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. LXXIII.

Of MEDIA, and the Provinces thereof.

MEdia is limited on the East with Parthia; on the West * 1.1 with Armenia, on the South with Persia, and on the North with the Caspian Sea; being absolutely the greatest Sea of all others that hath no commerce with the Ocean, by some called the Hircanian Sea, and by some the Sea Bacchu, of a Towne of that name thereon bordering.

The chiefe Cities of this Countrey is Sultania, famous for the * 1.2 faire Mosque in the East; Sumachia, the strongest of all the rest, taken by the Turkes in Anno 1578, and now the seat of a Turkish Bashaw; Eres, Ardovile, Shervan, Bacchu, and some others; and lastly, the most eminent Tauris, of the trade hereof see heere∣after.

Likewise in this Tract is comprehended the Province of Al∣bania, * 1.3 now Zairia, little beholding to the industry or labour of the Husbandman, yet of its owne accord yeelding for one sow∣ing, most times two, and sometimes three reapings: the chiefe Citie is Caucasiae Portae, built hard upon the hill Caucasus, one of the best fortified Townes of the East, now called Derbent, a strong * 1.4 Citie invironed with two walls, and fortified with iron Gates; yet neverthelesse taken it was by the grand Signior in his last wars against the Persians, vnder whose command it now remaineth, being now accounted one of the keyes of this kingdome, and the common entrance into Persia; and lastly in this Countrey Phidon an Argive in Anno mundi 3146 is said to find out the use of weights and measures; which knowledge and concordance by this Tract I covet to obtaine.

And to conclude, a word of the Trade of this Countrey in the * 1.5 generall; I find that the Moscovia company were the first that sought the knowledge thereof in these parts; for upon their dis∣covery of Moscovia, they traded downe the River Volga to Astra∣can, and thence in Barks sailed with their English commodities to Bacchu, Derbent, and other places on the Caspian Sea, and since some of the East India Company have more narrowly traced it, and have observed the same more particular: the principall commodi∣ties proceeding hence is the raw silke made at Gilan, Zahaspa, Ra∣stiguan, Chiulfall, and others, now knowne unto vs by the name of Persia, Ardasse, and Lege silkes, and from this last the dealers in silke here are throughout Asia commonly termed Chiulfallins.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Media and the Cities thereof.
• * 1.2

  Sultania.
• * 1.3

  Tauris.
• * 1.4

  Derbent.
• * 1.5

  The Weight of Derbent is the Mone, which is 3 li. 11 oun∣ces Venice so∣tile.