All kinds of spices are to be found in this city of Chalichut, such as cinnamon, pepper, ginger, frankincense, lac; and brazil-wood abounds in the forests. These spices do not grow here, but[316] in a certain island at a distance of 160 leagues from this city, near the mainland. It can be reached overland in xx days and is inhabited by Moors.[317] All the above spices are brought to this city as to a staple.[318] [_Coins._] The coins most in circulation in this city are serafins of fine gold, coined by the Sultan of Babylonia,[319] which weigh 2 or 3 grains less than a ducat, and are called serafins.[320] There also circulate some Venetian and Genoese ducats, as also small silver coins, which must likewise be of the coinage of said sultan. [_Merchandise._] There is abundance of silken stuffs, namely, velvets of various colours,[321] satins, damask, taffetas, brocades worked in gold, scarlet cloth, brass and tin ware.[322] In fine, all these things are to be found in abundance, and it is my opinion that the cloths worked in gold and the silks are brought thither from Cairo. [_Shipping._] The Portuguese remained three months at that town, namely, from May 21[323] to August 25, and during that time there arrived about 1,500 Moorish vessels in search of spices. The largest of these vessels did not exceed 800 tons.[324] They are of all sorts, large and small. Having only one mast they can make headway only with the wind astern, and sometimes are obliged to wait from four to six months for fair weather [the monsoon or season]. Many of these vessels are lost.[325] They are badly built,[326] and very frail. They carry neither arms nor artillery. The vessels which visit the islands to carry spices to this city of Chalichut are flat-bottomed, so as to draw little water, for there are many dry places (shoals). Some of these vessels are built without any nails or iron,[327] for they have to pass over the loadstone. All the vessels, as long as they remain at this city, are drawn up on the beach, for there is no port where they would be safe otherwise.[328] [_Prices._] A load of cinnamon equal to 5 Lisbon cantars[329] is worth in that city between x and xii ducats, or serafins, at most; but in the islands where it is collected it is worth only half that sum. Pepper and cloves are rated similarly. Ginger[330] and cinnamon are worth more than any other spices, but lac is worth next to nothing, and they ballast their vessels with it, that is calk them.[331] Brazil-wood abounds in the forests. In payment they only take gold and silver; coral and other merchandise of our parts they esteem but little,[332] linen-cloth excepted, which I believe would find a ready market, as the sailors bartered some of their shirts very profitably for spices, although very fine white linen cloth, probably imported from Cairo, is found there.