Pecul. Catties. Taels. Lbs. avoir. Cat. Lbs. troy. 1 100 1600 133½ 1.0.21⅓ 162.0.8.1 1 16 1⅓ Usage has established a difference between the tael of commercial weights, which, at the rate of one hundred and thirty-three and a third pounds to the pecul, weighs five hundred and eighty-three and a half troy grains, and the tael of money weight, of which the old standard is 579.84 grains troy. By the above table, it appears, that one ton is equal to sixteen peculs, and eighty catties; one hundred weight to eighty-four catties; one pound, avoirdupois to three fourths of a catty, or twelve taels. The Portuguese at Macao, have a pecul for weighing cotton, and valuable articles; a second for coarse goods; and again, a different one for rice. But the Chinese, among themselves, know no difference, either in the weight of a pecul for different articles, or in the tael, whether used for money or goods. The principal measures in use among the Chinese, are three; namely, long measure, land measure, and dry measure. The principal measure of length, is the _covid_, (chih,) which is divided into ten _punts_, (tsun.) The _covid_ varies considerably, according as it is used for measuring cloths, distances, or vessels. That determined upon by the mathematical tribunal, is 13.125 English inches; that used by tradesmen, at Canton, is about 14.625 inches; the one by which distances are usually rated, is nearly 12.1 inches, and that employed by engineers, for public works, 12.7 inches. The _le_ or mile, is also an uncertain measure, varying more than the covid or foot. Its common measure is three hundred, sixteen, and a quarter fathoms, or one thousand, eight hundred, ninety-seven and a half English feet; it is the usual term, in which length is estimated. The Chinese reckon one hundred, ninety-two and a half _le_, for a degree of latitude and longitude; but the Jesuits divided the degree into two hundred and fifty _le_, each _le_ being one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six English feet, or the tenth part of a French league, which is the established measure at present. A _le_, according to this measurement, is a little more than one third of an English mile. _Land measure_ has also varied considerably, but is at present established by authority. By this rule, one thousand, two hundred covids make an acre or _more_, which contains about six thousand, six hundred square feet. Rice, or paddy, is the only article measured in vessels the dimensions of which have been fixed by law or usage; but as even rice and paddy are usually weighed when sold in large quantities, the vessels for measuring these commodities are but little used.