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. LXXXVII. Of Cambalu, and the Trade thereof.

* 1.1CAmbalu, the Metropolis of Cathai, as Sarmacand is of Zagathai, is seated on the North-East bordering of this Countrey, containing both the old and new City, through which doth run the famous River of Polisanga; it is accounted 28 miles in compass, or rather in square, each Angle containing 7 miles, and in every square is placed three principal Gates which incloseth the Town with Earthen Walls or Rampiers of 10 paces in thickness, and every Gate comprehending a sumptuous Palace, and every Angle having also an excellent Palace, where the Armours of the Garrison Souldiers are kept, which is 1000 Souldiers at every Gate,

The Buildings are squared out proportionably, and every Street is drawn out to a line, so that every Gate yields a free prospect through the City to the opposite Gate, beautified on each side with stately Edifices and Houses for the Honourable of this Country.

In the midst of this City is a sumptuous Palace, wherein the Grand Cham resideth, with all his Queens and Children, and wherein is placed a Bell, which is tolled at certain hours of the Evening, after which may no man stir out of doors, until the beginning of the day fol∣lowing; the largeness, rarities, curiosity, and richness of this Palace, the partitions allow∣ed his Queens, and Lodgings appointed for his Children, and their daily Attendants, and the Order, Beauty, and Manner thereof, I willingly omit, as not pertinent to my present pur∣pose.

Without this City Walls are accounted 12 Suburbs of 3 or 4 miles long adjoyning to each of the aforesaid 12 Gates, and here all Merchants, Strangers, and Foreigners do abide, each Na∣tion having a several Cane or Store-house, where they both lodge, and exercise their Mer∣chandize, and traffick one with another for the Commodities of these several Countreys: The confluence of Merchants here cannot choose but be wonderful, seeing it is reported that the City is so populous, that the Cham maintaineth 5000 Astrologers here daily, besides many thousands of Souldiers both of Horse and Foot, that 12000 Horse is accounted but as his ordi∣nary and daily Guard; * 1.2besides which, the near neighbourhood of Exendu, the principal place of the Grand Cham, seated not many days Journey hence, where Merchants are not permitted to enter, is built in a four square figure, every side extending eight miles in length; within this Quadrant is another, whose sides are six miles long; and within that another of four miles square, which is accounted the very Palace it self; and between which several walls are found, Walks, Gardens, Orchards, Fish-ponds, places for all manner of Courtly and Military Exercises, and also Parks, Forests, and Chases, for all manner of Pleasures and Game, and the infinite number of Attendants and Servitours, that of necessity is required to wait upon so great a Prince, with the Officers thereto belonging, cannot but much increase the Trade and Commerce of this City and place.

As for the Trade of this City of Cambalu, and generally of all Tartaria, it is observed, that the Countrey, (though in a large Tract) extending it self upon the North Ocean, yet by rea∣son of the long continued colds and frosts, the Inhabitants have but little benefit thereof, how∣ever it may be conceived, that the Molucco's, Japans, and other Islanders thereabout in the season of the year, have here a great Traffick, and that hence these Tartarians are furnished with the Spices of India the Gems of Pegu, and Bengala, and peradventure with other the Drugs of Arabia•• but upon the Caspian Sea, they are the Masters of many good Sea-Ports, be∣sides Astracan which of late they have lost to the Muscovite, as Zahaspa Cosmi, Melmesuach, and others; by which is conveyed to them the Silks, Tapestries, Carpets, Arms, and excellent Ma∣nufactures of Persia, and in the Black-Sea, besides Capha, now in subjection to the Turks, they enjoy the brave Ports of Curaropo, Asow, and others, serving to convey unto them the Commo∣dities of Turkey, Trabesond, Podolia, Walacia, and other Countreys bordering upon the famous River of Danubius.

Now for the other parts of this large Empire, it bordereth on the one side with Musco∣via, with whom it is now in peace, though not seldom at debate, from whence by the benefit of Traffick, which I find observed not to be of any great consequence, they have rich Furs and other the Commodities of this Country.

But where it bordereth upon China, which is for a very large extent of ground, by some Author; accounted 400 leagues, the common report of the strict Laws and Customs of that Nation (to debar entrance to all Strangers) should perswade me of little Traffick that way; yet I find it observed by some late Travellers, whose Relation herein is questionable, That the City of Cambalu receiveth yearly thence by way of Traffick 10000 Carts laden with Silks and Stuffs of the China Fabrick; the truth thereof I refer to the censure of the Reader.

* 1.3As for the Moneys current in this large Territory, I find it to be diversly made, yet nei∣ther of Gold nor of Silver coined, but of the middle Bark of the Mulbery Tree, which being made firm, and cut into divers and round pieces great and little, they imprint the King's mark thereupon, and from this mean Stuff the Emperour causeth a huge mass of Moneys to be yearly made at Cambalu, which sufficeth for his whole Empire, and no Man under pain of death may coin or spend any other Money, or refuse it in all his Kingdoms and Dominions; whereby it cometh to pass, That Merchants often coming hither from far and remote Coun∣treys, bring with them Gold, Silver, Pearl, and pretious Stones, and receive the King's Money for them; and because the same is not current in their Country, they therewith buy in this Empire other the Commodities here found, which they carry hence away with them: the King also payeth his stipends, Officers and Armies with the said Moneys, and buyeth whasoever else he needeth with the same, so that no Prince in the World can exceed him in Treasure, which is at so easie a rate provided and procured.

* 1.4Besides which, I find it observed in some parts of this large Country subject to some sub∣ordinate Kings, in subjection to the Great Cham, that they use in some places pieces of po∣lisht Coral, in stead of Money; and in others they have certain twigs of Gold in lieu of Mo∣ney, which is distinguished by weight into several parcels, without stamp or character, and this is accounted in matters of consequence: * 1.5but they have a lesser Coin (if I may so term it) made of Salt, which they boil in Caldrons for a certain time, which congealed they make into lumps, like our Peny-loaves, which being made solid is signed with the Prince's Stamp, and passeth thus current amongst them, and wherewith they provide themselves of all neces∣saries; In some others I find also that they use Porcelan for Money, and weighed pieces of Gold; for in some Countreys of this Empire Silver Mines are not found, and they give in proportion one ounce of Gold for five ounces of Silver; neither is it found in many places of this Country that they have the use of Letters; therefore the Merchants make their Contracts and Obligati∣ons in Tallies of Wood, the half whereof the one keepeth, and the other the other half: which being aftetwards paid and satisfied, the said Tally is restored; not much unlike the custom of Tallies in England. And thus much shall serve to have said of the Trade in general of this Coun∣try; the strange Customs, Manners, and Forms of Government hinder all further particular knowledge of Trade to our European Merchants: therefore leaving thus this Empire and City, (contented with this short Survey) I proceed to India, of late years become somewhat bet∣ter known to Europe and to our Nation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cambalu and the Trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  Exendu, and the largeness thereof.
• * 1.3

  Coins cur∣rent in Cam∣balu, and through Tar∣taria, of the bark of Mul∣berry-trees.
• * 1.4

  Of Coral po∣lished.
• * 1.5

  Of Salt in Loaves hard∣ned.