They
Appear To Be Still Used By Bakers In Various Parts Of England And France,
In The Canterbury Hop-Gardens, And Locally In Some Other Trades.
(Martini, 135; Bridgman, 259, 262; Eng.
Cyclop.
Sub v. Tally; Notes
and Queries, 1st ser. X. 485.)
[According to Father Crabouillet (Missions Cath. 1873, p. 105), the
Lolos use tallies for their contracts; Dr. Harmand mentions (Tour du
Monde, 1877, No. VII.) the same fact among the Khas of Central Laos; and
M. Pierre Lefevre-Pontalis Populations du nord de l'Indo-Chine, 1892,
p. 22, from the J. As. says he saw these tallies among the Khas of
Luang-Prabang. - H.C.]
"In Illustration of this custom I have to relate what follows. In the
year 1863 the Tsaubwa (or Prince) of a Shan Province adjoining Yun-nan was
in rebellion against the Burmese Government. He wished to enter into
communication with the British Government. He sent a messenger to a
British Officer with a letter tendering his allegiance, and accompanying
this letter was a piece of bamboo about five inches long. This had been
split down the middle, so that the two pieces fitted closely together,
forming a tube in the original shape of the bamboo. A notch at one end
included the edges of both pieces, showing that they were a pair. The
messenger said that if the reply were favourable one of the pieces was to
be returned and the other kept. I need hardly say the messenger received
no written reply, and both pieces of bamboo were retained." (MS.
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