The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-11-26
SMALL CHANGE CHINA.

iioii III .ioiiiH Oh his cnilunOOu expect
ing to have similarly simple system OF
receiving and spending his money
and every one has not the mathemati-
cal faculty well developed,- he has
rude awakening in store for him ere he
has gone far. One of his first wishes.
suggests 4 writer from whom we
quote, is probably to replenish his
purse hy exchanging bank credit of
some kind for the currency of the colln-
try; and on his arrival at the local
bank he is faced with question to be
answered at the very outset,-namely
into what denomination of money he
will have it exchanged or placed to his
credit. The ways of doing this are
three. lie may have it entered rs
gold or sterling balance. Or he may
have its value converted into silver
dollars, at the rate Of exchange for the
day; but if he do so, he must never con-
fuse these coins with the United States
dollar, which at the present time is
worth nearly twice as much. The re-
naming option open to, him is that of
having it put down in taels, or Chinese
ounces of silver. Whatever he may
do, he must take the risk Of the fluctu-
alton between the respective value of
gold and silver: and, in fact, even in
the two kinds of silver itself there is
surprising amount of come and 90.
Last year the writer knew variation
oftwo per cent. in the relation between
the tael and the dollar in accounts re-
ceived from city in the province of
Hupeh.
But, when our friend sets out to
have a look at the interior, he begins
to think that in the city his financial
difficulty had not even begun. Eng
.ish paper money and bank credits are
aliAc unknown and Unacceptable. Gold
coins are of no use at all. and even the
silver dollars of the ports are not rec
ognized. The only coin in use is the
cash. of which eight hundred can
easily be obtained for 4 dollar Gtself
worth about two shillings and two
pencc) before starting: but. when 4
man has Il rct:nuc of servants and n
number of mules to provide for day by
day. rs well rs his own necessities and
luXuries, it will at once he seen that
this is an impossible way of carrying
the necessary money. SO he obtains
| from his banker the choice this time
being Hobson's 's-a number of ''shoes"
or hollow hlccns of silver (called
syrcc). varying in weight from aboat
four pounds avoirdupois downward.
Along with these he must provide him
self with small pair of scales, which
he would do we'll to have tested by his
| banHs before setting out. or he may
| have the misfortune to become possess
or Of Il pair prepared for buying or for
selling purposes oaly, either of which
in China is very different from just
balance.
Arrived in an Inland town, the trav-
cller probably finds the i'm keeper and
shopkeepers unable to give him change
for the smallest piece Of silver in his
| possession, and he is directed to the
cash shops for this purpose. Taking
Il shoe to the nearest of these, he gets
that leash, for it requires a cart ratll-
er than purse for its accommodation
But he is at perfect liberty to cut it up
as he plcascs. ard with the aid of a
hammer and chiscl gets to Il piece suff1-
ci,nt to meet his immediate require
several >lus inquiring how many
strings (cach supposed to contain a
hundrcdD of leash" they are giving
per tael This takes tilac, but that is
nothing to the natives. and he would
need Il long purse indeed who would
travel iar in China and take the first
offer of every man with whom he deals
The cxchangers will probably all diff
fer in the terms offered, but the Gus
toner need have no qualms of con-
science about taking the best offer he
can get, for he may rest assured that
that is still less than his due. But
he is not out of til, wood yet, for the
dealer produces his scales and at once
finds the piece somewhat lighter than
the seller had said This is only part
o the game, but more time must be
wasted before he will concedc the point
and pay over fair number of things.
The wandcrer is now in position to
settle his hotel bill and make any little
purchases that may occur to him: but
his troubles are not over, for the string
even if he has watched sharply enough
to see that he receives the full number
finally agreed on, are only supposed
TO contain a hundred leash" each.
This is probably alright if they are to
b, spent in the town in which they are
received. but, if they have to be taken
Iarthca on the journey, another COM
plication arises, which may we'll make
any man rub his head on meeting it tie
first time. TO such an extent have this
people carried their thirst for over
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