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. CIIII.

Of IAVAS, and the Trade thereof.

IN this tract is found Iava major and Iava minor, the grea∣ter being in compasse 3000, and the lesser 2000 miles; * 1.1 the nearnesse of these two Ilands to the Aequator, ma∣keth these Counties so wonderfull fertile, that they are termed the Epitome of the world. The chiefe Cities here are Pala•…•…∣ban, Mega, Pegar, Agaim and Ballambua; and in the lesser Iava, Basnia, Samara, Limbri, and others, but their principall trade is driven at Sunda calapa, Bantam, Iacatra now baptised by the Dutch Batavia, and lastly, Iaparra; in which three last, the English have residencie and Factories.

The commodities of these Ilands, is Rice in abundance, Oxen, * 1.2 kine, hoggs, sheepe, Indian nuts, and all provisions for food; also all kinds of spices, as Cloves, Nutmegs and mace, which the natiue Mer∣chants transport to Mallacca and other neighbouring Ilands in great measure, also pepper in great quantitie, esteemed farre bet∣ter than that of India or Mallabar, principally growing about the straights of Sunda, of which there is yearly laden hence about ten thousand Quintalls English; it hath also much Frankinsence, Benja∣min, Camphora; also Diamonds, and many other precious stones, which are found therein.

The fittest and most proper commodities for these Ilands trade, are divers and different sorts and colours of cotton linens, which * 1.3 are made at Cambaia, Cormandel, and Bengala, called Serasses, Sa∣rampuras, Cassus, Sa•…•…eposas, blacke cannequins, red Turrias, and di∣vers other sorts found made in the places abovesaid.

Here the Hollanders are found to be Masters of Iacatra, of late * 1.4 yeares called by them Batavia, the best and greatest Port of their trade and rendevous in these parts, where by little and little they have so fortified themselves, that they prescribe lawes to the In∣habitants, and indevour to debarre, both English and all other from injoying any benefit of the trade thereof.

In Sunda (which I account here as the principall mart Towne and in a manner the greatest in Iava major) they have no other * 1.5 kinde of money than certaine copper pieces minted, which they call Caixa, in the middle whereof is a hole to hang them on strings, for commonly they put 200 or 1000 upon one string, wherewith they make their payments, as by this following account.

A Satta is 200 Caixas.

Five satas is 1000 Caixas, which is a crusado Portugall money, or about six shilling starling.

The Merchants of Europe here resident keepe their accounts * 1.6 in R 8/8 and pence, accounting 60 pence to the R 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spanish.

The weight at Bantam, Iacetra, Iapparra, and at Sunda, is the Pi∣cull, * 1.7 the Cattee, and Bahar.

A Cattee being lesse than the Cattee of Macau, containes but 20 ounces English, and the other 20¾ ounces.

A Picull is 100 Cattees, and consequently is 125 li. English.

A Bahar is 330 Cattees of China, of 20 ounces as abovesaid, and may make in England 412 li.

Their measure for length is (——) * 1.8

Their dry measures for graine, rice, and pepper, is a Timbam, and containes ten sackes, principally used in Pepper and Rice, consi∣sting of 5 piculls; so that by this computation each sacke should containe in weight 62½ li. English, two sackes for a Pecull.

The common prices of commodities as I finde them here obser∣ved, * 1.9 are pepper of Sunda, is sold by the sacke weighing ½ a picull or 45 Cattees of China, each cattee being 20 ounces English, at 5000 Caixas, and when it is at highest at 6 or 7000 Caixas, maces, cloves, nutmegs, white and blacke Benjamin and Camphora, are sold by the Bahar, good mace commonly sold for 120 thousand Caixas; the Ba∣har and good cloves after the same rate, but bad and foule cloves, are sold at 70 or 80000 caixas the Bahar; Nutmeggs commonly sold for 20 or 25 thousand Caixas the Bahar, white and black Benjamin sold for 150 or 180 thousand Caixas, and if extraordinary good, 200 thousand the bahar; but how farre these agrees with the now common currant rates, I referre to the better experienced.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iavas and the trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  Commodities of Iava Ilands.
• * 1.3

  Commodities of India fit for Iavas.
• * 1.4

  Batavia alias Iaccettra.
• * 1.5

  Coines cur∣rant in Iava, Sunda, Bantam, Iacatara.
• * 1.6

  Accounts in Iava, Bantam, Iacettera.
• * 1.7

  Weights in Ia∣va, Bantam, Ia∣cettra, Iaparra, Sunda.
• * 1.8

  Measures in Iava, Bantam, Iacetra, Iapar∣ra, Sunda.
• * 1.9

  Prices of com∣modities in Iavas.