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* 1.1THis Land of Blackmoors, hath on the East Aethiopia Superior, on the West the At∣lantique Ocean, on the North Lybia, on the South Manicongo; in this tract of ground is accounted twenty five Kingdoms or Provinces, through which runneth the famous River of
Niger or Sanega, in whose over-flowing consisteth the welfare of the Inhabitants; even as in Aegypt it doth by the Inundation of Nilus; for this (as that) increaseth for forty days, and decreaseth for forty days more, during which time the Inhabitants fail over the whole Land in Boats and Barges.
* 1.2This whole Tract principally now acknowledgeth three Sovereigns, which is the Kingdom of Tombutu, the Kingdom of Borneo, and the Kingdom of Goaga; each Kingdom giving name to a City the principal residence of the Kings. The City of Tombutu lieth beyond the River of Sanega or Niger, wherein is found a Trade driven by many French, Dutch and English Merchants; the manner thereof, and the matter wherewith I shall hereafter as well as I can particularize. * 1.3Four hundred miles from Tombutu is the City of Goaga, wherein are found eminent Merchants, and precious and sumptuous Merchandize of all sorts. * 1.4Borneo is the third, the Inhabitants where∣of are better versed in breeding of Cattle, than in the Art of Commerce, and better read in Mars than Mercury.
* 1.5The Commodities of these Countreys, are Corn, Sugars, Cattel, Horses, Rice, Fruits, Gold in Sand, which they term Siga, and we Tibur; and also in Ingots without Sovereign stamp or character, and is distinguished by its fineness and goodness, which the Inhabitants by way of Exchange do Barter with their Neighbours and other forein Nations, against Cloaths, Linnens, Callico's, Basons of Copper, Iron-work, Sword-blades, Hand-Guns, Glasses, Beads, and such like, and principally against Salt, which of all other Commodities this Countrey is most de∣fective in, and in some places affords not, and therefore pays for it at an excessive dear price to Strangers.
* 1.6The Trade of all this Tract, such as it is now in these days known to our Nation, is com∣prised alongst the Sea-Coast, which the Portugals by reason of their former Plantation here, and rich Commerce, have entitled the Golden Coast, and we in common appellation, term the Trade of the Coast of Genin and Benin, two of the principal Provinces Maritime, that are found included within the Circuits of these three before-mentioned Kingdoms: which Trade that it may be a little better understood, I shall more particularly survey, according to some Obser∣vations made by some hands thereon.
* 1.7In the beginning and discovery of this maritime Coast, (for thereto I intend to apply the Trade of this Country) the Portugals were the first that ranged this Shore, and had some small knowledge of their Commodities and of the manner of trading with them, who partly by fair means, and partly by Constraint got footing in this Sea-coast, building Forts in some, and placing Garrisons and Factories in others, which then was found so Golden and beneficial to that Country, that it is conceived this only thing (as what will not Gold attract) drew them to search further the Maritime Coast of this Tract all along to Cape bona Esperansa, and so consequently thereby unto the East-Indies: fair quarter and courteous usage being then per∣ceived in these Forts and Towns thus subjected to the Portugals, drew the Inhabitants and Countrey-men to a fair and ordinary commutation and exchanging of Commodities with them, which according to the custom of that Kingdom, was maintained by Factors appointed for the King's particular account in every Port and Town, as if he intended to make the profits of Merchandizing to defray the charges of his Conquest and Garrisons, furnishing them with Salt, Iron, Tin, Copper, Basons, Knives, Cloth, Linnen, and other European Commodities; recei∣ving in exchange partly the Commodities proper for their nourishment, such as was Cattle, Corn, Rice, and the like; and principally Commodities beneficial, as Gold it self in great abundance both in Sand and Ingots melted, which gave a quickning and life to the further discoveries of those Countreys and continuance of the Trade, which is found there maintained to this day, though in a far lesser manner.
* 1.8The English and other Nations afterwards desirous to share in this rich Trade, failed within a short time likewise hither; and because they had not such Places and Forts for their Ware hou∣ses, and the Protection of their Persons and Goods, therefore would not, or else might not with safety land their Commodities without danger of the falshood of the Portugals, or treachery of the Inhabitants: therefore at first failing hither were compelled to Anchor alongst the Coast nearest to the best Towns, and of greatest concourse, and signifie to the Inhabitants the Com∣modities they had brought to utter, drew at length by their fair demeanour and courteous usage the Moors to come aboard their Ships, and bring their Gold with them; the manner of which Trade (as being different from any other Country) I shall briefly set down.
* 1.9In the morning betimes, having for the most part then the Wind off the shore, and calm weather, the Moors came aboard in their Canoes and Scuts to traffique. some for them∣selves, and some which they call Tolkens or Factors for others, who carry at their Girdles a Purse, wherein small Clouts or Papers containing sometimes 10 several mens Gold are wrapped and laid up; which though it should be of one and the same weight and goodness, they not∣withstanding readily distinguish, and having made their Barters for Cloath, Linnens, or the like, at noon return with the Sea-turn, or as they call it, the Brise, again to the shore; and
besides their Bargains covenanted, these Factors have some small thing for themselves as the reward of their pains by way of Brokage or Factorage, which they called by the name of Dachio.
* 1.10But in process of time the Netherlanders frequenting this Coast, and well acquainted with the manner of this English Traffick; and coming into the same parts where the English traded and were known, were the first that spoiled this Golden Trade, partly by their sinister dealing, and partly by their undermining and fraudulent tricks; for they coming to Anchor together with the English to sell their Commodities, and finding that the English vended more Wares, and had a larger Traffick by the concourse of the native Merchants from ashore, with these Tolkens above-mentioned, than they had, hired these Pilots, Boat-men and Tolkens (that were thus employed, to carry their Passengers and Merchants aboard) under-hand to carry them aboard their Dutch Ships, and not aboard the English, and so to trade with them only; which the English at last perceiving and smelling out their craft, were by the same craft com∣pelled to prevent the same; so that by this means the one out-vying the other, these fellows for their good will and Brokage have by this means drawn the duty or rather courtesie of Da∣chia, to 6 in 7 per cent. to the prejudice of all Traders upon this Coast: but this rested not here, for this dealing drew on a greater inconvenience in their Trade, for when the Flemmings had first been the Authors of this ill custom or courtesie of Dachio to these Boat-men and Tolkens, which necessarily were by all succeeding European Merchants to be imitated, or their Voyage lost, and their Commodities remain unsold: It was found that many Merchant Moors, Inland∣men, coming to the Sea-side to buy Wares of them, bringing great store of Gold with them for Traffick, and having divers Slaves, some 20, some 30, and some more according to their means and Trade, to carry back those Wares they had thus bought on Ship-board, and these Moorish Merchants taking their Lodgings in the Houses of these Tolkens, and using to acquaint them with their full Commissions and Intents, and then receiving of them their Gold, repaired aboard the Ships to Trade and Barter; and if the Moorish Merchants were not skilled in the Portugal Tongue, those Tolkens would presently tell the Flemmings, and desire them not to speak Morisco to them, because their Merchants were such as dwelt far within the Land; thereby giving them to understand that they meant by this Watch-word to deceive him, and afterward to share those so ill-gotten purchases amongst them: and it did, nor doth it seldom fall out, but that the Merchant Moor, not accustomed to the Sea, lies Sea-sick aboard, all the while the knavish Tolken makes his Bargain for him with the crafty Dutch, conniving at the Flemmings great inhansed prices of his Commodities, to draw the greater gain and more Gold from the Moor; whom sometimes he cozens by stealing some of his Gold, and put it into his mouth, ears, or otherwise; which the Moor finding by the Scale and Weight to want, adds some more knavery thereto, by blowing into the Christians Scale and Ballance to make it weight; and when all these his intended Bargains are finished, and the Moor again landed, the Tolkens and Boats-men return again aboard to divide the cozened profit and ill-gotten gain between them, wherein it may be imagined that the Flemming for his part of the knavery and connivance must have a share of the gains; which hath proved such a hindrance and detriment to the English and other Christians that Trade upon this Coast, that unless they also connive at the Tolkens Villany and deceit as the Dutch do, their Voyage will be lost, and their Commo∣dities to their prejudice remain unsold; this is in brief the manner of their Trade, the means now follow.
* 1.11As for their Customs due to the Kings and Sovereigns upon this Coast, it is found to vary in divers Ports and Havens, and only paid by Inhabitants in case the Christian bring not his Goods ashore to sell, every Haven having a peculiar Officer, and every Merchant that cometh with an intent to buy Wares at a Port-Town, payeth a Toll or small Custom for his Person, though he buy nothing; and that no deceit may be used in the Collector, there is ever a Sen or some near Kinsman of that Prince, joined in Authority with the said Collector, or Cu∣stomer; and if the Merchant buy any Commodities aboard a Ship for less than two ounces of Gold at a time, then he must compound with the Customer for the Custom as he can at his pleasure, as that which is the Customers own profit, fee, and wages: but if he buy above two ounces of Gold which they call a Benda, then the Custom is an Angel of Gold for every Benda, as I am gi∣ven to understand.
* 1.12I have shewed that Coins acknowledging any Sovereignty by stamp are not here in use, but Gold passable either in Sands or Ingots, according to the fineness and goodness is the current Coin passable, which our Merchants very well distinguish by 24 artificial Needles made by allay of Metals, from the lowest sort of Gold to the finest of 24 Carots fine, having exact Rules for the valuation thereof, accordingly as the same is found either in fineness or courseness: nei∣ther use they any Money, or any kind of minted Coin wherewith to pay each other; but when any Commodity is bought, the payment thereof is made with Gold, and that likewise by weight; and it must be a very small parcel that hath not some kind of weight to distinguish and weigh it
withal, and they pay each other with four square pieces of Gold, weighing some a grain, and some half a grain: * 1.13and about Mina a Castle of the Portugals, they pay each other with Kaco∣rawns, which is Gold drawn out into Wire, and cut afterward into small pieces for all trivial Commodities; and in other places with little pieces of Iron of a finger in length, with some Characters stamped thereon; and in some places they have not the Art of melting their Gold, but sell it, or rather pay it one to another in Sand by weight, according as they shall agree both in the value and in the quantity.
* 1.14The Weights are made of Copper of divers sorts, and have little round Copper Scales, like a hollow Orange Pill for Gold.
A Bend•• is the greatest weight, and weighs two ounces.
A Benda Offa is half a Benda, and is an ounce.
Asseva is two Pesos and a half.
Egebba is two Pesos, and accounted half an ounce, or the fourth part of a Benda.
Seron is accounted for one Peso and a half.
Eusanno is accounted a Peso.
Quienta is three quarters of a Peso.
Each Peso is held a Loot.
Mediataba is a quarter of a Peso.
Agiraque is half a Peso, so that by those that have made the trial of their weights with ours, they have found them to be in every pound Troy a Peso and a half in every pound heavier than our Troy pound used in England; and this weight is the Rule for their Gold in passing for Com∣modities: * 1.15where note, that all Countreys have not in this and other these large Coasts Moneys current of Metal as we have in Christendom; for in some parts of Aethiopia their Money is Pepper, in Tombutu and about the River Niger, their Money is Cockles or Shell-fish, in Azanah their Mo∣ney is Porcellette, in Bengala Porcelete and Metal together, as in China they use Porcelette for Money, and in some other places of India, Paper stamped with the King's Seal passeth for current Mony; and in some places the Barks of certain Trees called Gelsamora, and in Congo and many places of these Countreys Lumach, and in Angela, Beads of Glass, and such like in many other places.
* 1.16Their Measure for length in Cloth or other Commodities, is a Jactam, which is accounted with us 12 foot, or two fathom, which they cut the one from the other, and in that sort sell their Linnen the one to the other; and those two fathom by trial of the Dutch make a stork and three quarters, but in Woollen they never measure above peices of one handful broad, which they so cut off and use for Girdles, which they wear about their middles, and sell it among themselves in this manner in these pieces abovesaid, and use no other kind of measure which they call a Paw, which is ¾ 1 d. English.
* 1.17The Inhabitants of this Coast at the first trading here of the Portugals, were very rude and ignorant, and were easily beguiled in all the Commodities which they sold them; and not only took in good part the badness of the Ware they received, but were also deceived in their mea∣sure; the Portugals by this means putting off their rotten Linnens, rusty Knives, broken and patched Basons, pieced Kettles, and such like, and these at what measure, value, weight, and quantity they pleased for their Gold: but the times are now altered, and they by their usual sufferings in this kind by the Portugals, made the more wary, provident and circumspect in their Traffick with the English, French, and Dutch: so that in those Commodities which they buy or barter, ei∣ther for their own use, or for Merchandize, they are found to have as good judgment in them as the Sellers themselves.
Their ignorance in Trade may be judged by their ignorance in Accompting and Reckoning, for when they have past the number of Ten, they rehearse so many words one after another for one number, that they are so puzzled and cumbred therewith, that they cannot tell how to get out, and so sit buzzing so long, till at last they have lost their Tale, and forgot their number, and so are forced to begin to tell again: but since they began to trade with the English, and were to reckon above the number of Ten, for they use no more amongst them, they reckon on till they come to Ten, and then take one of their fingers into their hands, and then tell to Ten again; and then take another finger into their hand, and so proceed till they have both their hands full, which in all maketh one hundred, then they mark that up, and then begin to tell as at the first, and use the same order as before.
To conclude this Traffick, and to leave this Coast, I hear not in these days that the English frequenting that Coast, or that the French or Dutch make any great benefit thereby: for the present subtilty of the Inhabitants, perceiving how their Gold is sought eagerly after by them and all Nations, can now adays set such a rate thereon by this their manner of Exchange and Barter, and that by being so often beguiled by others, they are now grown more wary and circumspect in their Bargaining, and are as ready to beguile the Beguilers, as to be beguiled themselves; for they look now narrowly both to their Measure and the goodness of their Com∣modity; and though at the first they knew no distinction of Christians, but took the Portugals
and all white men to be of one Nation; yet since they know each Nation, and are acquainted with their particular manners and manner of dealing, having ever hitherto from the beginning found the fai••est and squarest Trade with the English, therefore when they come, they are the best welcome to them, and speed best of any other Nations whatsoever with them.
* 1.18I willingly omit here to speak of the Sugar Trade, and of the plenty of Sugar Canes grow∣ing upon this Coast: the King of Bortugal here in certain places farming the fole Trade thereof to certain his own Subjects, with a strict proviso, that the same be sold to none other but to his own Subjects, and that Provision to be sent only for Lisbon, to gain a great Custom thereby imposed thereon; therefore the Portugal being here the only buyer and ingrosser, the Inhabi∣tants must and are inforced to fell only to them, and at what reasonable rate they best can agree upon; and this restraint of this Commodity hath drawn the Dutch to build and fortifie in some places upon this Coast, as now of late they have done at Mina opposite to the Spaniard, where they are at continual variance, the River only parting them.
Negrita and the Trade thereof.
Tombutu.
Goago.
Borneo.
Commodi∣ties thereof.
The Trade of Guiney and Benin, and the Gol∣den Coast.
The Portu∣gals the first Traders in∣to Guiney and Benin.
Who shew∣ed the way to English and others.
The man∣ner of the u∣sual Trade of Guiney and Benin.
The under∣mining tricks of Guiney and Benin.
Customs of the Golden Coast of Gui∣ney and B•…•…in
The Coins current in Guiney and B••nin.
Kacorawns.
The weights of Guiney and Benin.
Coins of ma∣ny parts of this Coast.
Measures of Guiney and Benin
The manner of account∣ing.
Sugar Trade.