Directory_and_Chronicle_1877 — Page 64

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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 Buddha died, which was 2,490 years at the full moon in May, 1866. This reckoning is never used except in their religious matters. It is denominated Pöö1a Sakkárát (Era of Buddha). Their civil Era, called Chöölá Sakkárát (little 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.

4 P'eis 2 Fu'ang 4 Sälü'ngs 4 Bäts

WEIGHTS, MEASURES, &c.

TABLE OF SIAMESE MONEY.

make

1 Fu'ang

1

Sälü'ng

1 Bat or Tical

Tämlü'ng

1

$0.076. 0.150. 0.600. 2.400. 48.000. 2,400.000. 24,000.000.

BELL

20 Tämlü'ngs 50 Ch'ängs

100 Hấp

1

Ch'äng

1 Häp

1 Tära

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 Niw

inch.

12 Niws

make

1 K'ú'p

93

4 >>

2 K'ú'ps

1 Säwk

12

95

39

""

4 Säwks 20 Wahs

""

1 Wah

78 15

1 Sën

130 feet.

""

400 Sens

1 Yot

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.

DRY MEASURE.

1 Tänan...

20 Tänans

make

25 Tänans

1 Táng 1 Sat

1} pints. 15

""

77

100 Tángs or 80 Sat

1 Keean (Coyan.)

NOTE.-A Keean is 20 Piculs. A Picul is 133 lbs. Avoirdupois.