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CHAP. CCXLIX. Of Scio, and the Trade thereof.
* 1.1I Have already declared in the Trade of Smyrna, how that of late days the principal Seat of Traffick was in this Island in the Town of Scio, where a Consul for the English and other Nations did reside; but finding the Port of Smyrna seated on the Continent more proper for lading of Cottons and Cotton-Yarn, and other gross Goods, the principal Commodities of this Seat, they removed their habitation thither, and with them is that Trade that was here also removed; yet in that was found a place where great concourse of Merchants was found, we own it a touch of its Weight and Measures, &c.
* 1.2Accounts were, and are kept in Dollars of 80 Aspers, and of Aspers as in Constantinople.
The Moneys are the same in general mentioned in Constantinople, save that Commerce doth oftentimes make them be here two or three per Cent. better esteemed.
* 1.3The Weights here, are derived from the Dram of Turkey that I mentioned in Constantinople.
100 Drams make a Rotolo, which is 19⅔ Ounces Venice suttle, 400 Drams make an Oak, too Rotolos make a Quintar, accounted incirca 118 l. English, and should hold, as in Sinyrna 120 l. but daily experience findeth the contrary, both here and in Smyrna, not making above 118 l. suttle Averdupois.
* 1.4Their Measures are here two, the Linen Pico quarter 26 Inches, and the Cloth Pico usual in Constantinople of 27 inches: for other passages, vide further Constantinople and Smyrna.
* 1.5I will now proceed to the rest of those Islands in these Seas, which at first Lesbos, in which Mitylena is noted for the principal Town, where was born Sappho, the inventress of the Saphick Verse; Pittacus, one of the Sages of Greece; Arion, the Dolphin Harper, and which have sa∣moused this Island to posterity.
* 1.6Negroponte is the next, where the Sea ebbeth and floweth seven times a day, which because Aristotle could not unriddle, he here drowned himself: the chief is Colchis, Caristis and others.
* 1.7Here is also Seiros, Salamis, the 12 Sporades, * 1.8also Delos, where Oracles were given to the Petitioners, and the 35 Islands of Cyclades, which afford nothing note worthy: * 1.9also S•…•… the habitation of that fortunate infortunate Policrates; * 1.10and Coos the birth place of Apelles and Hippocrates, * 1.11then Pathmos where St. John wrote his Revelations, being confined hither by Domitian, which are now of small account, save only in their number; and so I come in the next place to Rhodes.