The six voyages of John Baptista Tavernier, Baron of Aubonne through Turky, into Persia and the East-Indies, for the space of forty years : giving an account of the present state of those countries, viz. of the religion, government, customs, and commerce of every country, and the figures, weight, and value of the money currant all over Asia : to which is added A new description of the Seraglio / made English by J.P. ; added likewise, A voyage into the Indies, &c. by an English traveller, never before printed ; publish'd by Dr. Daniel Cox

The Money of Arabia.

• Larin, Figure 1.
• Half-Larin, Fig. 2.

THIS Money (Fig. 1.) is call'd Larin, and signities the same with our Crowns. The Five Pieces are as much in value as one of our Crowns; and the Ten Half-Larins as much. Only the Five Larins want in weight Eight Sous of our Crown. This is that which the Emirs, or Princes of Arabia take for the Coining of their Money; and the profit which they make by the Merchants that travel through the Desart, either into Persia or the Indies. For then the Emirs come to the Caravans, to take their Tolls, and to change their Crowns, Reals, or Ducats of Gold, for these Larins. For they must of necessity pass that way. And they must use very smooth words to boot; for there is nothing to be got by rough Languages. If they see the Merchants will not change their Money, then will they refuse to take their Toll; but making as if they had not time to cast up the accompt, they go a hunting, and leave the Merchants fifteen or twenty days without saying any thing more to them; while they in the mean time spend their provisions, not knowing where to get more. If the Caravan goes on without paying their Tolls, these Arabian Prince's will either cut them in pieces, or take away their Camels, or rob them of all they have, as they have several times done. In one Journey that I made, one of these Princes kept us one and twenty days; after which we thought our selves happy to be quit of him, when we had given him whatever he demanded. If these five Larins did but weigh as much as the Crown, or Real of Spain, the Merchants would never be much troubled. But when they come to Persia, or the Indies, they must carry their Money to the Mint, as I have said in another place, and loose above eight Sous in a Crown, which amounts to 14 per Cent. As for what remains, the Larins are one of the ancient Coins

of Asia; and though at this day they are only currant in Arabia, and at Bal∣sara, nevertheless, from Bragdatt to the Island of Ceylan, they traffick altogether with the Larin, and all along the Persian Golf; where they take 80 Larins for one Toman, which is 50 Abassi's.

Notes

• The Author not ha∣ving given an account of the weight or fineness of the Coins he treats of, but having only ex∣press'd their value in French Livres, it is thought fit for the bet∣ter reduction thereof into English Coin, to ad∣vertise, That Three French; Livres make a French Crown, which passes in Exchange from 54 pence to 58 pencel half-penny; so that a French Livre may be in value as the Ex∣change goes, from 18 pence to: 19 pence half∣penny. And twenty Sous make a Livre.