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CHAP. XXI. Of the City FESSE, and the Trade thereof.
* 1.1THis City bears the name of Fesse, from the abundance of Gold, (as Writers record) that was found in digging the Foundation thereof; it is beautified with many goodly Build∣ings both publick and private; it is divided by the River Sabu into three parts, containing in all 82000 Housholds, having 700 Moschs or Temples, 50 of them being adorned with Pillars of Alabaster and Jasper; and one seated in the heart of the City called Carucen, is the most sumptuous, containing a mile in compass, in breadth cantaining 17 Arches, in length 120, and born up by two thousand five hundred white Marble Pillars, under the chiefest Arch (where the Tribunal is kept) hangeth a most huge Lamp of Silver, incompassed with 110 lesser; un∣der every the other Arches hang also very great Lamps, in each of which burn 150 Lights: it hath 31 Gates great and high; the Roof is 150 yards long, and 80 yards broad, and round about are divers Porches containing 40 yards in length, and 30 in breadth, under which are the publick Store-houses of the Town: about the Walls are Pulpits of divers sorts, wherein the Masters of their Law read to the people such things as they imagine appertain to their salva∣tion: the Revenues thereof in Anno 1526, was 200 Ducates a day of old rent, accounted 100 l. sterling; until the late Civil Wars it was a City of great Traffick, and many Merchants of di∣vers Nations resorted hither, and were allowed a publick Meeting-place for their Commerce, and lodging for their residence, being in form of a Court or Exchange, inclosed with a strong Wall, with 12 Gates, and limited with 15 Streets for several Nations to meet for their business, and for the laying up of their Commodities; and every night for security of their Goods and Persons, the same was kept guarded at the Cities charge, resembling the Besistens or Canes now in use in Turkey and other Southern Countreys.
There is here also divers Colleges where the Sciences are taught, amongst which Madorac is the chief, and accounted for one of the excellentest Pieces for Workmanship in all Barbary! It hath three Cloysters of admirable beauty, supported with eight squares Pillars of divers colours; the Roof curiously carved, and the Arches of Mosaique of Gold and Azure; the Gates are of Brass fair wrought, and the Doors of the private Chambers of in-laid work: It is recorded that this Colledge did cost the Founder King Abuchenen, 480 thousand Sultanies in Gold, which is in English Money 192 thousand pound; which would hardly in these days, were it now to be built, perform the twentieth part thereof, and this was not above 150 years past; and about that time Henry the Seventh King of England did build that sumptuous Chappel in Westminster; which as I have been informed, did in those days co•• 7448 l. and let it be judged by Artists, how much more would build the fellow of it in these our days.
They have also here for the commodity and pleasure of the Citizens 600 Conduits, from whence almost every house is served with water; besides what goeth to their religious uses, at the entries of their Temples and Moschs: but I have staid too long in surveying this City, I will now see what Commodities and Merchandize this Kingdom affords.
* 1.2The Commodities found in general, as well in the Kingdom of Fesse as of Morocco, and found transportable for Merchandize, is Fruits of all kinds, such as is principally of Dates, Al∣monds, Figs, Raisins, Olives; also Honey, Wax, Gold, and sundry sorts of Hides, and Skins, espe∣cially that excellent sort of Cordovant from this Kingdom of Morocco called Maroquins, famoused throughout Spain, France, and Italy; also Corn, Horses, Wools, whereof the Inhabitants are ob∣served of late days to make some Cloath: here is found also for Merchandize fabricated here some sorts of Stuffs of Silks, as Sattins, Taffataes, and some sorts of Linnen, much in use in this Coun∣trey, made partly of Cotton, and partly of Flax, and divers other Commodities.
* 1.3The Moneys of this Kingdom, and generally of all the Kingdoms of Morocco, is the Xeriff or Ducate in Gold, deriving the name thereof from the Xeriffs, who within these few years made conquest of these Kingdoms, under Pretext and colour of the Sanctity of their Religion, and is accounted to be about ten shillings sterling Money, divided into 8 parts, and esteemed ⅛ each part, which may be compared to be about 14 d. in 15 d. sterling.
* 1.4They keep their Accounts in these places by Ducates, or old Xeriffs, now almost out of use, divided into 8 parts, accounted in common value, but 12 d. every ⅛, though worth more, as above is declared.
* 1.5Their Weight here is two, one used in all ordinary Commodities, which is the Rorolo, contain∣ing (.) ounces or drams, it having been found by observation, that the 100 l. Averdupois, Lon∣don, hath made here 64 Rotolos, and 100 Rotolos is here a Cantar. The second Weight is here the Mitigal, used in the weighing of Silver, Gold, Pearl, Musk, and the like, agreeing with the Mitigal used in Argier and Tunis spoken of before.