Paper Money

Paper money has been used in China from a very early period. The native banks of Fuhchaufu are quite numer0H8, and the bank bilis in use are noted for their unique appearance, and for the difficulty with vhich they are counterfeited. The banks are not under government inspection or control. Any individual who has the capitíil, or any company of individuáis who can f uruish the necessary funds, may establish a bank and issue bilis, without getting a charter, of applying for any kind of permission from the govermnent. The outliüe of the bilí, with various devices to make counterfeiting difficult, is engraved neatly on a solid block of brass in the case of wealthy banks ; poor proprietors of banks use hardwoodinstead of brass. The right-hand margin is made an inch or more wider than the left hand margin of the block of brass or wood. The value of the biU and the day of issue is filled in with the pen, and one or more ■words to facilítate the detection of a counterfeit. Various samples, large or small, round or square or oblong, some of which are very curious and elaborately engraved, are impressed on different parts of the bill, usüig red or blue ink. These add very much to its appearance.