Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1893 — The Unit of Valuation Is a Cow. [ARTICLE]

The Unit of Valuation Is a Cow.

In the recent publication of the Imperial Geographical Society of Russia is the surprising announcement that the Chewsures—a race of 7,000 people—in the Department of Troust, Government of Tiflis, know nothing of the use of money as a medium of exchange. The unit of valuation among this primitive people is the cow. A horse is valued at three cows and a stallion at six. If a Chewsure becomes enraged a&d cracks his neighbor’s skull he is obliged to pay sixteen cows. If he breaks a bone of his neighbor’s arm five cows will rehabilitate him in the eyes of society. A wound in the forehead calls for three calves. If one cuts another in the part of the face usually covered by the beard the punishment is comparatively severe. The “doctor” places as many grains of wheat along the cut as possible. For each grain of wheat so used the criminal must give up a cow. Wounds in the beardless part of the face call for one-third as many cows only. The man who injures a neighbor’s hand surrenders sixteen cows. Thirty cows even will pay for the loss of an eye. The people are said to be happy and contented. No misers exist among them! The victim of the bent pin knows well when it is springtime.—Boston Courier.