The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 10: Asia, Part IIIHakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 10: Asia, Part III
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
Right ouer against Sumatra, on the South side of the Equinoctiall lyeth the
Islande of Iaua Maior, or great Iaua, and these two Islandes are deuided by
a straight commonly called the straight of Sunda, which lyeth between these
two Islands, bearing the name of the principall hauen of Iaua called Sunda:
In this channel there runneth a great streame, and course of narrow waters,
through this straight M. Condlish an Englishman passed with his ship,
comming out of the South sea from new Spaine. Iaua beginneth vnder seuen
degrees on the South side, and so stretcheth East and South 150. miles
long, it is very fruitfull, specially of Ryce, Catle Hogges, Sheepe,
Hennes, Onions, Garlike, Indian Nuttes, and all kinde of Spices, as Cloues,
Nutmegges, Mace, etc. Which they carrie to Malacca. The chiefe hauen in the
Islande is Sunda Calapa, there you have much Pepper, better then that of
India, or of Malabar, and there you may yearely lade 4. or 5000. Quintales
of Pepper Portingall waight, there likewise you haue great store of
frankencense, Camphora, and some Diamants: but they haue no other kinde of
money but a certaine peece called Caixa, as bigge as a Hollands Doibt, but
not so thicke, with a hole in the middle to hang it vpon a string, in which
manner they commonly hange hundrethes or thousandes together, and with them
they know how to make their accountes, which is two hundred Caixas make a
Sata, and fiue Satas make a thousand Caixas, which is as much as one
Crusado of Portingall, or three Carolus Gilderns, Flemish money: Pepper is
solde by the sacke, each sacke waying 45. Catten waight of China, each
Catte as much as 20. ounces Portingall waight, and each sacke is worth in
that Country at the least 5000. Caixas, and when it is highest at 6. or
7000. Caixas: Mace, Cloues, Nutmegs, white and blacke Beniamin, Camphora,
are sold by the Bhar, each barre waying 350. Catten of China: Mace that is
faire and good is commonly worth from 100. to 120. thousande Caixas: Good
Cloues accordingly, and foure Cloues called Bastan are worth 70. and 80.
thousand Caixas the Bhar: Nutmegs are alwaies worth 20. and 25 thousand
Caixas the Bhar: White and blacke Beniamin is worth 150. and 180. thousand
Caixas, and sometimes 200. thousand. The wares that are there desired and
exchanged for spices, are diuers sortes and colours of Cotton Linnen, which
come out of seuerall Prouinces; and if our Cambricke or fine Hollande were
carryed thither, it would peraduenture bee more esteemed then the Cotton
linnen of India.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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