INTRODUCTION. IN the following pages the compiler has sought to arrange, in a manner convenient for reference, the weights, measures, and money, of all nations. The work is naturally divided into two parts: first, a classification according to countries, arranged alphabetically; and, second, a set of tables in which the value of each unit is given both in English and in metric standards. This use of the metric system, coextensively with the ordinary system, may be regarded as the characteristic feature of the book. Of course, its introduction on so broad a scale doubled the labor of constructing many of the tables in the work, but the writer believes the labor to have been profitably spent. The metric weights and measures are now legal in this country, and are used by at least twenty nations besides; surely, then, they deserve as much attention as our own more locally familiar but more bungling systems. Our three sets of weights, our three different gallons, and our two dissimilar bushels, all unrelated to each other, or to the units of length, must soon give way before the simplicity and elegance of the metric system. That this event may soon happen, and that the weights and measures of the world may before long be reduced to metric uniformity, is the sincere wish and hope of the writer. F. W. C. WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND MONEY. PART FIRST. THE tables given in this part of the work need no explanation save in one particular. In the tables which relate to coinage the weight is expressed in troy grains, and the fineness in thousandths. Thus a gold coin is 900 fine when it contains in 1,000 parts 900 of pure or "fine" metal. It will be noticed in many cases that the absolute metal value of a coin varies from its assumed theoretical worth. Variations of this sort are, however, generally trifling, although obviously unavoidable altogether. Abyssinia. Length. The pic = 27 inches, or 0.686 metre. Liquid Measure.—The kuba, or cuba, 0.2684 gallon, or 1.0166 litres. Dry Measure.-For grain, the chief measure is the ardeb; which at Gondar in the interior is divided into 10 madegas, and at Massowah on the sea-coast into 24 madegas. At Gondar, the ardeb equals 0.11465 bushel, or 4.039 litres; at Massowah it is 0.33333 bushel, or 11.745 litres. Weight.-10 dirhems make 1 wakea. For coinage, Abyssinia depends upon foreign countries. Ve. netian sequins, Spanish dollars, and the "Maria Theresa dollars," of Austria, are chiefly in circulation. The last-named coins are also called patakas, or patacks. 23 harfs= 1 pataka. 24 patakas = 1 sequin. Large payments are made in gold ingots, weighed by the wakea. A wakea of gold commonly rates at a little less than 12 patakas, but of course the value fluctuates. In some localities small bricks of salt, and strings of beads, serve as currency. Achin, or Acheen. See SUMATRA. Afghanistan. The money, weights, and measures of Afghanistan are like those of Persia, Arabia, and India. In length, 1 goess = 45.67 inches, or 1.16 metres. Algeria. Since the French conquest, the French coinage, weights, and · measures, have been used. The earlier, native values were about as follows: Length. The Turkish pic = 24.92 inches, or 0.633 metre. "0.482 "Arabic 66 66 = 18.96 Each pic is divided into eight parts, called robi. Liquid Measure.—The khoullé = 4.4027 gallons, or 16.66 litres. Dry Measure.-The tarrie: = 0.56295, the saâ = 1.36215, and the caffiso 9.00718 bushels. Weights.-The karob 3 grains. The mitkal or metical = 72.06 grains, used in weighing gold, etc. The wakea = 12.04 oz. The rot attari, for spices, = 1.20396 lb. ; the rotl feuddi, for gold and silver, = 1.096714 lb. ; the rotl gheddari, for fruits, 1.354458 lb.; and the rotl khebir, 2.03167 lbs., or a little less than one kilogramme. There are also corresponding quontars, or cantaros, equal respectively to 100 of each rotl. = Money.-The former silver rial-boudjou was equal to $0.3617. The pataca chica, money of account, was worth about $0.223. |