Notes concerning the trade of Alger.
* 1.1THe money that is coined in Alger is a piece of gold called Asiano, & Doublaes, and two Doublaes make an Asiano, but the Doubla is most vsed, for all things be sold by Doublaes, which Doubla is fiftie of their Aspers there.
The Asper there is not so good by halfe & more, as that in Constantinople: for the Chekin of gold of the Turkes made at Constantinople is at Alger worth an 150. Aspers, and at Constantinople it is but 66. Aspers.
The pistolet and roials of plate are most currant there.
The said pistolet goeth for 130. Aspers there: & the piece of 4. roials goeth for 40. Aspers, but oftentimes is sold for more, as men need them to cary vp into Turkie.
Their Asianos and Doublaes are pieces of course gold, worth here but 40. s. the ounce, so the same is currant in no place of Turkie out of the kingdom of Alger, neither the Aspers, for that they be lesse then others be, for they coine them in Alger.
* 1.2The custome to the king is inward 10. per centum, to the Turke, to be paid of the commoditie it selfe, or as it shall be rated.
There is another custome to the Ermine, of one & an halfe per centum, which is to the Iustice of the Christians: the goods for this custome are rated as they are for the kings custome.
Hauing paid custome inwards, you pay none outwards for any commoditie that you doe lade, more then a reward to the gate keepers.
* 1.3The waight there is called a Cantare for fine wares, as mettals refined, and spices, &c. which is here 120. li. subtil.
Mettall not refined, as lead, iron, and such grosse wares, are sold by a great Cantare, which is halfe as big againe: so it is 180. li. subtil of ours here.
* 1.4The measure of corne is by a measure called a Curtia, which is about 4. bushels of our mea∣sure, and corne is plentiful there and good cheape, except when there hapneth a very dry yeere.
The surest lodging for a Christian there is in a Iewes house: for if he haue any hurt, the Iew and his goods shall make it good, so the Iew taketh great care of the Christian and his goods that lieth in his house,* 1.5 for feare of punishment.
An Englishman called Thomas Williams, which is M. Iohn Tiptons man, lieth about trade of merchandize in the streete called The Soca of the Iewes.