The Washington union., 1857-05-12

STATS DErARrnEsr.

".
United States consul general at Constantnople, and is
published for general information
CONSULATE or THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinope, March rs, 1857.
SIR Al the request of some merchants of CONSTANT
nope connected in trade with the United States have the
honor to enclose to the department table of the weights
and measures of this city and of some other parts OF the
Ottoman empire.
You viii be good to observe that the weights and
measures of Constantnople nvarabe in quantity,
with the exception Of the ko which has slight varia
ton according to the quality Of the object Thus,
Constantinople invariably fixed at 400 dachms
canar, Tor kintal) at A okes &C. There is local reg
ulaton OF the Ottoman government which controls the
uniformity Of its weights and measures and the trades
people obliged to have their scales of and
weights verified by official standard kept for that pur
pose in the Office of the project Of the city Shehr Emin
1t from this Office that have been furnished with the
table enclosed.
Be pleased also remark that in making a comparison
the weights and of Consantnope with those
of other parts OF Turkey, it Is shown that the liquid
the here and elsewhere, and this il
also the with all long cloth measures which
vary AS to the dry measures, there is nota-
BILE difference between different places In the table
enclosed it is shown that the kilo of Batchik Varna
Sansoon and Salonica is four times than that of
Constantinople; and at Kastendja and Bugas, in the
Black sea, klo is equal to two of Constantnople
called sambullee AS to the weights of Constantnope
compared with those of other parts OF the empire, the
oandr which governs the commercial transactions of the
empire is the everywhere with the exception of
Smyrna. The oke is always calculated at 400 drachns
and the cantar at A okes, 600 dachms except at
Smyrna The cause of this difference is that, at this
capital as elsewhere the oe Of retail called terazee and
of wholesale, is invariably Of 400 drachms whilst at
Smyrna is shown in The table, the retail oke terra
calculated at 400 dachms whilst the oke of whole
SALE of the cantar, is there only $50 drachms-conse
quently the cantar of Consantnope, composed of A
okes of 400 dachms each makes IL 600 drachms whilst
the other hand the cantar of Smyrna, though COM
posed of As okes each of $50 dachms forms only 100
chms here is an exec Of
drachms of Ii okc upon each canar of Smyrnathat
is to say, difference Of 2 95l00 per cent. Thus 100
cantars of iron WOOL &C., purchased at Constantnope
produces at Smyrna l02 95-l00 cantars This however,
will depend upon the of correct and accurate scales at
both places But this scarcely be expected tho
difference is apt to amount to from three to four-anda
half per cent and the consequence Is that merchants
here generally estimate the difference at per cent be-
tween these two places.
From the cause Wholesale sales made in okes, las
is customary with articles OF commerce. differ as
much FIVE per cent. between Constantnope and Smyr
for the sales in oes at wholesale and retail here
invariably upon the calculation Of 400 drachms, whilst
is shown in the table, wholesale transactions at Smyr
made upon the calculation of the cantar (qunta
of $50 dachms to the oke only Consequently, 100 okes
of Coffee of yellow berries &c. purchased at Constantine
ple will produce in Smyrna lO5 okes-that is to say
20 drachms per oke, which in 100 okes makes
Z, 900 draclms or okes. / beg leave, particularly
bring this difference in the weights of Constantine
pie and Smyrna to the knowledge of the department
and would respectfully request it to make the same
known TO that OF the treasury
believe that this difference of from four to five per
cent. between the weights of Smyrna and Constantine
pie has been alluded to in report from the consulate Of
the former place to the department and justice to the
merchants of this capital trading with the United States
requires that it should be taken into consideration at the
custom houses Of the United States
In conclusion would add that in Turkey liquids, as
well Solids sold by weight, that though
used such the oke for wine, milk oil, &c.
they nevertheless supposed to contain given number
of drachms in weight The oke and its component
dachm is the basis of all the weights and measures Of
Turkey, excepting, of course, those of long and land
measurement.
have the honor to be- sir, with great respect your
obcdient servant
JOHN p BROWN,
Acting consul
Hon. w L. MARCY
Secretary Of State.
table Of rOegs and measures Of Constama0, and Of some
other parts Of Turkey, deriUed from official relabe sources
WEIGHTS OF coSsrAsrSopLE.
One cantar of kntal is equal to "a batmans A okes
or 100 lodras, or II, 600 drachms
One batman, to okes, or 2400 drachms.
One kod, to IA okes or 5000 drachms.
One oke, to 400 drachms or 2.943O American pounds
avoirdupois.
One drachm, to dengs
One deng, to tcherkergeys.
One tcherkergy, to boydays. ssa
One lodra, to l76 drachms
One tchekce of stone, to l76 okes or vulgarly $50
okes
One tchekee of saffron to ITO drachms of all drugs.
One teffee of silk, to 610 drachms.
One mctica of ottar of roses to Ii drachm of all es
sences and precious metals.)
One tchekce of wood to cantars, or 176 okes.
One hyrat carat, of diamond other Jewels to
tckeyerey or boydays.
One boyday to l6 hissehs parts.
MEASURE coSsrANrISorIR.
One kilo of walnuts equal to 100 okes.
One kilo Of wheat Indian corn Canary seed 81 okes
One ko of linsced, 20 okes.
One kilo of hemp seed, l6 okcs.
One kilo Of rice 10 okes.
LIQUID MEASURES coSsrANrSopLR.
One nadrey of wine, to 10 okes
One tcsee of oil, to okes.
One oke, to 400 drachms.
One tcuee of oil, elsewhere to Q okes.
| ...--.a LONG MEASURES CoSsrANTIYorIE.
One haebec, archn, is equal to rules 16 gui-
rays, wholesale.
One endazay to rules or I6 guirays.
One ghray of halebec is equal to l.6797 American
inches. F
One ghray Of Endazay is equal to 1889 American
inches.
One donum is equal to 40 square archines or 800
archns
DRr MEASURE on BAIrcmK vARSA, sAMsouN, sALoSIoA
One ko is equal to kilos of Constantnople ditto at
Burgess and Kustendyil.
One kilo is equal to kilos of Constantnople ditto at
Smyrna,
One canar kntal of iron wood &c. Is equal to 100