[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Les six voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier) › [Travels in India (Ball)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball) › 87.3.4 # Travels in India (Tavernier) 87.3.4 Travels in India (Ball) 87.3.4 - **Language:** English ### [87.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.87.3.4) I have to record a rather singular and curious account of the manner in which the Indians, whether they are idolaters or Muhammadans, make their sales of all kinds of commodities. All passes in complete silence and without any one speaking. The seller and the buyer are seated facing one another, like two tailors, and one of the two opening his waistband the seller takes the right hand of the buyer and covers his own with the waistband, under which, in the presence of many other merchants, who occupy themselves sometimes in the same manner, the sale is accomplished secretly without any one having cognisance of it. For the seller and buyer talk neither by means of their lips nor their eyes, but only by the hand, which they manage to do in the following manner:—When the seller takes the whole hand of the buyer that means 1000, and as many times as he presses it so many thousands of pagodas or rupees, according to the coin which may be in question. When he takes only five fingers that means 500, and when he takes only one it means 100. In taking only the half up to the middle joint, 50 is meant, and the end of the finger up to the first signifies 10. This is the whole of the mystery employed by the Indians in their sales, and it often happens that in the same place, where there are many people, a single parcel will change hands five or six times without those present knowing for how much it has been sold on each occasion. - [Previous: 87.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.87.3.3) - [Next: 87.3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.87.3.5) - [Up: 87.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.87.3) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.87.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.87.3.4) · Pramāṇa