But if the exceedingly
low exchange of the bank-notes be taken into consideration, the sum will
be reduced to a modest amount." (Palladius, pp. 50-51.) - H. C.]
[Dr. Bretschneider (Hist. Bot. Disc., I. p. 4) makes the following
remark: - "Polo states (I. 409) that the Great Kaan causeth the bark of
great Mulberry-trees, made into something like paper, to pass for money."
He seems to be mistaken. Paper in China is not made from mulberry-trees
but from the Broussonetia papyrifera, which latter tree belongs to the
same order of Moraceae. The same fibres are used also in some parts of
China for making cloth, and Marco Polo alludes probably to the same tree
when stating (II. 108) "that in the province of Cuiju (Kwei chau) they
manufacture stuff of the bark of certain trees, which form very fine
summer clothing." - H. C.]
[1] Even now there are at least eight different taels (or liangs) in
extensive use over the Empire, and varying as much as from 96 to 106;
and besides these are many local taels, with about the same limits
of variation. - (Williamson's Journeys, I. 60.)
[2] [The Archimandrite Palladius (l.c., p. 50, note) says that "the ting
of the Mongol time, as well as during the reign of the Kin, was a unit
of weight equivalent to fifty liang, but not to ten liang.
