs or 10 sacks; 5 gantangs make 1 measure, and 46 measures are equal to a last. These measures are principally in use among the natives. The most general liquid measure, in all the Dutch settlements, is the kan, 33 of which are equal to a little more than 13 English gallons. A leager of arrack is 388 Batavia kans, equal to 133 imperial gallons, or 550 litres. Of long measure, the ell is 27

English inches; and the foot of 12 duimen, or Dutch inches, is equivalent to 12 English inches.

Goods imported directly from Holland under the Dutch or assimilated flags, with certificate of Netherlands origin, usually pay only half the tariff rates; the exceptions are cigars, wheat, saltpeter, gunny bags or twine, and a few other commodities. Exports sent to Netherlands in Dutch ships or under assimilated flags, are favored with a reduction of one-half, or are altogether free; rice pays 10 centen per coyan. The assimilated flags are England, United States, Sardinia, Sweden, Prussia, Denmark, Austria, Greece, Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen.

Section 5.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

THE ports of Manila and Sual in the island of Luzon, Iloilo in the island of Panay, and Zamboanga in Mindanao, are now opened to the ships of all nations at peace with Spain.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

These rates are estimated by the Spanish ton, 123 of which are equal to 100 English tons. Coin is not considered to be cargo. If the vessel has a single package as cargo, or takes any parcels of musters, &c., they are regarded as cargo, and subjects her to dues accordingly.

C.G. 41

EXPORT DUTIES.

Goods are stored for 1 per cent. on entry, and the same when reshipped; and an additional 1 per cent. is charged if they remain more than a year. A ship, on her arrival, must not communicate with the shore until the harbor-master has boarded her; and thirty hours after this the manifest must be presented at the custom-house, detailing the marks, numbers, and bales, of the cargo; a vessel may retain her cargo on board 40 days after the manifest is presented.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Tobacco in leaf or manufactured, cordage, silver uncoined, and gold in bars or dust, are all free. The above rates are levied on a customhouse valuation, which varies with market quotations of produce.

IMPORT DUTIES.

These are levied on a fixed custom-house valuation, according to the following scale and distinctions ;—

DESCRIPTION OF GOODS.

Spanish goods imported in..........

Foreign goods imported in......
Spirituous liquors from Spain in......

Do. do. from foreign ports in...

Beer and cider from Spain,

Do. do. from foreign ports,...

SPANISH VESSELS. FOREIGN VESSELS.

.....

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Spanish wines of all sorts,.........
Wines from foreign countries,.........
Except champagne and constantia,..........
Foreign fabrics of cotton and silk in imita-

tion of native cloths, especially stripes
or checks of black, blue, or purple colors,
gray, white or stamped cottons from
Madras or Bengal, towels, napkins, and
table-cloths,........

Bicho-de-mar, rattans, diamonds, tortoise

shell, birds-nests and mother-o'-pearl,..... Cotton twist, red, yellow and green; gold and silver coin and bullion; plants and seeds,.......

Tropical productions like those of the Philip

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
« ПретходнаНастави »