Note 4 — X.
Reading edition
A piece of parchment, cut out of a book in zig-zag fashion, which in former times was necessary in all commerce with barbarians, the captains of privateers, when unable to read, being enabled, by comparing the torn-out leaf (scontrino) with the counterfoil, which it was customary to give to all trading persons, to determine to what nationality the vessel belonged.