amount.—The proper coined money of Tonquin
and Cochin China is called a Sapek, or Sapeque,
and consisted formerly of brass, but at present of
zinc. I t is about the size of an English shilling,
bears the King’s name in the Chinese character,
and has a square hole in the middle, for the convenience
of being strung. Sixty sapeks make a
mas, and ten mas one kwan, or quan as it has
been more usually written. The two last are
only monies of account. Six hundred sapeks,
which make a kwan, are commonly strung upon
a filament of ratan, and in this manner kept for
use ; forming a bulky and most inconvenient currency.
Ingots of gold and silver, stamped by the
Government, are current in the country, although
not considered coin. One description of these,
resembling in form a piece of Indian ink, is covered
all over with Chinese characters, and considered
equal to two kwans and eight mas. Fractions
of it, in halves and quarters, are also to be
seen. This ingot, having been carefully analyzed
in the mint of Calcutta, was found to be of the
standard of seventeen pennyweights and a half,
and to contain 578.67 grains of pure silver, and
therefore to be equal in value to 1.56 Spanish
dollar, or <6s'Q,^d. A larger ingot is also in common
circulation, which, on trial at the Calcutta
mint, was found to be of the same standard as the
last, and to contain 6172.9 grains of pure silver;
being equal, therefore, to 16.64 Spanish dollars,
or 31. 6s. 5^d. A gold ingot is coined, of the
same weight as the small one of silver, and commonly
estimated at seventeen times its value, or
26.52 Spanish dollars. The standard of this last
has not been determined; but the gold is asserted
to be of a very fine touch. The zinc coin, as well
as the gold and silver ingots, are struck at Cachao,
the capital of Tonquin. The punishment of death
is inflicted for forging .the former. The Spanish
dollar is current in Cochin China, and valued at
one quan and a half by the Government. The
kwan of account, according to the statements now
given, ought to be wortli fifty-five cents, or something
more than half a Spanish dollar; but its
price fluctuates with the plenty or scarcity of
silver, as may naturally be expected. The price'
paid by the King for the metal from which the
zinc currency is struck, is only twelve quans the
picul; so that, of course, it passes for infinitely
more than its intrinsic value, and is therefore an
object of considerable revenue.
The following are the port regulations. The
principal impost is a duty on the measurement of
the vessel, the amount of which varies at the different
ports,,—being lowest at the capital, and
highest at Saigun. This absurd distinction is intended
to counterbalance the natural disadvantages
of the northern ports, and place them on an
equality with the fine port of Saigun. The manner
of rating the duty is this :—The vessel being