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844
CHINA.
Money, Weights, and Measures.
The money, weights, and measures, in ordinary use at the treaty ports and in the intercourse with foreigners, are as follows:-
Money.
The Tael 10 Mace=100 Candareens=1,000 Cash=
"J
upon
Average rates of exchange, 68. 8d., or 3 Taels to £1 sterling.
•
"
48. 2d.
Mexican Dollar... There are no national gold and silver coins in China, and foreign coins are look- ed but as bullion. The chief medium of payment in commercial transactions consists of whole and broken dollars by weight. In accounts between foreigners and Chinese merchants, Mexican dollars are mostly converted into taels, at the rate of 1,000 dollars for 720 taels. But payments in cash are usually weighed at 717 taels for 1,000 dollars.
Weights and Measures.
The Leang, or Tael.....
Picul...
=
14 oz. avoirdupois. 133 lbs.
JJ
""
""
Catty
Chih
}}
"1
Chang
>>
Lys, or Li........
12
""
14 inches.
=
113 feet.
39
194 to a degree, or about English mile.
In the tariff settled by treaty between Great Britain and China, the Chih of 14! English inches has been adopted as the legal standard. It is the only authorised measure of length at all the ports of trade, and its use is gradually spreading all over the em- pire.
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