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 WagesThis is my narrative and relevant references from the Books where Wages are mentioned. I make no pronouncements on these matters, but report them as I find them. Arrive at your own conclusions. I wish you well, Fogaban There are very few instances where actual wages are detailed within the books. But there are a few other quotes from which we may extrapolate what monies a Gorean could be expected to earn. The first, most direct quote is this one: The wages of a sail-maker, incidentally, are four copper tarn disks per day, those of a fine shipwright, hired by the Council of Captains, as much as a golden tarn disk per day. Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 134 And then this one: In Brundisium a day's wages, for a docksman, is usually twenty to forty tarsk-bits. A free oarsman will usually command more. Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 18 From the context, one could assume these coins are copper: Kazrak, as he had promised, turned over the balance of his hiring price to me a very respectable eighty tarn disks. Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 125 Then we have more indirect references to wages earned: Then, smiling, by handfuls he hurled the coins to the right and to the left. Tense, the men watched him. One of those coins, of small denomination though they might be, was day's wages on the docks of Kassau. Marauders of Gor Book 9 Page 51 "Ho!" said Portus Canio, turning and glaring at young Selius Arconious. "Are there not harnesses to repair?" "To be sure, Portus," grinned Selius. "You do not earn your copper tarsks by amusing yourself with slave girls!" Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 296 My financial resources, the ten silver tarsks, obtained from the sale of my former Mistress, the Lady Florence of Vonda, to the slaver, Tenalion of Ar, had been severely depleted. Normally such a sum would last a man months on Gor. Rouge of Gor Book 15 Page 59 There were many rich men in the crowd, dealers and others. And she need not concern herself at all with Selius Arconious, a lowly tarnster. He would be fortunate to be able to put together a handful of copper tarsk-bits. Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 485 "Five copper tarsks each," said he. "Thank you, Master!" said Ellen. "You are all vain she-urts," he said, turning away. "Yes, Master!" said Ellen, delightedly. That would be in most cities something like one hundred tarsk-bits altogether. It would be something like fifty tarsk-bits for each lad. Presumably they would not have so many coins at one time until they were responsible for their own fields, and the sale of their own crops. Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 374 Now some quotes showing relative worth of certain amounts of coin: "Your redemption fee," I said, "is forty copper tarsks, a considerable amount." Renegades of Gor Book 23 Page 41 The wages for a caravan trip, which often takes months, commonly will last the fellow about ten days, or, if nursed out, some fifteen days. They are, of course, a rather pleasant ten or fifteen days. Tribesmen of Gor Book 10 Page 40 A silver tarsk is, to most Goreans, a coin of considerable value. Rouge of Gor Book 15 Page 155 Too, a silver tarsk is, after all, when all is said and done, a coin of considerable value. Dancer of Gor Book 22 Page 274 A gold tarn disk of Ar is more than many common laborers earn in a year. Tribesmen of Gor Book 10 Page 158 "I shall not enter into the details of this," I said, "but in the north, last summer, in virtue of an unusual combination of circumstances, Marcus came into the possession of a large fortune, one hundred pieces of gold." Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 409 Fifteen gold pieces each was a fortune. It would enable them to relocate with ease and reestablish themselves much as they might wish, wherever they might wish. Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 468 Five pieces of gold, in its way, incidentally, is also a fortune on Gor. One could live, for example, in many cities, though not in contemporary Ar, with its press on housing and shortages of food, for years on such resources. Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 468 Angrily, he drew from his wallet a double tarn of gold, and hurled it against my jacket where I caught it, and regarded if incredulously. Many Goreans have never seen such a coin, and some doubt that it exists. Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 503 A potter such as Epicrates, as many in the lower castes, would usually deal in tarsk-bits, or copper tarsks. Indeed, much transaction amongst the lower castes was done in terms of barter. A member of some of the lower castes might seldom see a silver tarsk. Even amongst the lower orders of the high castes some of the Builders and Scribes might see a year's wages in terms of a handful of silver tarsks. Plunder of Gor Book 34 Page 366 I had seen occasional scribes on the streets, at given corners, where they, for their fee, usually in tarsk-bits, would read or transcribe letters. Plunder of Gor Book 34 Page 432 one scribe may be a city's most esteemed jurist, selling his advice for gold, while another ekes out a living on some street in the Metellan district, reading and writing letters for tarsk-bits at the behest of the illiterate. Plunder of Gor Book 34 Pages 434 - 435 This short look into the life of Jason shows what he is able to buy with just half a day's wage. Based on what is shown above, this amount of money could not have been more than a couple Copper Tarsks at most. "Ten copper tarsks," he said. "Done!" I said. "No!" she cried. "Be silent, Wench," he ordered her. I removed a ten-tarsk piece from the lining of my tunic. Workers do not commonly carry pouches at their work. "Do not sell me to him," begged the girl, "please!" But he kicked her brutally to silence. I paid him and he unshackled her. He also removed his collar from her throat. "Come along," I told her. She descended from the platform and, naked and miserable, heeled me as I threaded my way slowly from the place. She did not try to escape. She knew there was no escape for her. She was a Gorean slave girl. I stopped at the warehouse where I had been working and collected a half day's wages. My employer did not object, for he could see that I had purchased something of interest. Doubtless I was eager to get her home. "Continue working, Jason," called one of the fellows. "Leave her here in the warehouse. We will see that no harm comes to her!" There was much laughter. I waved to them as I left the warehouse. "Have her once for me!" called one of my fellow workers after me. "Little do they know you," she said, bitterly. On the way home I stopped in the market to buy a few things, some articles for which I thought I might find a use. "Why are you buying a slave whip?" she asked me. "Be patient," I told her. "Perhaps you will learn." I also bought some chains, and binding fiber, and other things. Interestingly, for no reason I clearly understood, I bought two sets of certain articles. Also on the way home I purchased her a slave tunic and stopped at the shop of a metal worker, where I had her measured and purchased a collar for her. I had the collar inscribed according to my specifications. I put it in my sack, with its two keys, tied to it with a string. Rogue of Gor Book 15 Pages 126 - 127 |       
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