Abstract

"The basis of money is at times a shell, a bead, a robe, a skin," says Mr. O.T. Mason, but, adds Dr. G.B. Tylor, "in this roughest kind of barter we do not yet find that clear notion of a unit of value which is the great step in trading." An account of the currency used by the native races of the South Pacific has yet to be written, and when investigated a very fascinating study it will prove to be. A perusal of the curious and interesting list of objects given by Dr. T. de Lacouperie as "Shapes of Currency from Barter to Money," used throughout the world, will impress this fact on the reader. In a review of Dr. Lacouperie's list Dr. J.D.E. Schmeltz adds some further important facts, including the "feather money" of Santa Cruz.

 
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Bibliographic Data

Short Form
Etheridge, 1902, Rec. Aust. Mus. 4(7): 289–291
Author
R. Etheridge
Year
1902
Title
The Tavau, or coil feather currency of Santa Cruz Island, Santa Cruz group
Serial Title
Records of the Australian Museum
Volume
4
Issue
7
Start Page
289
End Page
291
DOI
10.3853/j.0067-1975.4.1902.1104
Language
en
Plates
plate xliv
Date Published
25 August 1902
Cover Date
25 August 1902
ISSN (print)
0067-1975
CODEN
RAUMAJ
Publisher
The Australian Museum
Place Published
Sydney, Australia
Digitized
13 November 2008
Available Online
05 March 2009
Reference Number
1104
EndNote
1104.enw
Title Page
1104.pdf
File size: 75kB
Complete Work
1104_complete.pdf
File size: 914kB