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CHAP. LXXVII. Of Balsara and the Trade thereof.
* 1.1BAlsara lieth in the bottom of the Persian Gulph, and is seated on the mouth of the River Euphrates, serving as a Magazine for all the Commodities of Arabia, India, Turkey, and Persia, and as a thorough-fare for all Merchants travelling from one of those Countreys to another, but especially for such as here take shipping to the Isle of Ormus, India, Arabia, &c. This Town was of late years subject to the Persian, but now in obedience to the Great Turk, and is the last of his Dominions this way: and here it is observed that the Water doth ebb and flow, as with us in England, and in no place else adjoyning upon the Ocean Seas; the In∣draught may be imagined to be the cause, as it is observed the like in Venice.
It hath been noted in matter of Trade here, that there is paid for every Sum of Goods carried from Bagdate hither by Water, six Sehids, and from Balsara to Bagdate two Medins per Wesnoe, and 100 Wesnoes from Balsara to Ormus, cost carriage 20 Lairins, and the like back from Ormus to Balsara.
Hither always come the Syria Caravans that are bound for India, and end their Land∣travel, and imbark themselves and Goods for the great Marts of Ormus and Cambaia, and here returning they conclude their Sea-Navigation, and begin their Land-Peregrination, for Turkey, &c.
* 1.2The Customs payable at Balsara as the last Port of the Grand Seignior's Dominions, who, conquered the same from the Persians in Anno 1550, is 1 in every 14 Sehids for gross Com∣modities, but it is 1 per 20 or 5 per cent. upon Cloths, Silks, and fine Goods, but here is a Tare of 3 in 10 Wesnoes allowed both in Spices, Drugs, &c. for dust, and upon Silks, for waste heads, and the like.
* 1.3The prices of Commodities ruled some years past thus here.
The Wesno of Maces was worth in Balsara 13 Ducates.
The Wesno of Nutmegs was worth 6 Ducates.
The Wesno of Soap was worth 15 Sehids.
The Wesno of Almonds was 24 Sehids.
The Wesno of Galls was worth 10 Larins, and for this weight of Wesno, it is found that 16 Wesnoes of Balsara make a Kintar of Aleppo common weight, but the 100 Wesnoes in the weight of Silk of Rotol, 680 dr. in Aleppo makes Silk Rot. 529 dr. 28.
* 1.4The Weight common here in the sale of Commodities besides this Wesno is the Maund, which is 100 Rotolo's, which have been observed to have made 500 l. English, which is 5 l. a Rotolo; but I have met with an Observation on this place made by some English that have travell'd hi∣ther, that the 112 l. hath made 19 Maunds 2¼ Rotolo's, which must be 5 l. 4¼ ounces English; the difference I refer to be rectified by the better experienced.
* 1.5Their Measure is found to be about 26 inches English.
To proceed to the next Province in Persia, it is Cusestan, situated Eastward from Persia, called in Scripture Havilah, having in it Susa, a City where sometimes the Persian Monarch abides in Winter, as being more Southerly than Echatana; and lastly, Casan, of which a word.