Money, Time and Distance

Monetary Measures

According to John Carter, every nation on Barsoom uses the same coinage system (though presumably, not the same mints and dies). The coins are dull and metallic, oval in shape, and minted of bronze, silver and gold. The basic monetary unit is the pi.

Paper money is not printed except by individuals in the form of a check or promissory note. Such notes must be redeemed twice a year, and if an individual is not able to repay his debts, the government (usually) pays his debts and he may be put to work on government-run farms to make good his indebtedness (PoM, 20).

1 pi = about 1 US. cent

10 pi = 1 teepi = about 10 US. cents

100 pi = 1 tanpi = about 1 US. dollar

Time

The Barsoomian day is 24 hours, 37 minutes long, and is divided into 10 equal measures called zodes. The first zode starts at about the equivalent of our 6:00 AM. The zodes are divided into 50 units called xats, which are further divided into subunits called tals. Converted to Earthly equivalents, the units are thus:

In addition to the above tables, which are provided by John Carter in The Gods of Mars, according to John Flint Roy, the following table was found among Edgar Rice Burroughs' notes (Roy, 119):

A Barsoomian year is approximately 687 Earth days long, but only 668.6 Barsoomian days in length. Thus, the above table works well for most cases. Only minor time adjustments would be needed to keep accurate time. A Barsoomian calendar could, for example, be arranged in five year cycles of three "long years" of 67-day months and two "short years" having eight 67-day months and two 66-day months (Roy, 119).

Barsoomians use wristwatches, as is noted in The Warlord of Mars, chapter 3:

"In a cylindrical bracelet of gold about my wrist was my Barsoomian chronometer - a delicate instrument that records the tals and xats and zodes of Martian time, presenting them to view beneath a strong crystal much after the manner of an Earthly odometer." (WoM, 3)

It is possible that Carter's watch had three hands, in the fashion of an Earthly watch. One hand would record the zodes, another the xats, and a third sweep hand would measure the tals.

Although Carter makes no mention of such devices, it is also highly likely that digital wristwatches are also used.

Linear Measures

The measurement of distance on Barsoom is based on the circumference of the planet at its equator. Conveniently enough (from an Earthly perspecive), the ancients saw fit to divide the circumference into 360 equal units called karads. All other subunits are derived from this measurement.

Burroughs goes on to explain that one haad is about equal to 1,949 Earthly feet in length. Thus, calculating the rest of the measures, we find that: