"The taro root, of course."
"So it isn't the coin itself, but only its value in what you want. It is want that gives money any value."
"But I still don't see how we are going to make the natives want the coins."
"We do not intend to make them want them. But we may soon have some things they will need. Now it is immaterial whether they give money for it, or if they furnish us something we wish in exchange."
"Then of what use is it to have the coins?"
"Simply because we must have something to measure by. If you buy a yard of cloth you must have a yardstick. If you want a certain quan[p. 79]tity of grain you must have a quart or a bushel measure. Now that yard or bushel, each, is worth so much, and they are measured by a coin or coins, of which both know the value."
"I understand now. You are simply trading a certain marked coin for a bushel of grain, instead of giving something else for it."
"Exactly; money in itself has no value. You cannot eat it, or make it serve as an article of clothing, or drink it. You can only measure the needed things with it."
The practical operation of the use of coins as money had its first trial on the following day, when the Professor had two hundred cords prepared, on which were strung five one-cent coins and a five-cent coin.
The warriors were told to file along the wagon, and George handed out one of the coin sets to each as he passed. They looked at the bright disks curiously, at first, and were informed that they were being rewarded for the work they had done. This was a singular way of requiting them for their services. They had obtained food in plenty, and therefore this way their pay; but now, in addition, they were being rewarded.