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. XCVIII.

Of CHINA and the Provinces thereof.

CHina hath on the East, Mare del Zur, on the West, * 1.1 India, on the North, a Wall extending 1000 miles in length, betweene the Chinois and the Tartarians, and on the South, the Ocean.

The Trade of this Countrey is accounted very great, the scituation of the place, the temperature of the ayre, the disposition of the inhabitants, the continuall peace that abides a∣mongst them concurre to inlarge the same; the many navigable Rivers, and the excellent fabriques heere wrought, adde to make it eminent, and the commodities that it yeelds to maintaine the same are these; barley, rice, wool, cottons, olives, vines, flaxe, silke * 1.2 raw and wrought into infinite sorts of stuffes, all kinds of mettall, fruits, honey, waxe, sugars, Rubarbe, porslaine dishes, camphire, ginger, all kinds of spices, muske, civet, amber, and infinite aboundance of salt, which commoditie only in the towne of Cantor, yeelds custo•…•… to the Prince yearely 180000 duccats.

This Kingdome containes 15 large Provinces, each Province ha∣ving a Metropolis besides many Cities of lesser note; so that in the * 1.3 whole tract of this Countrey is accounted to be 30 Kingdomes and therein writers have mentioned to bee 1597 Cities and great Townes walled, 1154 Castles 4200 Borroughs without walls, wherin Soldiers are quartered, besides an infinite number of villages and hamlets; the Metropolis of the whole Kingdome being vulgarly called Quinsay, and is said to containe in circuit 100 miles, ha∣ving in the midst thereof, a lake of 30 miles compasse, in which * 1.4 are two faire Ilands, and in them two magnificent Palaces, ador∣ned with all necessaries, either for majestie or conveniencie: the lake is nourished with divers rivers, on which is counted 12000 bridges, and in many Cities here seated on the bankes of great and famous navigable Rivers, are found oftentimes ten thousand saile of great and small vessels; the King himselfe having in the Citie of Nanquin (accounted the second in this Kingdome) sea∣ted * 1.5 upon a faire and large river (if writers relations may have credit) 10 thousand saile of ships of his owne, and the Citie being 9 leagues from the Sea, the whole distance is found to bee as it * 1.6 were wholly imployed and taken up with Vessels and Boats; for therein the inhabitants make their abode, dwell, negociate, and remove at their pleasure, from one place and Citie to a∣nother:

It is confidently affirmed by all moderne travellers that have bene here, that the inhabitants are not permitted to issue out of this Kingdome, nor yet strangers permitted to enter into it; and though for the commodiousnes of traffique this strict law find some tolleration for a certaine limited time for the nativ•…•…s to trade a∣broad, yet is it most neerely lookt into on the behalfes of stran∣gers, that would enter into their Countrey: therefore (this con∣sidered) though the motives of trade and commerce bee many; yet this inviolable custome so severely executed, hinders justly the particulars I should in this place set downe of the trade of this mighty Empire; howsoever, it is observed that the Iapaners and some neighbouring Ilanders, as also the Portugals, and some other Christians, have (by the favor of the great maritime comman∣ders in this Countrey, and their owne faire deportment) procu∣red a license of trade in Canton, Macca•…•…, Nanquin, and some o∣ther Sea-ports; but with such strict limitations, as that in some Cities it is death for them to lie or abide a night either in the Towne or in the Suburbs, but abord their owne Ships, and in Canton where they find the most courteous usage, they may not upon paine of death abide one night within the Citie walls; but as in the morning their names are regis•…•…red at their entring into the Citie; so they come at night and bl•…•…t out the same with their owne hands: I can then but afford a taste of the whole Trade, by a little that I have observed out of the collections of others, which must serve for a modell to the frame and foundation of what is practised in other Cities throughout this Empire, which I will comprehend under the title of Maccau, most frequented by our Nations.

Notes

• * 1.1

  China, and the Provinces ther∣of.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of China.
• * 1.3

  The greatnes of China.
• * 1.4

  Quinsay.
• * 1.5

  Nanquin.
• * 1.6

  Ten thousand saile belong∣ing to the King of China in one River.