The weight, measure, and money currant there, and the customes of
marchandize.
A Mana of Babylon is of Aleppo 1 roue 5 ounces and a halfe: and 68 manas
and three seuenth parts, make a quintall of Aleppo, which is 494 li. 8
ounces of London: and 100 manas is a quintall of Babylon, which maketh in
Aleppo 146 roues, and of London 722 li. and so much is the sayd quintall:
but the marchants accord is by so much the mana, and in the sayd place they
bate the tare in all sorts of commodities, according to the order of Aleppo
touching the tare.
The measure of Babylon is greater then that of Aleppo 21 in the 100. For
bringing 100 pikes of any measurable ware from Aleppo thither, there is
found but 82 pikes in Babylon, so that the 100 pikes of Babylon is of
Aleppo l2l pikes, very litle lesse.
The currant mony of Babylon are Saies, which Say is 5 medines, as in
Aleppo, and 40 medines being 8 Saies make a duckat currant, and 47 medines
passe in value as the duckat of gold of Venice, and the dollars of the best
sort are worth 33 medines. The roials of plate are sold by the 100 drams at
prise, according as they be in request: but amongst the marchants they
bargaine by the 100 metrals, which are 150 drams of Aleppo, which 150 drams
are 135 single roials of plate: but in the mint or castle, they take them
by the 100 drams, which is 90 roials of plate, and those of the mint giue 5
medines lesse in each 100 drams then they are woorth to be sold among the
marchants, and make paiment at the terme of 40 dayes in Sayes.
The custome in Babylon, as wel inward as outward, is in this maner: Small
wares at 6 per 100, Coral and amber at 5 and a halfe per 100, Venice cloth,
English cloth, Kersies, Mockairs, Chamblets, Silks, Veluets, Damasks,
Sattins and such like at 5 per 100: and they rate the goods without reason
as they lust themselues. The Toafo, Boabo, and other exactions 6 medines
per bale, all which they pay presently in ready mony, according to the
custome and vse of the emperor.
To the Ermin of the mint the ordinarie vse is to giue 30 Saies in curtesie,
otherwise he would by authoritie of his office come aboord, and for
despight make such search in the barke, that he would turne all things
topsie teruie.