Notes concerning the trade in Alexandria.
ALEXANDRIA in Egypt
is a free port, and when a man
commeth within the castles, presently the Ermyn sends
aboord to have one come and speake with him, to know
what goods are aboord: and then hee will set guards
aboord the ship to see all the goods discharged. And
then from the Ermin you goe to the Bye, onely for that
he will inquire newes of you, and so from thence to the
Consuls house where you lie. The Venetians have a
Consul themselves. But all other nations goe to the
French nations Consul, who will give you a chamber for
your selves apart, if you will so have it.
The customs inward of all commodities are ten in the
hundred, & the custome is paid in wares also that you
buy: for the same wares in barter you pay also ten in
the hundred, at the lading of the wares. But if you sell
for mony, you pay no more custome but the ten aforesaid,
and one and a half in the hundred, which is for the
custome of the goods you lade for the sayd mony, for
more custome you pay not. But for all the money you
bring thither, you pay nothing for the custome of the
same. And if you sell your wares for mony, and with
the same money buy wares, you pay but two in the
hundred for the custome thereof. And if you steale any
custome, if it be taken, you pay double custome for that
you steale.
The weight of Alexandria is called Pois Forforeine,
which is a kintal in that place, which maketh at
Marseils
109.li. of Marseils waight, at 15 ounces the pound, which
is 103.11. of 16. ounces to the li. There is another waight
called Pois Gerrin, which is 150.li. of Marseils waight,
by which are sold all things to eate: but spice is sold
by the former waight.
From Alexandria to Cairo
is three daies journey, but
you must take a Janissarie with you: & to go up thither
by water it is 8. dayes journey. Roials of Spaine are
currant mony there, and are the best money you can
cary. And 4. roials are woorth 13. Medins, and 2.
Medins, are 3. Aspers. Pistolets and crownes of France
and Dollers will goe, but of all Roials are best.
Rice is not permitted to goe out of the land, but is
kept for a victuall. But with a present to the Bye and
Ermine some may passe.
All sortes of spices be garbled after the bargaine is
made, and they be Moores which you deale withall, which
be good people and not ill disposed. And after you be
searched & have leave to passe, you must presently depart
out of the port, and if you doe not, they will search you
againe. And you must depart in the day, for in the night
the castles will not suffer you to depart. The duetie to
the Consul is 2. in the hundred, for his aide, and meate
and drinke and all. And the port of Alexandria is good
when one is within it with good ankers and cables. Silver
is better currant then gold in Alexandria, but both are
good.
Commonly the Caravans come thither in October from
Mecca
to Cairo
, and from thence to Alexandria, where
the merchants be that buy the spices, and therfore the
spices are brought most to Alexandria, where each
Christian nation remaineth at the Consuls houses. Yet
oftentimes the christians go up to Cairo
to buy drugs &
other commodities there, as they see cause. And the commodities there vendible are all sorts of kersies, but the
most part blewes, and of clothes all colours except mingled
colours and blacks. Pepper is usually sold for 24. ducats
the quintal, Ginger for 14 ducats. You must take canvas
to make bags to put your commoditie in from Alexandria,
for there is none. There is also fine flaxe, and good store
of Buffe hides.