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. XCII. Of the Trade in general practised alongst the Coast of India.

* 1.1THE Coast of India known in these Regions, is only so accounted from the Islands called las Vachas, or from the Town of Daman to the Cape of Comarin, not above 200 miles in length, wherein besides the Metropolis Goa, are found sundry others in subjection to the Crown of Portugal; as first Daman to the North of Goa; then Basain, then Chaul, Dabul, and then Goa: and to the South-ward, which some call the Coast of Malabar, they hold Romes, Onor, Barselor, Mangalor, Cananor, Calicut, Craganor, Cochin, Coulon, and Cape de Co∣meri, which is accounted the last end of the Coast of Malabar and India: For the better under∣standing the Trade of these Sea ports, it will be needful I should somewhat more particularly survey the same.

* 1.2First then, It is to be understood, that the Northern part of this Coast is held the whole∣some and purest Air for habitation, the principal places being Daman, Basasen, and Chaul, which are found in themselves to have good Havens, whereto great Traffick is maintained throughout India; the Countrey hereabouts abounding in Rice, Pease, and other grains, Butter and Oyl of Nuts, also Cotton Cloth great quantity, especially Baroches, taking the name from a City of this Coast; and in Chaul is found very great concourse of Merchants and Traf∣fick to Ormus, Cambaia, Sinde, Masquate, Bengala, having therein many rich Merchants, and Ships of great burthen; and here is also made divers kinds of Silk, Stuffs, as Grograms, Sattim, Taffata's, and such like in such abundance, that India, and all other places bordering, are served therewith, and beholding thereto, which brings a great Trade to the said City of Chaul, for they bring in the raw Silk of China, and being here spun, woven, and wrought, carry it out again, and distribute it throughout India, and the neighbouring Countries; here also they make fair and excellent wrought Bedsteds, Boxes, Desks, Stools, and other wooden Arts, which bring them great profit, and make this place famous throughout these parts.

* 1.3As for the Coast of Malabar, Onor is of good esteem, where there is a great quantity of Pepper yearly laden by the Portugal's Factors, accounted the best and fullest Berry in all India, the Countrey hereabouts belonging to a Queen rich in Pepper, who selleth the said Commodity only to the Portugals; but receiveth her money six months beforehand, and at the season de∣livereth the said contracted Pepper, which by the Portugals is housed in their Fort, which (by her leave) they have here built, till their shipping come to fetch it away, which is com∣monly but once a year.

* 1.4Cananor is held the best Fort they have upon all this Coast, and doth abound with Rice and Pepper, and near the Fort is a fair Town which is plentifully stored with all the Commodities of this Coast and Shore, especially abounding in all manner of Victuals and provision, and Masts for Ships of all sizes and sorts.

* 1.5Calicut was once the most famous Town of Trade of all this shore, and gave name not only to the sorts of Pepper that here grow, but also to that sort or Cotton Cloth that was first hence transported for Europe, but the Emperour the then Sovereign, * 1.6being Enemy to the King of Cochin, with whom the Portugals at their first arrival here sided, and prospered, by that means overthrew the great Traffick of Calicut, and advanced the Traffick of Cochin, whose So∣vereign by means of the Trade is now become a mighty and rich Prince in this Countrey, the City of Cochin it self thereby so inlarged, inriched, and so well inhabited by Portugals, who are in part the new Masters, by native Malabars and other Nations, and seated upon a plea∣sant River, and enjoying the commodity of a good Channel and Haven; that it is accounted in these parts for Trade and concourse of Merchants the only second to Goa: here is laden yearly great quantity of Pepper, and a course sort of Cinnamon, vulgarly called de Matte, no∣thing comparable to Cinnamon of Zelan accounted the best; and hither come all the Portugal Ships to lade homewards, after that they have unladen their European Commodities in Goa, which adds much to the Trade of this City. Two Commodities hither imported do much in∣rich this place. 1. The great store of Silk that cometh hither raw from China to be wrought, and next the great store of Sugar that cometh from Bengala to be spent, for which the married Citizens are found to pay no custom to the King of Cochin, though for all others they pay 4 per cent. but the stranger and unmarried pay at Cochin nothing to the King; but to the Portugal 8 per cent. * 1.7And because this great Traffick for Pepper is only peculiar to some private Mer∣chants or Farmers authorised by the Kings of Spain, it will not be unproper I should here relate the manner thereof: It is to be understood then that the Kings of Portugal, the first European Traders into these parts, in all their Navigations and Discoveries, ever added the benefit of Commerce towards the supportation of the expences of their Conquests; and having here built for conveniency of Trade, and protection of their Merchants, and Subjects, many Fortresses and Castles; they ever so settled them, that the commodiousness of the Haven, Port or Har∣bour, joyned to the native Commodities of the place, might add means and fair inducements to make by Traffick their conquests profitable. This Coast then being found to abound with Pepper, a principal Commodity then requested in Europe, designed it to be converted to his peculiar profit, by all the provident ways of a circumspect Merchant; * 1.8 but Princes that will im∣brace all, sometimes grasp but a little; for the same could not be so profitably contrived, consider∣ing the distance of way, length of time, and trust to be committed to Factors, Captains of Forts, and others; but he found himself to come far short of his expectation in this point, whereupon he was advised to let out the same to Farm, and contracted it at certain conditions to certain great and eminent Merchants, who should stand in his place strongly and amply priviledged, and should enjoy a part of the gains for themselves, and yet bring the greatest crop of their la∣bours into his coffers; hereupon it was first let out for five years, the Farmers and Contracters binding themselves to send such a stock to India in ready money, as would extend for 30 thousand Quintals of Pepper yearly, conceived to be in those days as much as all Europe could annually vend in that Commodity; but then the King was bound to send his Ships to India to lade the same, in number five Ships of sufficient burthen yearly; the Farmers bearing the adventure both of their moneys outward, and of the said Pepper homeward, lading it in India into the said Ships at their own costs and charges, all which brought into Portugal, they were to deliver to the King at the price of 12 Ducats per Quintal, and what was either cast away, lost, or taken, was to be born by the Farmers; the King paying for no more than what was thus fairly laid on land into his store-house at Lisbon, neither yet paid he ready money for the same, but paid them with their own money when the Pepper was sold; so that the King without dis∣bursement or hazard, had and hath a certain great gain without the loss of a penny, in con∣sideration whereof the Farmers have many great and strong Immunities and Priviledges; as first, that no man upon pain of death, of what estate or condition soever he be; may any ways deal or Trade in Pepper but themselves, which is still strictly observed; Secondly, that they may not upon any occasion or necessity whatsoever, diminish or lessen the said ordinary stock of money, nor the King his said stint of shipping; neither hinder not lett them in any sort concerning the lading thereof, which is also strictly looked into; for though the Pepper were for the King's own Person or proper account, yet must the Farmer's Pepper be first laden; Thirdly, that the Viceroy, and all other the Officers and Captains in India shall give them all assistance, help and favour, with safe keeping, guarding and watching the same, with all other needful offices as shall be by them required, for the safety and benefit of the said Pepper: * 1.9 Fourthly, that for the lading and providing thereof, the said Farmers may send their Factors into India with their servants and assistants of what Nation soever they be, (English, French, and Spaniards only excepted) and that unto every place to see the same laden and dispatched away: and in later times it is observed, that they have also farmed of the King the Ships and their fraightment, with large conditions to build them, and make the provision of all necessaries for them, and all at their own adventures; and if the Ship come safe home, they

give the King in lieu of licence a certain sum of money for every Ship, and annually do fur∣nish these five Ships at their own charges: but for such Souldiers as are appointed to go in them, they are bound to fail for the King and at his charge, and have but only their meat and drink at the Farmers charges, the Officers and Sailers being placed therein by the King's Admirality; which the Farmers may not once deny or refuse; so that the King adventureth nothing, nei∣ther in Pepper nor in Ships; but only if the Ships be cast away, he loseth the Money that he should have, and otherwise gain by the Farm of every Ship, if it had returned safe; and the profit of the Pepper that should have been delivered him at a certain price, which is the cause now that the King doth not send out his Fleets to meet and wast them from the Flemish Islands, as for long time he was accustomed to do; and the King is found so nearly to look to this Farm, that he will not abate the Farmers a penny, how great soever their losses happen other∣wise to be. And thus much shall serve for Goa and the Trade of Portugal in India; now in the next place I will come to the Coast of Chormandel.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The general Trade of the Coast of India.
• * 1.2

  Daman. Basasen. Chaul.
• * 1.3

  Coast of Malabar, and the Trade there∣of.
• * 1.4

  Cananor.
• * 1.5

  Calicut.
• * 1.6

  Cochin.
• * 1.7

  The man∣ner of the farming the Pepper in India by the Portugals.
• * 1.8

  Chi cr••po a∣brazia poca stringe.
• * 1.9

  The Ships of Pepper depart from Cochin about the months of December and Janua∣ry.