Page:Origin of metallic currency and weight standards.djvu/58

 long. Short brass rods and armlets are also largely exported from Birmingham for the African trade.

1. Bronze Irish Fibula found in Co. Cork. 2. Bronze Irish Fibula found in King's Co. 3. Iron Manilla from W. Africa. 4. Iron Manilla used as money in Bonny River Territory.

There is no absolute standard length—and thus while 36 inches is the one most commonly used, the length varies from 32 to 36 inches.

They go out in boxes containing 100, in straight lengths, and soft to admit of their being wound into armlets, &c.

The diameter of the rod varies from 3/16 in. to about 3/8 in.—but a rod weighing about 24 oz. to 3 ft., and 3/8 in. thick, is the one most often made.

Arm rings are made from solid brass rod about 7/16 in. thick and are usually 2-1/2 in. to 3-1/2 in. in diameter—they are also made in large quantities from brass tubes of 1/2 in. to 5/8 in. diameter, more frequently from 9/16 in., the rings being from 2-1/2 in. to 3-1/2 in. in diameter, and weighing from 2-1/2 to 4 oz. each.

Slaves and ivory tusks form the chief units in the same region. The slave usually is worth a tusk. In other parts