The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

130 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.merchant race who inhabited the coasts or islands of theMediterranean. Their descendants may perhaps befound in " the twenty-two kings of the Hatti land whodwelt 20by the sea and in the midst of the sea."The real reason why Egyptian internal economy retaineda system of equal exchange long after the preciousmetals became the dominant form of wealth outside itsborders may incidentally be suggested here.Egypt wasa gold and copper producing country, and these metals,for all internal purposes, would take rank naturally withother forms of produce. Travel was not necessary toacquire wealth in them. Hence no exaggerated ideawould be formed of their value. In addition, sincedealings in them could not be made at a profit withinthe country, they would be but an unproductive form ofwealth ; and, in the earliest days, no desire wouldnaturally arise for their accumulation.The further development of the deben or value intoa measure of weight in gold comes at a much later time.The use of weight was at first but elementary in itsnature, and it was employed for the precious metals inthe place of, or alongside of, the customary measures ofcapacity. The development of its uses cannot, however,be dealt with here.The scheme of elementary finance may thus be simplystated. There developed early amongst semi-civilizedpeople inhabiting an area of country over which communicationswere easy, a system of tribute paid to thestrongest amongst them by the various tribes, as a pricefor peaceful occupation, and a security for personalproperty. The ruler, or his treasurers, would draw up20Hogarth, Authority and Archaeology, p. 111.