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. XCIX. Of Maccau, and the Trade thereof.

THE Island and Town of Maccau, (as the place best known upon this Coast to our Na∣tion,) is seated on the North side of a Bay, which is at the mouth of the great River of Canton, which runneth out of the Lake of Quinsay spoken of before, opposite to which stand∣eth the great City of Canton, which I mentioned, as the place where is found the present Staple of all the Commodities of China; and thither do Merchants of all parts frequent to buy and barter for other Commodities, with the restrictions and limitations above specified: and as for Maccau, it is inhabited by Portugals intermixt with the natural Chinese; the principal of their Commerce being with the Inhabitants of Canton, from whence all the Commodities of China are found to issue; and here the Portugals at the arrival of their Ships, do choose out a Factor amongst themselves, who is permitted in all their behalfs to go to trade for them at C•…•…∣ton, but in the night he is to abide in the Suburbs under severe punishment, as I have before remembred.

Here is found a Ship to come yearly out of India, by a particular license of the King of Spain; the Captain's place is ever bestowed upon a Person of Quality, in reward of some for∣mer service, as indeed all the Captains places of the Fortresses of India are; from Maccau the said Ship then (having dispatch'd her business) doth sail to Japan, and there fully discharged her lading, and thence returneth again to Maccau, and from thence to Malacca, and so to Goa in India; and though this Voyage of Japan is ever granted by particular license to some one in particular, yet to Maccau and Malacca any Merchant may go that will; but none may yet lade or unlade in either place, before such time as the Ships termed of the Kings are fully dispatched and laden, and are ready to depart for India: it is recorded by some Portu∣gals, that this Captain's place may be worth to him for his part 200000 Ducates, and that the said Ship is commonly 1500 Tuns in burthen, and that the Voyage continueth for three years from India, and so back; for in April they set sail from Goa to Malacca, where they abide some season for the winds or Monsons, which at certain times blow certain set months together; and then from Malacca they sail hither to Maccau, where they stay at least nine months for the said Monsons, and then sail to Japan, where they must stay likewise certain months for the dispatch of their business; and the Monsons to return again to Maccau, where again they stay, as in their Voyage outward: so that by these delays the time of three years is fully expired, before they have ended their Voyage to and from Japan; and all the time of this Captain's residence either in Maccau or Japan, he is there accounted the chief Ruler and Governour of the place, having the like power as their Vice-Roy in Goa, and as the several Cap∣tains in their Forts; for that when the one departeth from Maccau to Japan, there cometh another from Goa to Maccau, to make the same Voyage after the other hath performed his; and when he returneth again from Japan to Maccau, the other saileth to Japan, and so the first continueth Governour again at Maccau, until he departeth from thence to Ma∣lacca, and so to India; and by this means, there is always found a Portugal Governour at Maccau.

The Commodities in general of China I have mentioned before, the particular and principal Commodities of Canton and Maccau, are Silks raw, and Silk wrought; the raw is found to be of three several sorts, First Lankin, which is the best; the second is Fuscan; the third and worst is Lankam; and these are known to us in Europe, and bear price there commonly about 145

or 150 ℞ 8/8 Spanish, the Pico of Lankin, the Fuscan is worth 140 or 145 ℞ 8/8, and the Lankan is worth 70 or 75 ℞ 8/8, and all these are counted unspun Silk; but the spun Lankin is worth from 150 to 170 ℞ 8/8 the Pico; the spun Fuscan is worth 130 or 135 ℞ 8/8, and the spun Lankam of Canton 80 ℞ 8/8 the Pico; and these I thought good to mention, as being the principal Commodi∣ty vended out of these Countries to other places.

The Commodities then wherewith the Portugals do drive this Trade, and which they carry to Maccao from India, is principally ℞ ••/8 Rials of Eight, which in China is cut into pieces, and so paid out, as I shall shew hereafter in payment of Merchandize; also Wines of Spain and In∣dia, Olive Oil, Velvets, which of all other sorts of Silk Stuffs they cannot make, and fine Woollen, Scarlet Cloth, whereof they have none, nor yet can they make any, although they have materials, as Sheep and Wooll plenty; also Looking-glasses, and all sorts of Drinking-glasses, and Chrystal, Ivory, Elephants-teeth, and sundry other Commodities.

The Weights, Coins, and Measures, in Maccao in China.

32 Vals make a Tola of Surat, and 3 Tola's 3 Vals make a Tay or Tayel in Maccao, and 1 Tay is 1 ounce and 11/16 of an ounce Averdupois.

The Weights in China, for Gold, Silver, Musk, Ambergreece, &c. are as followeth.

Tays, or Tayels, and by some called Tans, Mass, Condreens, Cash, Avo's; they usually set down two figures or cyphers for Avo's; for the latter thereof there is no denomination that I could be informed of, but do account 10 Avo's to 1 Cash, 10 Cash to 1 Condreen, 10 Condreens to 1 Mass, 10 Mass to 1 Tay, and 16 Tays or Tayels to 1 Cattee.

1 Tay is 1 ounce, and 11/16 of an ounce Averdupois.

The weights for all gross Goods, or Commodities, go amongst the Portuguez in Macca, by the Denomination of Pecu or Pecul, and Bahar.

100 Cattees make 1 Pecul, each Pecul 128 Rotolo's of the Portuguez, which after the rate of 20⅞ ounce Averdupois to a Cattee, by the ballance is 2087½ ounce, and pounds English 130 15/32 parts of a pound, but generally it is accounted 132⅘ pound, 32 or 133, and others make it by reducing the weights 131 l. ••/4 Averdupois, But this difference may grow or accrue by reason of some computing, and weighing by the Dotchen, or Stilyard, and others by the Bal∣lance 18 Cattees, or 24 Rotolo's, is 1 Maund of Goa and Macao by the ballance; but by the Dotchen it is no less than 18¼ Cattees, 300 Cattees is a Bahar, which at 21 ounces to the Cattee (as it is ordinarily reckoned) is but 393¾ pound, although it is generally accounted 396 pound, but then the Cattee must be more than 21 ounces, and it is by my own experience but 20⅞ ounces; but this difference may be by one weighing by the Dotchen of Stilyard, and the other by the Ballance, as in like manner it is with the Pecul, the Dotchen making more, the Ballance less; 100 Tays in Plate of the Alloy of the Rials of Eight, worth but 92 Tays of Plate Saysee or Soma, which is the highest Alloy, and reduced to that fineness by the Chinese themselves, unless it be in some of the bars of Silver which the Spaniards bring out of the West-Indies, through the South Seas to the Manilla's, one of the Philippine Islands, thence trans∣ported to Maccao in China: 100 Tays in Plate of the Alloy of Rials of Eight Sevil is worth 115 Tays in Plate Currente, otherwise called small Bars of Silver of Japan.

If you agree when you buy Gold to pay in Plate Currentee, which is Silver of Japan, you must allow 17 per cent. to correspond with the Rials of Eight. But if you agree to pay for your Loass of Gold (which the Portuguez call Pan de Ore) in Rials of Eight, then you have no more to do but to weigh the Rials of Eight, and so reduce them into Tays.

The Loaf or Pan de Ore, poize about 12½ ounces Averdupois, little more or less.

One Rial of Eight of Sevil, or Mexi∣co.	Plate Rials by the Ballance, is 7 Mass, 3 Condreens, 3 Cash.
Plate Rials by the Dotchen, is 7 Mass, 4 Condreens.
Plate Currentee or of Japan, by the Ballance, is 8 Mass, 4 Condreens, 2 Cash, 9½ Avo's.
Plate Currentee or of Japan, by the Dotchen, is 8 Mass, 5 Condreens.
Plate Saysee or Soma, by the Ballance, is 6 Mass, 7 Condreens, 4 Cash, 3 ••/10 Avo's.
Plate Saisee or Soma, by the Dotchen, is 6 Mass, 8 Condreens, 0 Cash, 8 Avo's.

100 Rials of Eight, Sevil or Mexico.	73 Tays, 3 Mass by the Ballance.
100 Rials of Eight, Sevil or Mexico. 74 Tays by the Dotchen.

A Tay or Tayel is by the nearest calculation that can be made, 1 Rial of Eight, and 3/2 parts of a Rial, a very small matter less.

By the preceding account to receive by the Dotchen, and pay out by the Ballance, there will be gained in the 74 Tays, or 100 Rials of Eight, received by the Dotchen 7 Mass.

And on the contrary to receive by the Ballance, and to pay out by the Dotchen, there will be lost in the 73 Tays 3 Mass, or 100 Rials of Eight 7 Mass.

733 Cash is one Rial of Eight by the Ballance, and is so ordinarily accounted, in making up, and reducing of accounts, or casting up of any Sum.

Note, that 5 Maunds and 8 Rottolo's of Goa, or of any of the Portugal Towns in India, is 1 Pecu or Pecul, and 3 Maunds 26 Sear of Surat, after the rate of 27⅓ Sear Surat to the Maund Goa, is 1 Pecul and 132 l. ⅘ English nearest.

So that the difference (as already said) which ariseth in the Pecul from 130 l. 15/32 parts of a pound; to 132⅘, and 133 l. English, is by weighing by the Ballance or Stilyard, the Stilyard or Dotchen making more, the Ballance less.

The Covid or Maccao, is rather a very small matter more than less than 3 quarters of our Yard and 2½ Inches or more, rather 29 Inches ⅝ of an Inch nearest, which Covid is used by the Portuguez.

The Chinese have another Covid or Measure, consisting of between 14 11/12 of an Inch, and 14 6/7 of an Inch, which is divided into 10 parts, and each of those are subdivided into 10 other parts. The Covid or Measure of the Chinchoses, a Province of China, bordering upon the Province of Canton, and Eastward of Maccao, is but just 12 Inches of our measure, and is the ⅘ parts of Chinese Covid or Measure nearest.

As for Coins, there is none in the Southern parts, but if you buy any thing, after you have agreed for it, you cut off of the Rial of Eight so many Mass, Condreens, &c. as you agree for, and so weigh it by the Dotchen, which every one carries about him.

Having thus done with the main Continent of Asia, and cursorily surveyed the particular Trade of some of the most eminent Cities of the Kingdoms therein contained; being constrai∣ned by reason of the remoteness of these places, and want of better information, to let the same pass not so perfect as otherwise I could wish for and desire, I shall willingly in what is here by me omitted, crave the advices of the better experienced; and that they would add by their knowledg and trial what is either here defective, or altogether left out: and thus lea∣ving the Continent (according to my method) I will in brief run through some of those Islands which merit observation, and survey the Trade thereof as amply as my Adviso's will give me leave.

Notes

• Maccau, and the Trade thereof.
• A particu∣lar Ship yearly touching here from Goa to Ja∣pan.
• Commodi∣ties of Mac∣cau and Can∣ton.
• Commodi∣ties fit for China.