The merchants map of commerce wherein the universal manner and matter relating to trade and merchandize are fully treated of, the standard and current coins of most princes and republicks observ'd, the real and imaginary coins of accounts and exchanges express'd, the natural products and artificial commodities and manufactures for transportation declar'd, the weights and measures of all eminent cities and towns of traffick in the universe, collected one into another, and all reduc'd to the meridian of commerce practis'd in the famous city of London / by Lewis Roberts, merchant.

CHAP. XVI. Of ARGIER, and the Trade thereof.

* 1.1ARGIER contains only two Towns of note, Tremesin once the principal of a Kingdom, and Argier the principal now of this Countrey, not found to be very spacious in its self, but strong, and of late much fortified; inriched not only by the labour of the Moors banished out of Spain, but also by the spoils of many Merchants of all Nations, brought thither as the retreat and receptacle of all Turkish and Moorish Pirates, which do much infest the Mediter∣ranean Seas, and of late years have found the way out of the Straights of Gibraltar into the Ca∣nary Islands, and into sundry other Countreys bordering upon the Ocean. In it are accounted eighty thousand souls, the utmost part of them living by Piracies. Merchandizing is not much in use in this City; yet some of the Inhabitants are found to detest this common ill-gotten Gain, by Piracy and Theft: and these are observed to maintain some Trade with other Nations along the Coast. What points necessary thereto, according as I noted there in 1619. I shall here set down: and first their Commodities vended thence to forein parts, are such as fol∣loweth:

* 1.2The Commodities this Kingdom affords is, Barbary Horses, Estrich Feathers, Honey, Wax, Raisins, Figs, Dates, Oyls, Almonds, Castile Sope, Brass, Copper, and some Drugs: and last∣ly, excellent Piratical Rascals, in great quantity, and poor miserable Christian captives of all Nations too too many, God give them comfort, patience, and release in due time, if it be his Blessed Will.

* 1.3Their Coins passing current here in Trade is the Double, which is accounted to hold corre∣spondence in value with the English Shilling, or rather two Spanish Rials single.

Four Doubles is 1 ℞ ••/8, called there an Osian.

Five Doubles and 35 Aspers is a Pistolet of Spain.

Seven Doubles is accounted a Sultany or Chequeen, the common piece of Gold found current in all Barbary.

Fifty Aspers is accounted to make a Double; and these are the usual Coins passable in all this Coast belonging to this Kingdom.

* 1.4The 100 l. or Rotolos here is 120 l. English, so that their 84 l makes 100 l. Sutle, and 94 l. or Rotolos is 112 l. English, according to the custom of Valentia in Spain, from whence it is conceived they have drawn this original of Weights: they are observed to have two several Weights, the proportion being 10 l. of the small making. 6 l. of the gross.

But here sundry Commodities are found to be weighed by sundry Cantars, as Iron, Lead, Yarn, and all Woolls are weighed by a Cantar of 150 Rotolos of the Rotolos above specified.

Raisins, Figs, Butter, Honey, Dates, Oyl, Soap by the Cantar of 166 Rotolos abovesaid.

Almonds, Cheese, Cottons, by the Cantar of 110 Rotolos.

Brass, Copper, Wax, and all Drugs by the Cantar of 100 Rotolos.

And Flax is weighed by the Cantar to contain 200 Rotolos.

Gold, Silver, Pearls and Gems are weighed by the mitigal, which is worth there 9 doubler, and is 72 gr. English, and the soltany, chequeen or hungar weighs 52 gr. English, being accoun∣ted equal to Angel Gold, and worth in England circa 3 l. 11 s. per ounce, Troy Weight, or thereabouts.

* 1.5They use in Argier two picos or measures, the Turkish and Morisco, the Morisco pics being the measure of the Countrey, and is ¾ of the Turkish, by which is sold all Linnen only.

The Turkish pico is divided into 16 parts, and every ⅜ part is called a Robo, and is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 part of an English-yard, which with the allowance of an inch, according to our custom in England, hath been found to make 1½ picos turkisco, and by which all Silk Stuffs and Woollens are sold in this place.

* 1.6Their dry measure is called a Tarrie, which heaped up, as they use it, is 5 gallons English, and so hath it been found to produce in Corn, Salt, and some such Commodities.

* 1.7They keep their accompt in doubles and ossians, and some in soltanies and aspers, the coins of Barbary, 4 doubles making an ossian, and 50 aspers making a double.

* 1.8Their Customs are here 10 per cent. as in Tunis, and paid upon the Commodity according to the value sold, and permission given to land; and if not sold, to be shipt again free of all du∣ties (as I said before) in the Kingdom of Tunis. * 1.9And it is to be noted, a Ship entring here and Anchoring, must either land her Sails or her Rudder for prevention of running away without licence; which must be obtained in Duano, which is the common assembly of the Bashaw, who is Commander for the Grand Seignior, and of the principal Moors of the Kingdom and City, and then paying these duties with licence she is dismissed, viz. to the Kaiffa 28 doubles, to the Almaine 31 doubles, to the Captain Anchorage 15 doubles, to the Bashaw 8 doubles, to his Chiouse 4 doubles, to his Almin 8 doubles, to his Chouse 4 doubles, to the Bashaw Sorman 2 doubles, to the Druggerman 8 doubles, to the Sackagie 8 doubles; to the Consuls duty 42 doubles which in all make 162 doubles. And so much shall serve for Argier; now I sail along the Coast, and observe some Maritime Towns of note there seated.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Argier and the Trade thereof. Tremesin.
• * 1.2

  Commodi∣ties of A••gier
• * 1.3

  Coins of Ar∣gier.
• * 1.4

  Weights of Argier.
• * 1.5

  Measures of length.
• * 1.6

  Dry Mea∣sures.
• * 1.7

  Accounts in Argier.
• * 1.8

  Customs of Argier.
• * 1.9

  Clearing of a Ship in Argier.