Directory_and_Chronicle_1876 — Page 61

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WEIGHTS, MEASURES, &c.

He can tell quite certainly whether his age is within the first cycle of 12, or the second, third, or fourth; but if he be upwards of 60 years old, he is liable to get bewildered in his reckoning, the want of the habit of counting his years by the year of the Era in which he was born. This the Siamese never do.

The Siamese sacred Era is reckoned from the time it is supposed Buddh died, which was 2,400 years at the full moon in May, 1866. This reckoning is never used except in their religious matters. It is denominated Pööta Sakkárát (Era of Buddh). Their civil Era, called Chöölá Sakkárát (litle Era) is reckoned from the time when Pra Rooang, a Siamese king of great celebrity, established it, and that was 1,227 full years in March, 1866. Siamese in writing their dates always show first the year of their Era; second, the day of the week; third, the day of the waxing or waning moon; fourth, the number of the month; fifth, the names of the year; and, sixth the particular year of the cycle of 10. Their mode of showing the day of week, day of moon, and month is very concise.

WEIGHTS, MEASURES, &c.

TABLE OF SIAMESE MONEY.

4 P'eis

make 1

Fu'ang

$0.076

2 Fu'ang

1

""

Sülü'ng

0·150

35

4 Sälü'ngs

1

Bät or Tical

0·600

""

*"

4 Bäts

1

Tämlü'ng

2.400

"

""

20 Tämlü'ngs

1

Ch'äng

48.000

""

50 Ch'ängs

1

"5

Häp

2,400-000

100 Hấp

1 Tära

24,000.000

>"

NOTE. The standard of weight being the coin of the country, weights are designated by the same terms. A Tical weighs 236 grains Troy.

The Siamese standard of weight is just double that of the Chinese, and goods are bought and sold in Bangkok more by the Chinese than the Siamese standard.

LONG MEASURE.

1 Niws..

12 Niw

make

1 K'ú'p

=

inch 93

4

2 K'ú'ps 4 Säwks 20 Wabs 400 Süns

"

1 Säwk 1 Wah

12

;;

78

17

"

"1

17

""

1 Sën 1 Yot

130 feet.

**

""

**

9 statute miles.

NOTE.-Timber is bought by the Yök, which is 64 Säwk in length, by 1 Säwk in width=36,864 Siamese inches, being equivalent to 169 square feet.

1 Tänan..

20 T'änans

25 Tänans

DRY MEASURE.

make

1 Táng

1 pints. 15 ""

17

1 Sat

"1

100 Tángs or 80 Sat

1 Keean (Coyan.)

NOTE.-A Keean is 20 Piculs. A Picul is 1333 lbs. Avoirdupois.