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. LXX. Of Aden, and the Trade thereof.

* 1.1ADen is the strongest and fairest Town of Arabia Foelix, situated in a Valley, and i••om∣passed most part with Hills of Marble, upon which it is conceived it never rainen; it lieth on the North side of the entrance of the Read-Sea, reaching 60 miles further inward than the opposite Cape Gardefu•• it is fortified with five strong Castles, kept by Garrisons and within late years surprized by the Bashaw of Aegypt for the Grand Signior, in whose obe••ence it now quietly remaineth by the death and slaughter of the natural Sovereign there•…•… It is now by the industry of man from a firm Land become an Island, and yet commande by a strong Castle, the residence of the Governour seated on an adjoyning hill.

It is accounted to have 6000 houses in it, inhabited by sundry Nations, or more p••perly a miscellany of Indians, Persians, Aethiopians, Arabians, and Turks, which here do re••de for the benefi•• of that great Trade and Commerce that is exercised in this City. The Portug••lt had once got the possession thereof, and were Masters of it for some few years: but finding the charge of the Garrison to exceed the benefit afforded by the Trade and neighbouring c•…•…fines, they willingly surrendred the place to a Moor; who paying them for some years certa•• Tri∣bute, they seated as a Sovereign to command the same, who ruled here till the Turks c••me to be Masters thereof.

This City is now the principal Magazine for the Commodities of Persia, India, and Ar••∣bia, and affording naturally great store of Drugs, as Myrrh, Balsam, Manna, and many sorts of Spices: The heat of this place is so excessive in the day time, that all the b••rgains and contracts made here among Merchants, are done by night, as the coolest season to effect the same.

Now for the Coins here current, the Weights and Measures here in use, and other need∣ful further Observations of the Trade of this place, I am inforced to be silent in, and refer the same to the more experienced, to be hereafter added, as occasion shall serve here unto.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aden, and the Trade thereof.