growth is here to be had, and the
Commodities here vended from England are Cloths of
Suffolk, Essex, and Glocester, Kersies of
Yorkshire and Hampshire, Lead, Tin, Callicoes, Pepper, Indico, and other Spices, which within these late years we had formerly from this and other places of Turkie, and which now, by the
commodity of the East-India Trade and Navigation, we carry to them; and from Venice is brought some Cloth, Paper, Silks, Velvets, &c. and from France some few Cloths and
Paper, &c. great store of Bullion, which never returns into Christendom more, carried the greater part by the Armenians and
Persians to their native Countries, and there melted down into a light Standard.
The Coins current of Smyrna are those of
Constantinople, and generally those of all that Em∣pire, which I shall shew when I treat of that City, and for that cause here omit it; and their Accounts they also keep here in the same nature with them, and therefore refer you to that place in both these Particulars.
The Weights of Smyrna and
Scio, for they agree both in one, is the Quintar, which contains 100 Rotolo's, or 42 Oaks, and every Oak being 400 drams, and every Lodro being 176 drams, and the pound Averdupois hath been found to be 148 drams, and the Quintal of 42 Oaks above-said, which produceth 119
l. English, but in many Commodities it is found to answer but 117 l. so that in circa 9¼ drams is 1
ounce English Averdupois.
They have here in use two Measures, one for Linnen and another for Woollen, but be∣cause they nearly agree with
Constantinople, I will refer the same to that place.
The Customs paid by the English here and throughout all Turkie, by virtue of their Capitu∣lations with the Great Turk, is only three per Centum; and oftentimes the
Custom house of Scio and of Smyrna is in one mans hands; and though by their Capitulations it is so agreed, that those Goods that have once paid Custom in one port, should not pay any more being thence Exported to any other place of his Dominions, and that Commands have been granted to that end by the Grand Signior at several times; yet the justice of that Countrey is so defective in this particular, that the Commodities landed in Smyrna, and paying their three per Centum, and afterward transported to
Constantinople, pay there again another three per Centum, or compound with the Customer, which somtimes is done at 1½
per Centum, and sometimes at less:
Note, that here, as in all parts of
Turkie, the Venetians, French and Dutch pay five
per cent. two per cent. more than the English, which is grounded upon their Capitulations with the Emperour.
The Port-charges of clearing a Ship in Smyrna is paid in
Commodities of our Country, and was to that end thus at first regulated; but since converted into payment by mony, as to the Cadie who is to have five Pico of Venice Cloath, and a bundle of
Cony-Skins for a vest, which in the infancy of our
English Trade was here found to be much requested.
The Cadies Servant to have 3½ Pico English Cloath.
The Cadies Caya to have 3 Pico of
Ditto.
The Cadies Scrivan to have a Chicquine in
Gold.
The Cadies Pages to have 2½
Dollars.
The Mosur Eashaw to have 1½ Pico Cloth.
The Cadies Janisaries to have a
Chicquine.
All which Charges amount in circas to 68
Dollars.
To conclude, The Trade of this Port is most noted for the abundance of Cottons, which hence is transported to
England, France, Holland, and Italy, estimated yearly to be about 20000 Quintals, and is found here to grow in the adjoining Plains, which they do sow as we do Corn, the stalk being no bigger than that of Wheat, but stronger and tougher, bearing a head round and bearded, and hard as a stone, which when it is ripe it breaketh, and is delivered of a soft white Bombast or Cotton mixed with Seed, which they separate with an Instrument, selling the Wooll, but reserving the Seed for the next Harvest. See more of this Trade in Cyprus and
Constantinople, to which I refer the Enquirer.