Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1897 — Cannibal Island Currency. [ARTICLE]

Cannibal Island Currency.

Curious moneys are used in the Cannibal Islands. The inhabitants of Santa Cruz use for money rope ends an inch thick and ornamented with scarlet feathers which are worn about the waist. The money of Solomon Island consists of ehells about the size of shirt buttons. They are threaded on strings about four yards long and distinguished as red and white money. Dog teeth are of higher value and are worn on strings about the neck. Marble rings are considered valuable money. The currency table in these islands would be about as follows: Ten cocoanuts equal one string of white money. Ten strings of white money equal one dog’s tooth. Ten strings of dog’s teeth equal one Isa or fifty dolphin’s teeth. Ten isa equal one fine woman. One marble ring equals one head of head-antlers, or one good hog, or one useful young man.