Cambalu

The capital of the Cathay region and all of Great Tartaria is located on the Palisanga River. Its ancient name is Issedon Serica. Starting from the mid-17th century, European geographers noted that after the Tartars conquered Peking in 1644, the name Cambalu began to be associated with Peking, where the Great Khan relocated his capital.

Etymology and other names

Modern	N/A
	Cambalu
	Issedon Serica

Sources from old books

1615. The estates, empires, & principallities of the world by Pierre d'Avity.

The chiefe citie of this Empire is called Cambula, which some will haue to be in former times called Issedon Serica, built of a square forme, scituated vpon the riuer of Polisangi, and hauing in circuit about foure and twentie Italian miles, with twelue ports, euery one of which hath his suburbes, whereas strangers and merchants remaine. This citie is in the middest of the prouince of Catay, and as it were the center of all the countries round about.

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of CAMBALV, and the Trade thereof.

Cambalu, the Metropolis of Catai, as Samercand is of Zagathai, is seated on the North-east border of this Countrey, containing both the old and the new City, through which doth run the famous River of Polisanga; it is accompted 28 miles in compasse, or rather in square, each angle containing 7 miles, and in every square is placed three principall Gates which incloseth the Towne with earthen walls or rampires of 10 paces in thicknes, and every Gate comprehending a sumptuous Palace, and every angle having also an excellent Pallace, where the Armours of the Garrison Soldiers are kept, which is 1000 Soldiers at every Gate.

The Buildings are squared out proportionably, and every street is drawne out to a line, so that every Gate yeelds a free prospect through the Citie to the opposite Gate, be beautified on each side with stately edifices and houses for the honourable of this Countrey.

In the midst of the Citie is a sumptuous Palace, wherein the grand Cham resideth, with all his Queenes and Children, and wherein is placed a Bell, which is tolled at certaine houres of the evening, after which may no man stirre out of dores, untill the beginning of the day following; the largenes, rarities, curiositie, and richnes of this palace, the partitions allowed his Queenes, and lodgings appointed for his Children, and their dayly attendants, and the order, beauty, and manner thereof, I willingly omit, as not pertinent to my present purpose.

Without this Citie walles are accounted 12 suburbs of 3 in 4 miles long adjoyning to each of the aforesaid 12 gates, and here all Merchants, strangers, and forreigners doe abide, each nation having a severall Cane or storehouse, where they both lodge, and exercise their Merchandise and traffique one with another, for the commodities of these severall Countries, the confluence of Merchants here cannot choose but bee wonderfull, seeing it is reported that the City is so populous, that the Cham maintaineth 5000 Astrologers heere daily, besides many thousands of Soldiers both of horse and foot that 12000 horse is accounted but as his ordinary and daily Guard; besides which, the neere neighbourhood of Exendu, the principall place of the grand Cham, seated not many dayes journey farre hence where Merchants are not permitted to enter, is built in a foure square figure, every side extending eight miles in length; within this Quadrant is another, whose sides are sixe miles long; and within that another of foure miles square, which is accounted the very Palace it selfe; and betweene which severall walles are found walkes, gardens, orchards, fishponds, places for all manner of courtly and military exercises, and also parkes, forrests, and chases, for all manner of pleasures and game, and the infinite number of attendants and servitours that of necessitie is required to wait upon so great a Prince, with the officers thereto belonging, cannot but much increase the trade and commerce of this Citie and place.

As for the Trade of this Citie of Cambalu, and generally of all Tartaria, it is observed, that the Countrey (though in a large tract) extending it selfe upon the North Ocean; yet by reason of the long continued colds and frosts, the Inhabitants have but little benefit thereof; however it may bee conceived, that the Moluccos, Iapans, and other Ilanders thereabouts in the season of the yeare, have here a great traffique, and that hence these Tartarians are furnished with the spices of India, the jems of Pegu, and Bengala, and peradventure with other the druggs of Arabia: but upon the Caspian Sea, they are the masters of many good Sea-Ports, besides Astracan which of late they have lost to the Moscovite, as Zahaspa Cosmi, Melmesuach, and others; by which is conveighed to them the silkes, tapestries, carpets, armes, and excellent manufactures of Persia, and in the black Sea, besides Capha, now in subjection to the Turkes, they enjoy the brave Ports of Curaropo, Asow, and others, serving to conveigh unto them the commodities of Turkey, Trabesond, Podolia, Walacia, and other Countries bordering upon the famous riuers of Danubius.

Now for the other parts of this large Empire, it bordereth on the one side with Moscovia, with whom it is now in peace, though not seldome at debate, from whence by the benefit of traffique, which I find observed not to bee of any great consequence, they have rich furres and other the commodities of this Countrey.

But where it bordereth upon China, which is for a very large extent of ground, by some Authors accompted 400 leagues, the common report of the strict lawes and customes of that Nation (to debarre entrance to all strangers) should perswade me of little traffique that way; yet I find it observed by some late travellers whose relation herein is questionable, that the Citie of Cambalu receiveth yearely thence by way of traffique, 10000 carts laden with silkes and stuffes of the China fabrique; the truth thereof I referre to the censure of the Reader.

As for the moneys currant in this large Territorie, I find it to be diversly made, yet neither of gold nor of silver coined, but of the middle barke of the Mulbery-tree, which being made firme, and cut into divers and round pieces great and little, they imprint the Kings marke thereupon, and from this meane stuffe, the Emperour causeth a huge masse of moneys to bee yearely made at Cambalu, which sufficeth for his whole Empire, and no man under paine of death may coine or spend any other money, or refuse it in all his Kingdomes and Dominions; whereby it commeth to passe, that Merchants often comming hither from farre and remote Countries, bring with them gold, silver, pearle, and precious stones, and receive the Kings money for them; and because the same is not currant in their Countrey, they therewith buy in this Empire other the commodities heere found, which they carry hence away with them: the King also payeth his stipends, officers and armies with the said moneys, and buyeth whatsoever else hee needeth with the same, so that no Prince in the world can exceed him in treasure, which is at so easie a rate provided and procured.

Besides which, I find it observed in some parts of this large Countrey subject to some subordinate Kings, in subjection to the Great Cham, that they use in some places pieces of polisht corrall instead of money; and in others they have certaine twiggs of gold, in lieu of money, which is distinguished by weight into severall parcels, without stamp or Character, and this is accompted in matters of consequence: but they have a lesser coine (if I may so terme it) made of salt which they boile in coldrons for a certaine time, which congealed they make into lumps, like our penny loaves, which being made solid, is signed with the Princes stamp, and passeth thus currant amongst them, & wherewith they provide themselves of all necessaries: in some others I find also that they use purs•…ane for money, and weighted pieces of gold; for in some Countries of this Empire silver mines are not found, and they give in proportion one ounce of gold for five ounces of silver; neither is it found that in many places of this Countrey that they have the use of letters; therefore the Merchants make their contracts and obligations in tallies of wood, the halfe whereof the one keepeth, and the other the other halfe, which being afterwards paid and satisfied, the said tallie is restored; not much unlike the custome of tallies in England. And thus much shall serve to have said of the trade in generall of this Countrey, the strange customes, manners, and formes of government hinder all further particular knowledge of Trade to our European Merchants: therfore leaving thus this Empire and Citie, (contented with this short survey) I proceed to India, of late years become somewhat better known to Europe and our Nation.

1662. A Geographical dictionary in which are described... London. by Henry Brome.

Cambalu, a Town of Tartary, and chief of the Province of Cathaye.

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Cambala, a City in China. See Peking: some represent it to be 24 Italian Miles in compass. Cambalu is the Mascovian and Saracen Name for it, Peking the Indian.