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. LXXXVIII.

Of INDIA, and the Provinces thereof.

INdia is bounded on the East with China, on the West * 1.1 with the River Indus, on the North with Tartaria above mentioned, on the South with the Ocean, ta∣king his name of Indus, a famous River heere run∣ning 1000 miles ere it meet the Ocean; it lay after the conquest thereof by Alexander the Great for ma∣ny yeares undiscovered, the Merchants only thereof were found to bring their native commodities to Sarmacand, and Cambalu a∣forementioned, to exchange against such commodities as those countries afforded, as to the common Empories, and likewise to Ormus where they provided themselves of all Egyptian and Ara∣bian commodities: by which meanes knowledge was got of their countries; but the great worth and wealth thereof was not fully knowne and discovered to us till of late yeares, by the navigation first of the Portugalls, then of the Dutch and English, this Coun∣trey became better surveighed, finding that the same afforded and abounded in all manner of minerals, (lead and copper onely ex∣cepted) * 1.2 with all manner of cattell (horse excepted;) with all manner of precious stones, with all manner of spices, some druggs, and other commodities, as in their particular Provinces shall bee more particularly remembred.

The famous River Ganges runneth through this Countrey, to * 1.3 which the Indians goe in pilgrimage, as if the water washed in or drunk could bring salvation to them: this divideth India into two parts, called India intra Gangem & India extra Gangem, both which include many large Provinces and Kingdomes; and first India intra Gangem hath 9 principall Kingdomes, which I will briefly follow∣ing some Authours opinion passe cursorily through.

First Narsinga, the chiefe City Maleaper or S^t. Thomas, where * 1.4 they hold the body of this Apostle was burnt, though the Spani∣ards hold his body was found under I know not how many fa∣thome of ground in Calamana, by devout Fryers, that after the re∣ligions receit of the Sacrament of their wafer god, digged for him and found it; vide Mafe Iesuit. The second is Malavar, and the * 1.5 third Ballasia, in which are found 3 famous Mart Townes, Cochin and Calicute, and Conanor: the last having a large and safe Haven commodious for the trade of these Countries, distant from Cali∣cute 30 miles, and Calicute distant from Cochin 80 miles: Calicute by reason of its great concourse of Merchants is here a famous

Mart, and extendeth it selfe for 3 miles all along the shore, princi∣pally affording to Christendome that sort of pepper taking its name hence of Calicute pepper, also callicoes cloth, and the other sort of pepper of the name of this Countrey of Malavar.

The fourth is Cambaia, a famous Kingdome, very rich and popu∣lous, the chief City is also of the same name, and one of the richest * 1.6 of these Countries containing 800000 persons.

The fifth is Mandao, wherein is the City Mandao, being 30 miles in compasse, which held out a siege of 12 yeares against the Mogul, * 1.7 who is King hereof, as likewise of those former Provinces named.

The sixth and seventh is Bengala and Aristan, where is found the Cities of Cattigan and Satigan, and principally for trade that of Ben * 1.8 gala, on the bankes of a gulph knowne by that name; and Orissa in∣habited * 1.9 by Christians of S^t. Thomas so called, because he conver∣ted them.

The eighth is Canora, under command of the Mogull; the most famous Cities are Ultabat, Lispor, Melinda, &c. * 1.10

The ninth is Dellia, the chiefe City being Dellie, the sometimes residence of the great Mogull; the other famous Cities are Tre∣mel, * 1.11 Fatabar, and Chesmer famous for the studie here of Magiqu•…•…: all these mighty Provinces have been conquered by the Great Moguls forces within these 90 yeeres, to the astonishment of all India.

India extra Gangem containes 12 potent Kingdomes, and all un∣der command * 1.12 of the potent Kings of Barma, which cursorily I will also run over.

The first is Macin, famous for that sweet wood which this Coun∣trey doth produce, called Aloes or lignum vitae, valued at its weight * 1.13 in pure silver, serviceable onely here for the pompous funeralls of great Princes; the chief City for trade is the said Macin.

The second is Aracan, wherein is the City of Ava, which * 1.14 through the World is so famous for the aboundance of gems.

The third is Camboia, famous for the City of Camboia, a place of great traffique, which affords plenty of gold, silver, aloes, and many * 1.15 other commodities of great worth.

The fourth is Cauchin China, aboundeth with the like commodi∣ties * 1.16 brought to Cauchin China, the chiefe City of this Kingdome, and much frequented by Merchants of all Countries for Porcelane and China dishes here made, and much in esteeme and use in these Countries.

The fifth is Barma, made famous onely within 60 yeares, for the Princes hereof have vanquished all the former Kingdomes, and * 1.17 made them tributaries to this Kingdome and this Scepter.

The sixth is Siam, once the Lady of all India, now subject to Bar∣ma; the principall Cities are Mollacia in compasse 20 miles, a Town * 1.18 of great resort for Merchants, for the traffique of spices, and now in subjection to the Portugals: the next is Siam, scituate on the Ri∣ver

Mean, which every yeere overfloweth the Countrey for 120 miles: and lastly Odin, on the River Cuipomo, on which 200000 boates are found daily to be set on worke, and containes 400000 families: and is now knowne the residende of that famous and for∣tunate King of Barma before-mentioned.

The seventh is Pegu, which gives name to a principall City, * 1.19 having a rich soile and harberous Sea shore, the principall known Haven is Mar•…•…ban; and here is also Lasmin a City of great com∣merce. This Countrey hath suffered much by sword, pestilence and famine, within these late yeares, and is now as the rest a Pro∣vince of this a foresaid powerfull King of Barma.

Now having thus survaid India in the generall and in grosse, as it is divided into Kingdomes and Provinces, it will be requisite it should next be surveyed in the particular, so farre as it may con∣cerne our present purpose, which is the commerce and trade there∣of, so farre forth as it is at this day knowne to our Nation, where∣in I could wish my experience better to shew the particulars thereof, in consideration of the large extent of ground that is comprized under this name of India, stretching it selfe from Tau∣rus to the Ocean one way, and from China to Persia, which is neere 4000 miles another way, at which place it wil be fittest for me to begin my trade, and see what may be observed therein. Yet be∣fore I enter into this discovery, and give a particular relation of such materialls, wherewith trade is in it selfe practised through this large tract of Lands, Ilands and Seas; and before I shew the matter wherewith this trade is in all this Countrey driven, it will not be improper I should also see who they principally are that manage this trade, and to whom this great traffique appertaineth, either as they are natives and here borne, or as they are strangers and here are induced to reside, attracted thereto by the sole mo∣tive of the great commerce and rich commodities found either na∣turally here growing, or artificially here made and produced.

This Countrey then as I said before aboundeth in the generall with all manner of mineralls, copper and lead excepted; with all * 1.20 sorts of cattell, Horses excepted, with all manner of spices, with many sorts of drugges, cotton cloth, precious stones, &c. to which may be added the want of Wine and Wheate that here they have, that so this Countrey might be beholding in some sort to others, as o∣thers are for her commodities to this. These being then the prime commodities wherewith trade is here maintained, I will note the traders and native Merchants that are here resident, which pro∣perly I may account to be of 5 severall sorts, all acknowledging severall rites, religions and customes; and therefore partake of so many severall formes and manners in the mannaging of their affaires of merchandizing. The Gentile Merchants are the first, and are found of great eminencie in some parts of this Tract. * 1.21 The natives Christians converted by the discipline of S^t. Thomas

are the second, who in many places are found to mannage a great and ample trade through this Countrey: the third are the Mahu∣metans, Persians and Tartarians, especially since the great victo∣ries of the Mogur found here also of grat quality and estates. The 4^th are the Jewes, who live strag lingly dispersed over and through all the parts of this Countrey, and in every Princes dominions exercise the same. The 5^th are Moores and Arabians, who some 200 yeares past, seased on some Haven Townes here alongst this coast, driving the natives unto the inland parts, and at this day are seene to be very great Merchants. The 6^th are the Portugals, who possessing some few Sea-townes commodious for traffique, bragge of the conquest of the whole Countrie, which they are in no more possibility intirely to conquer and possesse, then the French were to subdue Spaine when they were possessed of the Fort of Perpig∣nan, or the English to be Masters of France when they were onely Soveraignes of Calis. And now to the Cities of this Tract, where at this day is found a trade to be practised, and first of Diu.

Notes

• * 1.1

  India, and the Provinces thereof.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of India.
• * 1.3

  Ganges.
• * 1.4

  Narsinga. 1.
• * 1.5

  Malavar 2. Ballasia. 3. Cononor.
• * 1.6

  4 Cambaia.
• * 1.7

  5 Mandao.
• * 1.8

  6 Bengala.
• * 1.9

  7 Aristan.
• * 1.10

  8 Canora.
• * 1.11

  9 Dellia
• * 1.12

  India extra Gan gem.
• * 1.13

  I Macin Lignum Uitae.
• * 1.14

  2 Aracan. Ava.
• * 1.15

  3 Camboia.
• * 1.16

  4 •…•…auchin China.
• * 1.17

  5 Barma.
• * 1.18

  Siam
• * 1.19

  7 Pegu.
• * 1.20

  Commodities of India in ge∣nerall.
• * 1.21

  The Merchants in generall tra∣ding in India.