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Confederated Cantons
Schaffhausen; Thurgau; Zurich; Aargau; Basle; Soleure; Berne; Lucerne; Zug; Schweitz; St. Gall; Appenzell; Glarus; Uri; Unterwalden; Freyburg; Neufchatel; Vaud; Geneva; Valais; Tessin; Grisons. The monetary unit is the franc of 100 rappen or centimes = 1 French franc = 9.39d., and represented by silver coins of the same weight, fineness, and value as those of France; with pieces of 20 c., 10 c., and 5 c. in billon, and of 2 c. and I c. in bronze. The measures and weights are based on those of France, viz:- The fuss or foot of IO zoll, or IOO lignes, decimetres. The strab or aune of 2 ells, or 4 feet, = 1.20 metre = 47.24 Imp. inches. The klafter of 6 feet = 1.80 metre; the rathe of IO feet = 3 metres = 3.281 Imp. yards. The wegstunde of 16,000 feet = 4,800 kilometres.
The juchart = 36 acres = .8896 acre.
The mass or pot, liquid measure, of 4 viertels = 1/2 litre; and the saum of 4 eimers, or 100 mass, = 150 litres = 33.015 Imp. gallons. The malter, corn measure, of 10 viertels, or 100 eimers, = 150 litres = 4.126 Imp. bushels.
The pound of 16 ounces, or 32 loths, = 500 grammes; and the centner of 100 lbs. = 50 kilogrammes = 110.24 lbs. avoirdupois.
The apothecaries' pound of I2 ounces, or 5760 grains,= 375 grammes = =5788 troy grains.
TRIPOLI.
Accounts are stated in piastres of 40 paras as in Turkey; but the value of these denominations cannot be assigned, as the coins of the country are irregular and debased. Mercantile transactions are conducted chiefly in Spanish dollars, or 5 franc pieces.
The Arbi dreah, or lesser pik, = 19.03 Imp. inches; the Turkish dreah, or greater pik, of 3 palmi = 26.42 Imp. inches. The barile, wine measure, of 24 bozze = 1444 Imp. gallons. The hueba, corn measure, of 4 temen = 2.95 Imp. bushels; but the corn measures are subject to alterations in years of scarcity. The cantar of 100 rottoli, each of 16 ounces, =109.71 lbs. avoirdupois the caraffa, oil measure, weighs 3 rottoli, and 6 caraffa = 1 harbaia. Silver is sold by the ounce of ro drams, = 1 troy ounce; wrought gold by the metical (metikel mumini), = 72 troy grains; gold dust by the aghis, = 63 troy grains.
TUNIS.
Accounts are stated in piastres of 16 carobas, or 52 aspers. The piastre is worth about 6d. sterling. Mercantile transactions, however, are generally conducted in francs or dollars.
The pik or ell, used for cotton, goods, = 19.23 Imp. inches; the pik, silk and linen measure, = 25 Imp. inches; and the pik, woolen measure = 26.50 Imp. inches. The millerole, wine measure, = 14.15 Imp. gallons; the mettar, oil measure, = 4.27 Imp. gallons, and weighs 34 lbs. avoirdupois nearly. The caffiz, corn measure, contains 16 huebas; and 100 caffiz = 675 staji in Trieste, = 1912 Imp. quarters nearly. The cantaro of 100 rottoli, each of 16 ounces, = 111 lbs. avoirdupois. Gold, silver, and pearls, are weighed by the ounce of 8 meticals = 489 troy grains. TURKEY.
The monetary unit is the piastre (grusch) divided into 40 paras, each of 3 aspers; also into 100 cents. The circulation has three distinct types :- The Bechlik, a billon piece nominally of P.5, and altelek of P.6. The M-jedie, or livre, in gold pieces of P. 100 and in silver of P. 20, with subdivisions. 22 gold medjedies = 500 francs = £20 nearly. The Caimé (chiefly at Constantinople) a paper money in ordinary notes of P.20 and P.10; with others bearing 6 per cent. interest for 100, 250, 1000, and P.5000. This paper, greatly depreciated, was to have been superseded by bank money, based on the gold mejedie, making P.110, = £1, or P.1 = 21/4 d. nearly; but the arrangements were not carried out; the mejedies are in disuse; and the currency remains variable. But commonly £1 = 125 piastres, and f.20 = 100 piastres.