Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 1780

SIAMESE MONEY, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

MONEY

4 Sálings

or 1 BatorTical

$0.60

4 Bäts 20 Tämlü'ngs or 1 Ch'äng

or 1 Tämlü'ng

$2.40

$48.00

50 Ch'ängs

100 Häps

or 1 Hap

or 1 Tära

$2,400.00

=$240,000.00

WEIGHTS

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

}

the same

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

12 Niws

make

1 K'u'p

inch 9 inches

2 K'ú'ps

make

1 Sawk

19 inches

4 Säwks

make

1 Wah

78 inches

20 Wahs

make

1 Sën

130 feet

400 Sëns

make

1 Yot

9 statute miles

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

DRY MEASURE

1 Tänan.

20 Tänans make 1 Táng

=

11⁄2 pints 15 pints

25 Tänans

make 1 Sat

100 Tángs or 80 Sat make 1 Keean (Coyan).

A Keean is 20 Piculs; a Picul is 133 lbs. avoirdupois.

The metric system is widely used in commerce. A law promulgated in 1924 provides that the metric system shall be the standardised and legalised system of weights and measures in Siam, but this law is optional for the time being.