The merchants mappe of commerce wherein, the universall manner and matter of trade, is compendiously handled. The standerd and currant coines of sundry princes, observed. The reall and imaginary coines of accompts and exchanges, expressed. The naturall and artificiall commodities of all countries for transportation declared. The weights and measures of all eminent cities and tovvnes of traffique, collected and reduced one into another; and all to the meridian of commerce practised in the famous citie of London. By Lewes Roberts, merchant. Necessary for all such as shall be imployed in the publique affaires of princes in forreigne parts; for all gentlemen and others that travell abroad for delight or pleasure, and for all merchants or their factors that exercise the art of merchandizing in any part of the habitable world.

CHAP. XVI.

Of ARGIER, and the trade thereof.

ARGIER containes onely two Townes of note, Tremesin once the principall of a Kingdome, and * 1.1 Argier the principall now of this Countrey, not found to be very spacious in its selfe, but strong and of late much fortified, inriched not onely by the labour of the Moores banished out of Spaine, but also by the spoyles of many Merchants of all nations, brought thither as the retreat and receptacle of all Turkish and Moorish Pi∣rates, which doe much infest the mediterranean Seas, and of late yeares have found the way out of the Straights of Giblatar into the Canary Ilands, and into sundry other Countries bordering up∣on the Ocean. In it are accounted eighty thousand soules, the most part of them living by Piracies. Merchandizing is not much in use in this Citie, yet some of the Inhabitants are found to detest this common ill gotten gaine, by piracie and theft, and these are ob∣served to maintaine some trade with other nations alongst the coast. What points necessary thereto according as I noted there in 1619. I shall here set downe: and first their commodities vented thence to forraine parts, are such as followeth.

The commodities this Kingdome affords is, Barbary horses, Estridge feathers, honey, waxe, reisins, figges, dates, oyles, almonds, ca∣stile * 1.2 sope, brasse, copper, and some drugges: and lastly, excellent piraticall Rascalls in great quantitie, and poore miserable Christi∣an captives of all Nations too too many, God give them comfort, pa∣tience, and release in due time, if it be his blessed will.

Their coines passing currant here in trade is the Double, which is * 1.3 accounted to hold correspondencie in value with the English shil∣ling, or rather two Spanish Rialls single.

Foure doubles is 1 ℞ 〈◊〉〈◊〉, called there an Osian.

Five doubles and 35 aspers is a pistolet of Spaine.

Seaven doubles is accounted a sultany or Chequin, the common peece of gold found currant in all Barbarie.

Fiftie aspers is accounted to make a double; and these are the u∣suall coines passable in all this coast belonging to this Kingdome.

The 100 li. or Rotolos here is 120 li. English, so that their 84 li. * 1.4 makes 100 li. sutle, and 94 li. or Rotolos is 112 li. English, according to the custome of Valentia in Spaine, from whence it is conceived they have drawne this originall of Waights: they are observed to have two severall maights, the proportion being 10 li. of the small making, 6 li. of the grosse.

But heere sundry commodities are found to be weighed by sun∣dry Cantars, as iron, lead, yarne, and all wools are weighed by a Cantar of 150 Rotolos of the Rotolos above specified.

Reisins, figgs, butter, honey, dates, oyle, soape by the Cantor of 166 Rotolos abovesaid.

Almonds, cheese, cottons by the Cantar of 110 Rotolos.

Brasse, copper, waxe and all druggs by the Cantar of 100 Rotolos.

And Flaxe is weighed by the Cantar to containe 200 Rotolos.

Gold, silver, pearles and jems are weighed by the mitigall, which is worth there 9. doubles, and is 72 gr. English: and the soltany, checquin or hungar weighes 52 gr. English, being accounted equall to Angel gold and worth in England in circa 3 l. 11 shill. per ounce, Troy weight, or thereabouts.

They use in Algier two picos or measures, the Turkish and Mo∣risco, * 1.5 the Morisco pico being the measure of the Countrey, and •…•…s ¾ of the Turkish, by which is sold all linnen only.

The Turkish pico is divided into 16 parts, and every 〈◊〉〈◊〉 part is called a Robo, and is 131/192 part of an English yard, which with the al∣•…•…owance of an ynch according to our custome in England, hath beene found to make 1. ½ picos turkisco and by which all silke stuffes and woollens are sold in this place.

Their dry measure is called a Tarrie, which heaped up, as they * 1.6 use it, is 5 gallons English, and so hath it beene found to produce •…•…n corne, salt and some such commodities.

They keepe their accompt in doubles and osians, and some in sol∣•…•…anies * 1.7 and aspers, the coines of Barbarie, 4 doubles making an ossian, •…•…nd 50 aspers making a double.

Their customes are heere 10 per cent. as in Tunis, and paid upon * 1.8 •…•…he commodity according to the value sold, and permission given to •…•…and, and if not sold, to be shipt againe free of all dueties (as I said •…•…efore) in the Kingdome of Tunis. And it is to bee noted, a Ship •…•…ntring here and anchoring, must either land her sailes or her •…•…udder for prevention of running away without license, which •…•…ust bee obtained in Duano, which is the common assembly of •…•…he Bashaw, who is Commander for the grand Seignior and of the * 1.9 •…•…rincipall Moores of the Kingdome and City, and then paying •…•…hese duties with licence she is dismissed, viz to the Kaiffa 28 dou∣•…•…les, to the Alamine 31 do. to the captaine Anchoredge 15 do. to the Bashaw, 8 do. to his Chiouse 4 do. to his Almin, 8 do. to his Chouse, 4 do. to the Bashaw sorman, 2 do. to the Druggerman, 8 do. to the Sackagie 8 do. to the Consols duety, 42 do. which in all make 162 doubles: And so much shall serve for Argier; now I saile along the Coast, and observe some Mari∣time Townes of note there seated.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Argier and the trade thereof. Tremesin.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of Argier.
• * 1.3

  Coines of Argier.
• * 1.4

  W•…•…ights of Argier.
• * 1.5

  Measures of length.
• * 1.6

  Dry measures.
• * 1.7

  Accounts in Argier.
• * 1.8

  Customes of Argier.
• * 1.9

  Clearing of a S•…•…p in Argier.