‘Cyprus.’ [‎83v] (166/184)

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CYPRUS.
Weight*.
Measures for
grain.
Long measure.
Square
measure.
Food.
issue of caim 6 or paper money, would still further raise the pric-s of coins in
good alloy to the manifest prejudice of commerce, and would also give rise to
many disputes in the settlement of old debts.”
The last information concerning the currency previous to the
.British occupation was as follows :—
One Pound Sterling was equal to 114 piastres at bank rate, and 175 at
current rate.
One Napoleon was equal to 91 piastres at bank rate and 140 at current
r«jX0.
One Turkish lira was equal to 104 piastres at bank rate and 160 at current
Banks and banking operations have hitherto been almost
unknown m Cyprus, and cheques are never seen. It has now been
reported that several banking agencies are in course of establish
ment.
Coinage.
40 paras = 1 piastre.
100 piastres = 1 Turkish lira.
500 piastres = 1 k 6 se, or purse.
100 kese = 1 yuk, or load.
The copper coins are 5, 10, and 20 paras.
The silver coins are 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 piastres.
The ^.0-piastres piece is called the silver medjidie
The gold coins are 25, 50, and 100 piastres.
The Turkish lira, or pound, is equivalent to about 18s. 2c?. and
the silver medjidie is equivalent to about 3s. 7c/. It must be
remembered that although the lira really contains only 100
piastres, the current rate is now 160 piastres to the lira and it
is according to this rate that calculations should be made. ’
b eights and Measures.
1 oke = 400 drams = 2 $ lbs. av. English.
44 okes = 1 cantar.
180 okes = 1 cheki, or Aleppo cantar.
1,000 okes = 1 araba = 11 tons
Liquids are generally sold by weight as above, but
measure for wine called the Cuse.
there is a
. . 1 cuse — 8 okes = 3^ gallons.
Ihe litre is equivalent to about 2 £ okes.
The rottolo is equivalent to about 2 j British Imperial Dints.
The measure called the killo is equivalent to about 55 lbs. weio-ht
1 bushel of Cyprus wheat = 56 to 58 lbs. ° '
1 bushel of Cyprus barley = 43 to 45 lbs.
The arshm = 28 English inches, is used for silk, broadcloth, &c.
The endaze = 26 English inches, is used for carpets, linens, &c.
The usual measure for land is the scala, or skali, which is about
60 paces square.
. Th e pnces of household necessaries have considerably increase
since the British occupation, and they have probably not y<