Nevertheless, let us try this process and ascertain what the number 32,000 actually refers to. In answering this question it may, perhaps, fairly be assumed that the number stands in a direct relation to a certain numerical unity, like that in which hundreds stand to the tens, 100:1. Such a numerical unity, however, presupposes the existence of some tangible equivalent, which in Mexican commerce, if it was not some small piece of metal, would have had some other conventional representation, either in merchandise or in labor. If such a unity actually existed it is clear that its value must have been fixed either by weight or by measure. There is, however, no positive proof that such a unity, fixed by weight or measure, ever existed among the Mexicans. Cortes, in the above quoted letter, pretends that it was impossible for him to detect the use of any weights or scales, and no writer after him has touched this question or given any other decision. Respecting measures, there is no direct testimony at all. But, on the other hand, it is hardly to be imagined that these people, of whose religious administration and social polity we have such abundant evidences, should have been deficient to such an extent in the department of their commercial polity as not to have found any method by which the proportion between the value of the precious metal to merchandise in all its forms was to be expressed. We must guard ourselves against the fallacy that because we are not acquainted with the method it could not have existed. There are grounds to believe that Cortes was right in saying that the Mexicans did not know the use of weights (their vocabulary does not show any word answering to peso, pesilla, libra, balanza romana), but, we think they knew perfectly the use of measures (the vocabulary gives about twenty words for all varieties of this operation); and in regard to a certain unity of measure employed in gold transactions, there are indications given by other trustworthy writers that this unity might be detected in the quills, of conventional length, and probably of conventional diameter, which quills were filled up with grains of gold dust, by the color and shades of which they graduated the respective value. Bernal Diaz, Chapter 92: Antes de salir de la misma plaza, estaban otros muchos mercaderes, que, segun dixeron, era que tenian a _vender oro en granos_ como lo sacan de las minas, metido el oro en unos _canutillos_ delgados de los anserones de tierra (thin goose quills) e asi blancos porque se pareciese el oro por defuera, y por el _largor y gordor_ de los canutillos (length and width of the quills) tenian entre ellos su cuenta (they made up their account) que tantas mantas o que xiquipiles de cacao salia o qualquier otra cosa a que lo trocavan.