Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 1072

SIAMESE MONEY, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

4 Sálings or 1 Bät or Tical

4 Bäts

or 1 Tämlü'no

20 Tämlü'ngs or 1 Ch'äng

MONEY

=

$0.60 $2.40 $48.00

50 Ch❜ängs

100 Häps

or 1 Hip

$2,400.00

or 1 Tära

-$240,000.00

WEIGHTS

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

12 Niws

make

1 K'ú'p

inch 9 inches

2 K'ú'ps

make

1 Sawk

19 inches

4 Sawks

make

1 Wah

78 inches

20 Wahs

make

1 Sën

= 130 feet

400 Sens

make

1 Yot

9 statute miles

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

DRY MEASURE

1 Tänan...

20 Tanans make 1Tổng

=

1 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.