The history of trauayle in the VVest and East Indies, and other countreys lying eyther way, towardes the fruitfull and ryche Moluccaes As Moscouia, Persia, Arabia, Syria, Ægypte, Ethiopia, Guinea, China in Cathayo, and Giapan: vvith a discourse of the Northwest passage. Gathered in parte, and done into Englyshe by Richarde Eden. Newly set in order, augmented, and finished by Richarde VVilles.

Of the prices of precious stones and Spices, with theyr weightes and measures, as they are accustomed to be solde both of the Moores and the gentyles: And of the places where they growe.

FOrasmuche as in dyuers places of this historie, mention is made of precious stones, I haue thought good to declare somewhat aswell of theyr prices, as of the places of theyr generation, that we may not vtterly be ignorante of the thynges whiche we so greately esteeme, and buie so deare.

Of the Rubie.

THe Rubies growe in India, and are founde for the most parte in a ryuer named Pegu. These are of the best kynde and finest, which they of the lande of Malabor cal Nunpu∣clo, and are well solde, if they be fayre and cleane without spottes. The Indians, to knowe theyr finenesse, put them vpon theyr tongues, comptyng that to be best that is couldest and most harde. And to see theyr finenesse: they take them vp with a peece of waxe by the sharpest poynt, and lookyng agaynst the lyght, espie in them euery small spot or flake. They are also founde in certayne d••epe fosses or pittes, whiche are made in mountaynes that are beyonde the sayde ryuer. They are scou∣red and made cleane in the countrey of Pegu: yet can they not square and polyshe them, but for this purpose sende them to di∣uers other countreis, & especially to Palcacate, Narsinga, Calecut, and the region of Malabor, where are many cunnyng Lapidaries.

And to geue you intelligence of the value of these stones, ye shall vnderstande that this woorde Fanan, signifieth a weyght, somewhat more then two of our Carattes: and .xi. Fanans and a quarter, is one Mitigal: and .vi Mitigals and a halfe, make one vnce. This Fanan, is also a kynde of mony whiche is in value one ryall of syluer, and therefore after this accompte I say that.

Eyght fine Rubies of the weyght of one Fanan (which are in all, about two carattes) are in value.

Fanan .x.

Foure Rubies that wey one Fanan, are worth.

Fanan .xx.

Two that wey one Fanan.

Fanan .xl.

One that weyeth three quarters of one Fanan.

Fanan .30.

One that weyeth one Fanan.

Fanan .50.

One that weyeth one Fanan and a quarter.

Fanan .65.

One that weyeth one Fanan and a halfe.

Fanan .100.

One that weyeth one Fanan and three quarters.

Fanan .150.

One that weyeth two Fanans.

Fanan .200.

One that weyeth two Fanans and a quarter.

Fanan .250.

One that weyeth two Fanans and a halfe.

Fanan .300.

One that weyeth two Fanans and three quarters.

Fanan .350.

Of three Fanans.

Fanan ▪400.

Of three and a quarter.

Fanan .500.

Of three and a halfe.

Fanan .550.

Of three and three quarters.

Fanan .600.

Of three and three quarters and a halfe.

Fanan .630.

Of foure Fanans.

Fanan .660.

Of foure and a quarter.

Fanan .700.

Of foure and a halfe.

Fanan .800.

Of fyue Fanans.

Fanan .1000

Of fyue and a halfe.

Fanan .1200

Of sixe Fanans, which are about twelue Carats.

Fanan .1500

which make a hundred and fyftie crownes of golde. And these are commonly the prices of perfect Rubies. But suche as are not perfect, and haue any spottes in them, or are not of good co∣lour, are of lesse price, accordyng to the arbitriment and estima∣tion of the buyer.

Of the Rubies which growe in the Iland of Zeilam.

IN the Ilande of Zeilam, beyng in the seconde India, are founde many Rubies, whiche the Indians name Manecas, the greatest part wherof do not arryue to the perfection of the other aforesayde in colour, because they are redde, as though they were washed, and of fleshy colour, yet are they very colde and harde. The perfectest of them are greatlye esteemed among the people of the Ilande, and are reserued onlye for the kyng hym selfe, yf they be of any great quantitie. When his Iewellers fynde any bygge peece of this Rocke of the best kynde, they put it in fyre for the space of certayne houres: whiche yf it come out of the fyre vncorrupte, it becommeth

of the colour of a burnyng cole, and was therefore called of the Greekes, Anthrax, whiche signifyeth a burnyng cole. The same that the greekes call Anthrax, the Latines call Carbunculus▪ These they greatly esteeme. When the kyng of Narsinga can get any of them, he causeth a fyne hole to be bored in the vnder∣most part of them, to the myddest, and suffereth none of them to passe out of his realme, especially if they haue ben tryed by the sayde proofe. These are of greater value then the other of Pegu, if they be in theyr naturall perfection and cleanenesse.

Of these, one that wayeth a Carratte (whiche is halfe a Fanan) is woorth in Calecut.

Fanan .30

One of two Carattes.

Fanan .65

Of three Carattes.

Fanan .150

Of three Carattes and a halfe

Fanan .200

Of foure Carattes.

Fanan .300

Of foure Carattes and a halfe.

Fanan .350

Of fyue Carattes.

Fanan .400

Of fyue Carattes and a halfe.

Fanan .450

Of syxe Carattes.

Fanan .530

Of syxe Carattes and a halfe.

Fanan .560

Of seuen Carattes.

Fanan .630

Of seuen Carattes and a halfe.

Fanan .660

One of .viii. Carattes, that hath ben well prooued in the fyre, is woorth

Fanan .800

Of .viii. Carattes and a halfe.

Fanan .900

One suche of tenne Carattes.

Fanan .1300

One of .x. Carattes and a halfe.

Fanan ▪1600

Of .xii. Carattes.

Fanan .2000

Of .xiiii. Carattes.

Fanan 3000

Of .xvi. Carattes.

Fanan 6000

Of the kynd of Rubies. called Spinelle.

THere is also founde an other kynde of Rubies, which we call Spinelle, and the Indians, Caropus. They growe in the selfe same countrey of Pegu where as are the fyne Rubies, & are found in the mountaines in the vpper crust

or floure of the earth. These are not so fine, nor of so good colour as are the true Rubies, but haue somewhat the colour of a Gra∣nate, which we commonly call a Garnet: yet of these, suche as are perfect in theyr colour, are of value halfe lesse then true Ru∣bies.

Of the Rubies called Balassi.

BAlassi are of the kyndes of Rubies, but are not so hard: their colour is somewhat lyke a Rose, and some are in maner whyte: they growe in Balassia, whiche is a region within the firme lande, aboue Pegu and Bengala, and are brought from thence by merchants of the Moores to Calecut, where they are wrought and pullyshed, and are solde of the same price that are Spinel.

Of the Diamondes of the old myne.

THese Diamondes are founde in the first India, in a kyng∣dome of the Moores named Decan, from whence they are brought to other regions. There are also founde other Diamondes, whiche are not so good, but somewhat whyte, and are called Diamondes of the newe myne, whiche is in the kyngdome of Narsinga. They of the olde myne are not pullyshed in India, but in other places. There are made lyke∣wyse in India other false Diamondes, of Rubies, Topases, and whyte Saphires, whiche appeare to be fyne, and are also founde in the Ilande of Zeilam: these stones differ in none other, sauyng that they haue lost theyr natural colour. Of these, some are found that haue halfe the colour of Rubies, & other of Saphires, other also of the colour of a Topase, other haue al these colours myng∣led togeather. They bore a fine hole in these through the middes, whereby they appeare lyke the eyes of a Catte. Of the whytest, they make many small Diamondes, whiche can not be knowen from the true, sauyng by touchyng, of such as are skylful in that practise. They are solde by a poyse or wayght, whiche they call Mangiar, whiche weyeth two Tarre, and two thirdes, whiche amount to two thirdes, or third partes of one Carat: for foure Tarres wey one Fanan, which is about two Carattes. Eyght Diamondes that wey one Mangiar, whiche is two third partes of a Carat, are in value Fanan ▪xxx. whiche are three crownes of golde.

Sixe Diamundes that weigh one Mangiar.

Fanan .40.

Foure that weigh one Mangiar.

Fanan .60.

Two that weigh one Mangiar.

Fanan .80.

One that weygheth one Mangiar.

Fanan .100.

One of one Mangiar and a quarter.

Fanan .165.

One of one Mangiar and a halfe.

Fanan .180.

Of one Mangiar and three quarters.

Fanan .220.

Of two Mangiars.

Fanan .320.

Of two Mangiars and a quarter.

Fanan .360.

Of two Mangiars and a halfe.

Fanan .380.

Of two Mangiars & three quarters full perfect.

Fanan .420.

Of three Mangiars of lyke perfection.

Fanan .450.

Of three Mangiars and a halfe.

Fanan .480.

Of foure Mangiars.

Fanan .550.

Of fyue Mangiars.

Fanan .750.

Of sixe Mangiars.

Fanan .800.

Of seuen Mangiars.

Fanan .1200.

Of eight Mangiars.

Fanan .1400.

And thus they proceede, increasyng the price, as they increase in weyght.

Of Saphires.

IN the Ilande of Zeilam, are founde the beste and moste true Saphires, being very hard and fine, and of the colour of Azure. They are of price as foloweth.

One that weigheth one Caratte, is of value. which are about two Marcels of siluer.

Fanan .2.

One of the weyght of two Carattes.

Fanan .5.

Of three Carattes.

Fanan .10.

Of foure Carattes.

Fanan .15.

Of fyue Carattes.

Fanan .18.

Of sixe Carattes.

Fanan .28.

Of seuen Carattes.

Fanan .35.

Of eight Carattes.

Fanan .50.

Of niene Carattes.

Fanan .60

Of tenne Carattes.

Fanan .65.

Of eleuen Carattes.

Fanan .70.

Of twelue Carattes.

Fanan .75.

Of .xiii. Carattes in all perfection of colour.

Fanan .115.

Of .xiiii. Carattes.

Fanan .160.

Of .xv. Carattes.

Fanan .180.

Of .xvi. Carattes.

Fanan .200.

Of .xviii. Carattes.

Fanan .250.

One that weigheth a Mitigall, which is .xi. Fanans and a quar∣ter, that is about .xxiii. Carattes.

Fanan .350.

Lykewyse in the Ilande of Zeilam, is founde an other sorte of Saphires, which they call Quinigelinam. These are not so strong, of darker colour, and of much lesse value then are the other of the best kynd, wherof one is woorth thirtiene of these of equal poyse. Also in the kyngdome of Narsinga, in a mountayne aboue Ba∣canor and Mangalor, is found an other sorte of Saphires, more ten∣der and of woorse colour, which they call Cinganloam. These are somewhat whyte, and of small value: So that the most perfecte of this kynde, weighing .xx Carattes, is not woorth one Ducate. Theyr colour is inclynyng somewhat to yelowe. There is lyke∣wyse founde an other kynde of Saphires, vppon the sea coastes of the kyngdome of Calecut, in a place named Capucar. These the Indians call Carahatonilam. They are of a darke Azure colour, not shynyng but in the cleare ayre. They are also tender & brickle, and of small estimation among the Indians. They seeme on the one syd•• lyke glasse.

Of Topasies.

THe naturall Topasies growe in the Iland of Zeilam, and are named of the Indians Purceragua. It is a harde and fine stone, and of equall estimation with the Rubie & the Saphire, bycause all these three are of one kynde. The per∣fecte colour of this, is yelowe, lyke vnto fine beaten gold, and if it be perfecte and cleane, whether it be great or litle, it is woorth in Calecut as much fine gold as it weigheth. But if it be not perfect, it is woorth the weight of golde the Fanan, which is lesse by the halfe. And if it be in maner whyte, it is woorth much lesse. And of these, are small Diamundes counterfecte.

Of Turquesses.

TUrquesses are founde in Exer, a place of Siech Ismaell. Theyr Mine is a drye earth, that is founde vppon a blacke

stone, which the Moores take of in small peeces, and carry them to the Ilande of Ormus, from whence they are brought to diuers partes of the worlde by sea and by lande. The Indians call them Perose. They are soft stones, of small weight, and not much colde: & to know that they are good & true, in the day they shal appeare of the very colour of the Turquesse, and in the nyght, by the light, they shall appeare greene. They that are not so perfecte, doe not so chaunge theyr colour to the sight. If these stones be cleane and of fine colour, they haue vnderneth, in the bottome, a blacke stone, vppon the which they growe. And if any little vayne ryse vp∣pon the sayde stone, it shall be the better. And to know more cer∣tainely that they are true Turquesses, they put on the toppes of them, a little quicke lyme, tempered with water, after the maner of an oyntment. So that if the quicke lime appeare coloured, they are iudged perfect, and are of value as foloweth.

One that weigheth one Caratte, is worth in Malabar.

Fanan .15

One of two Carattes.

Fanan .40.

Of foure Carattes.

Fanan .90.

Of sixe Carattes.

Fanan .150.

Of eight Carattes.

Fanan .200.

Of ten Carattes.

Fanan .300.

Of twelue Carattes.

Fanan .450.

Of fourtiene Carattes.

Fanan .550.

Of greater then these they make none accompte, bycause they are lyghter peeces and of greater circuite. These of the byggest sorte the Moores carrie into the kyngdome of Guzerath.

Of Iacinthes.

IAcinthes, growe in the Ilande of Zeilam. They are tender stones, and yelowe. They are best that are of deepest colour. The greatest parte of these, haue in them certayne pimples or burbuls, which diminyshe theyr fayrenesse. And they that are in theyr perfection cleaue from this deformitie, are neuerthe∣lesse of small value: For in Calecut where they are polyshed, they that weygh one Fanan, are woorth no more then halfe a Fanan. And they of .xviii. Fanans, are not woorth .xvi. Fanans.

There are also found other stones lyke vnto cattes eyes, as Chrisolytes, & Amethystes, which they do not much esteeme, bicause they are of small value, as also the stones called Giagonze.

Of Smaragdes or Emeraldes.

SMaragdes growe in the countrey of Babylon, where the Indians cal the sea Dieguan. They grow also in other parts of India. They are stones of fayre greene colour, and are light and tender. Of these stones, many are counterfect. But lookyng on them curiously towarde the lyght, the counterfectes shewe certayne burbuls, as doeth glasse: but in the true, there is no suche seene, but rather there appeareth to the eye, a cer∣tayne verdour, shynyng lyke the beames of the Sunne: and be∣ing rubbed vppon the touche stone, they leaue the colour of cop∣per. And the Smaragde of this forte, is the best and most true, and is in value in Calecut, as muche as a Diamunde, and somewhat more: And this not by weyght, but by greatnesse, bycause the Diamunde quantitie for quantitie, is of greater weyght then the Smaragde. There is lykewyse founde an other kynde of Smarag∣des, which are greene stones, but not so muche esteemed. Ne∣uerthelesse, the Indians reserue these to set them foorth with o∣ther precious stones. They leaue not any greene colour vppon the touche.

Of dyuers kindes of Spices, where they growe, what they are woorth in Calecut, and why∣ther they are carried from thence.

Of Pepper.

FYrst in all the kyngdome of Malabor and Calecut, Pepper groweth, and is sold in Ca∣lecut by euery CC. Bahars, fine, for .CCxxx. Fanans, euery Fanan (as I haue sayde) be∣ing in value one ryall of place of Spayne, which is as muche as one Marcell of siluer

in Uenice. Bahar, weigheth foure Cantares of the olde weyght of Portugale, by the which they sell all spices in Lisbona. Cantare is in Uenice .Cxii. pounde weyght, of the grosse pounde (beyng xviii. ounces) and of the subtyle pounde .Clxxviii. So that the sayde .712. poundes of Uenice subtile, will cost about .xx. frenche crownes of gold: which amount to about two Marchetti (which make one penny) the pounde. They paye also to the kyng of Ca∣lecut for custome .xii. Fanans, euery Bahar by the lode. They that buye them, are accustomed to bryng them to Cambaia, Persia, A∣den, and Mecha, and from thence to Alcayr and Alexandria. Now they paye custome to the kyng of Portugale after the rate of 6562. Maruedies the Bahar, which are .193. Fanans. Maruedies are Spanyshe coynes, wherof sixe goe to a penny. This do they, partly bycause there arryueth no more so great diuersitie of mer∣chauntes to buye them, and partly by the agreement whiche the sayd kyng of Portugale made with those kynges, & the Moores, and merchauntes of the countrey of Malabar.

Much pepper groweth lykewyse in the Ilande of Sumatra, neare vnto Malaca, which is fayrer and bigger then that of Ma∣labar, but not so good and strong. This is brought from Benga∣la to China, and some part to Mecha, priuylie and by stealth, vnwares to the Portugales, whiche would not otherwyse suffer them to passe. It is woorth in Sumatra, from .iiii.C. vnto .vii.C. Maruedies the Canter of Portugale, of the newe weight. And from the new to the olde weight in Portugale, the difference is two ounces in the pounde weight: For the olde pounde consisteth of .xiiii. ounces, and the newe pounde of xvi. ounces.

Of Cloues.

CLoues growe in the Ilandes of Molucca, from whence they are brought to Malacha, and then to Calecut, and the countrey of Malabar. They are woorth in Calecut euery Bahar (which is .712. poundes, of the subtile pound of Uenice) from .500. to .600. Fanans (which are about fyf∣tie frenche crownes) whiche are in value about twelue Mar∣chetti the pounde weyght, and beyng cleane from stalkes & hus∣kes are in value .700. Fanans. To carry them from thence into

other regions, they paye for pasporte. xviii. Fanans the Bahar, which is woorth in Malacca from .x. to .xiiii. Ducades, according to the rate and custome of the merchauntes.

Of Cinamome.

CInamome of the beste sorte, groweth in the Ilande of Zeilam, and in the countrey of Malabar groweth the woorst. That of the best kynde, is of small price in Zeilam, But in Calecut (if it be choyse and freshe) it is woorth 300. Fanans the Bahar, which are about fyue Marchetti the pounde.

Of Ginger, called Beledi.

GInger Beledi, groweth on euery side about Calecut, from sixe to ntene myles, and is woorth the Bahar .xl. Fanans, and sometymes fyftie, which is lesse then one Marchetto the pounde. They bryng it from the mountaynes, and out of the countrey, to the citie, where they sell it by retayle to the In∣dian merchauntes, who geather it togeather in great quantitie, and keepe it to such tyme as the Moores shippes arryue there, to whom they sell it, by the price of .xc. Fanans, to .Cx. which is lesse then two Marchetti the pounde, bycause the weight is greater.

Of Ginger Mechino.

GInger Mechino groweth, begynnyng from the moun∣taine of Deli, vnto Canonor. It is small, and not so whyte nor so good as the other. It is woorth the Bahar in Cano∣nor, about .60. Fanans, whiche is about one Marchetto the pounde. They paye for the Bahar sixe Fanans in money for the custome. It is solde vncleansed or vnpurged.

Of greene Ginger in conserues.

IN Bengala is founde great plentie of Ginger Beledi, of the which they make muche Ginger in conserues with Suger, and carrie it in stone pottes from Martabani, to bee solde in the countrey of Malabar, and is woorth the Farazuola (which

is .xxii. poundes and sixe vnces) after the rate of .xiiii.xv. or .xvi. Fanans.

That that is freshe and made in conserues, is woorth in Calecut .xxv. Fanans the farazuola, bycause Suger is deare there. Greene Ginger to put in conserues, is woorth in Calecut three quarters of one Fanan the farazuola, which is about two pounds for one Marchetto.

Of the Apothecaries drugges, and of what price they are in Calecut and Malabar.

LAcca of Martabani, if it be of the beste, is woorth the fa∣razuola, which is .xxii. pounde weyght and sixe ounces of Portugale, after sixtiene ounces the pound (which is about fourtie pound weight of the subtile pounde of Uenice) and is in value eightiene Fanans: which are eightiene Marcels of sil∣uer. For one Fanan, is in value about one Marcell of siluer.

Lacca of the countrey, is woorth the farazuola.

Fanan. 12

Borace that is good and in great peeces, is woorth the farazuola.

Fanan .30 to .40. & 50.

Camphire that is grosse in cakes, is woorth the fara∣zuola.

Fanan .70. to .80

Camphire to annoynt Idoles,

* * *

Camphire for theyr children to eate, is woorth the My∣tigall.

Fanan .3.

Aguila is woorth the farazuola.

Fanan .300. to .400.

Lignum aloe, blacke, heauy, and fine, is woorth.

Fanan .1000.

Muske of the best, is woorth the ounce

Fanan .36.

Beniamin of the best, is woorth the farazuola.

Fanan .65.

Tamarindi being new, are woorth the faraz.

Fanan .4.

Calamus Aromaticus, the farazuola.

Fanan .12.

Endego to dye silke, true and good, the farazuola.

Fanan .30.

Mirre, the farazuola.

Fanan .18. to .20.

Frankensense good and in graynes, is woorth the fara∣zuola.

Fanan .15.

Frankensense in paste of the basest sorte, the faraz.

Fanan .3.

Ambracan or Amber grease that is good, is woorth the Metigall.

Fanan .2. to .3.

Mirabolanes in conserue of suger, the faraz.

Fanan .16. to .25

Cassia, freshe and good, the farazuola.

Fanan one and a halfe.

Redde Sanders, the farazuola.

Fanan .5. to .6.

Whyte Sanders and Citrine, whiche growe in the Ilande of Timor, the farazuola.

Fanan .40. to .60.

Spikenarde, freshe and good, the faraz.

Fanan .30. to 40.

Nuttemegges, whiche come from the Ilande of Bandan, where the Bahar is woorth from .viii. to ten Fanans, (whiche importe vi. poundes weyght to the Marchetto) are woorth in Calecut, the faraz.

Fanan .10. to .12.

Mace which is brought from the Ilande of Bandan, where the Bahar is woorth fyftiene Fanans (which import about one Mar∣chetto, the pounde are woorth in Calecut, the farazu∣ola.

Fanan .25. to .30

Turbithes, are woorth the farazuola.

Fanan .13

Woormeseede of the best kynde, called Semenzana, is woorth the farazuola.

Fanan .18.

Zerumba, the farazuola.

Fanan .2.

Zedoaria, the farazuola.

Fanan .1.

Gumme Serapine, the farazuola.

Fanan .20.

Aloe Cicotrine, the farazuola.

Fanan .18.

Cardamome in graynes, the farazuola.

Fanan .20.

Reubarbe groweth abundantly in the countrey of Malabar, and that whiche commeth from China by Malacha, is woorth the farazuola.

Fanan 40. to .50.

Mirabolani Emblici, the farazuola.

Fanan .2.

Mirabolani Belirici, the farazuola.

Fanan one & a halfe.

Mirabolani citrini & Chebuli, which are all of one sorte.

Fanan .2.

Mirabolani Indi, which are of the same Citrine trees.

Fanan .3.

Tutia, the farazuola.

Fanan .30.

Cububes, which growe in the Ilande of Iaua or Giaua, are there of small price, and solde by measure

without weyght.

Opium, which is brought from the citie of Aden where it is made, is woorth in Calecut the faraz.

Fanan .280. to 320.

Opium of an other sorte, whiche is made in Cambaia, is woorth the farazuola.

Fanan .200. to .250.

Of the weyghtes of Portugale and India: And howe they agreee.

THe pounde of the olde weight, conteyneth .xiiii. vnces. The pounde of the newe weyght conteyneth .xvi. vnces. Eight Cantares of the olde weyght, make .vii. of the newe. And euery newe Cantare, is of .C.xxviii. poundes, after xvi. vnces to the pounde.

Euery olde Cantare, conteyneth thre quarters and an halfe of the newe Cantare: And is of .C.xxviii. poundes, after .xiiii. vnces the pounde.

One Farazuoles, is .xxii. poundes of .xiiii. vnces, and .vi. vnces more, with two fyfte partes.

Twentie Farazuoles, are one Bahar.

One Bahar is .iiii. Cantares of the olde weight of Portugale. All the Spices and drugges, and al suche other thynges as come from India, are solde in Portugale by the olde weyght and all the rest by the newe weyght.

Herby maie we wel consider, that as we ought to reioyce and geue God thankes for the abundaunce of all these thinges, which he causeth the earth so plentifully to bryng foorth to our vse, so maye we lament the abuse of men, whose couetousnesse causeth great dearth and scarsenesse in the myddest of abundaunce: here∣in no lesse offendyng the lawe of nature, then do such as by witch∣crafte do entermingle poyson with thynges created for the health of man, or by inchauntment corrupt the seedes in the grounde: yea rather, as the vnnaturall mother, who destroyeth the chylde whom she hath long nuryshed.

Notes

• One caratte is iiii. graynes▪
• Which is one crowne of golde.
• Which are .iii. crownes of golde.
• A Marcell, is a siluer coyne of Venice, of .xi. vn••es .iii.d. with 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wherof .x. make an ounce.