Pegu

Sources from old books

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

Of PEGU, and the coast thereof with the trade.

IN order having passed the coast and gulph of Bengala, the next in this tract, is the Sea-coast of Aracan, Pegu and Sian, stretching it selfe to the Iland and Fort of Malacca, of which according to the observations in trade, as I have collected, I will in briefe touch.

The first on this coast and shoare is Aracan, scituated upon the River of Cosnim, which passeth through some part of Bengala, and entreth into that gulph at this Citie, by which commodious scituation it is found plentifully stored as well with the commodities of that Countrey, as the naturall commodities of the place it selfe.

The next is Macoa, seated upon one of the mouths of that great and famous River Martaban, which by ten mouths issuing into the Sea, gives a great supply to this Countrey of all the commodities that are found in India, from whence this mightie River hath its sourse.

The third is Pegu it selfe, giving name to the whole coast, seated in like manner upon one of the said mouthes, which as being the principall seat of the Princes of this Countrey, I will a little more particularly survey.

The marvellous great tydes, and violent current of this great River is not here to be omitted as appertaining to trade, for it is found to be in it selfe so swift, th•… neither winde nor oare can make head or way against it, and because it is found to keepe: constant course of ebbing and flowing, therefore in their sayling they still observe the tydes thereof, and when those tydes are at highest, there are certaine stations on the bankes whereto their boats galliots and barges are fastned, untill the tyde doe againe serve their turne to proceed on their voyage: this one thing more I finde wonderfull here, that these tydes come not in by a constant continued pace or measure, but come rushing in at the first with a great violence, with a hideous noise and roaring, such as in some lesser sort is seene in the River of Roven, and in our River of Severne in England.

As for the Citie of Pegu it selfe it is divided into two parts, in the one the King and his Nobilitie resideth, lately built and richly beautified, and therefore called the new Towne; the other part inhabited onely by Merchants, Artificers, Sea-men, and such like, and called the old Towne; every house in the old Towne where Merchants doe reside, hath a place built strongly of bricke which as a warehouse serveth his occasion, called by them Godon, espe•…ally to prevent firing, which this Towne is much subject to by •…ason of the combustible matter it is made of; the new Towne 〈◊〉 walled about and is a perfect square, having twentie gates, five 〈◊〉 each angle, ditched about and watered, wherein many Crocodills are kept for the watch of the place by night; the walles are beau•…fied with many Turrets for centinels guilded with gold; the streets •…re very faire, straight as a line, and so broad as fifteene horsemen •…ay ride abrest on both sides; at each mans doore are set palme •…rees, which groveing makes a faire shew, and thereby all passen•…ers may walke daily in the shaddow from one street to another, to prevent the extraordinary heat of the place and climate: the greatest trade that is found at this day exercised in Pegu, is from the coast of Cormandell with pintados, cotton cloth, and other bombasins much in request here; but it is to be noted, that these Shippes must depart that coast by the sixt of September, and take the monsone winde, otherwise they lose their voyage for that yeare: from Bengala also commeth hither sundry shippes with cotton cloth and other such wearing commodities, which taking also the season of the winde arriveth here when the Cormondel Shippes are ready to depart. The principall harbour or port where these Shippes doe ride is called Cosmin, and is the place where the greatest Shippes doe Anchor to lade and unlade their goods. From Mecca comes also sundry Shippes laden with woolen cloth, Damaskes, Velvets, and Chickens. From Mallacca comes many small Vessells laden with pepper, sanders, Porcelan of China, Camphora, and other commodities. From Sumatra commeth also sundry Shippes with pepper and other wares; all which goods are very strictly looked into for the payment of the Kings customes at landing, which is here payd in kind, and amounteth unto twelve per cent. and the King doth hold it for a great affront to be wronged of a penny of it: Rubies, Saphirs and Spinalls paying here no custome in or out, as being the proper commodities of the Countrey.

For the effecting of the trade and commerce of this place, there is ordained eight Broakers or Tareghes by the Kings authoritie, who are bound to sell and vent all the goods and merchandise comming to Pegu, for all mens account of what Nation soever they be, having two per cent. for their brokeredge, and are liable to make good the debts they make, which no Merchant there resident can avoide; for they will have the said two per cent. by the Kings authoritie granted them, whether their helpe be taken or not.

In like manner, there are ordained certaine Broakers for the buying of all the commodities bought in Pegu, wherein is found amongst them such candid dealing, that a stranger can hardly be wronged or abused, if he have but so much discretion to provide such goods as may be proper for the Countrey whither he sends them.

The commodities native of this place and Countrey are these, Gold, Silver, Rubies, Saphirs, Spinalls digged at Caplan six dayes journey from Ava in this Kingdome, great store of Benjamin, lo•… pepper, lead, lacca, Rice, Niperwine and sugar; and many other commodities. The manner of their bargaining as being contrary to the custome and use in most parts of the world, is here worth observing; all their bargaines by their law must be made publiquely and in open assemblies of and before all standers by, who because they should yet not know, what is bidden or demanded for any commoditie, the Broakers either buyer or seller having seene the commoditie, and liking of it, putteth his hand under a cloth and toucheth the parties hand interessed, and by nipping, touching and pinching of certaine joynts of each others hands, they know what is bidden and demanded without words speaking, which these Broakers againe with the other hand coverd in the like manner, give notice of to the party who sets him on worke, and either so orders him to proceed to bid more or lesse, or els to give over: and after this manner are all their contracts here made, and afterward by the said Broaker registred accordingly in leaves of trees which with them is used as paper with us.

And when any strangers and forraine Merchants arrive here, these Broakers are bound by their place to provide them a house, Magazin, and lodging, whilest they here are resident, and when the house is taken, the Governour of the Towne sends to know how long time he intends to stay with them, and withall appointeth certaine maides of the Towne to goe to him, that out of them he may make choise of one whilst he remaines there, and then having chosen one to his minde, he contracts with her friends for her use for the said time at an easie rate, which done he bringeth her to his house or lodging, and shee serveth him willingly in all his affaires both by day and night, as both his slave and wife; but then he must take care that during that time he keepeth not company with any other woman; for so he might incurre a great danger and perill of his life by the law of the Countrey. Now when the time of his residence is expired, he payeth the parents of the maid the price agreed for, and departeth quietly away, and shee returneth with credit to her friends, being as well esteemed of as ever shee was before; and if afterward this maid chance to marry, though with the principallest of the Countrey, and that the aforesaid stranger should againe returne hither to trade, he may againe demand his woman, and he shall have her by the law of the Countrey, without the resistance of her husband, or any shame unto him, and shee remaineth by the stranger as long as he abideth there, and he travelling from thence, shee goeth home to her husband againe, which amongst them is held for a most sure and inviolable law and custome.

The coine currant here and throughout all this coast is called Gansa, which is made of copper and lead, and is not the proper money of the King, but every man may stampe it that will, and that is able, because it hath its just value in stuffe and materialls; there is much counterfeiting of this coine, but it is soone discerned by the Broakers, tellers of money, who readily spy it out, and therefore not passable, nor will not be taken by any; with this money Gansa you may buy Gold, silver, Rubies, drugges, spices, and all commodities; and no other money is currant amongst them.

This Gansa goeth by a weight called a Biso, and this name of Bise goeth for the account of the weight, and therefore a Bise of a Gansa is accounted by strangers there trading ½ R. 〈◊〉 or 2 shil. 6. d. starling; and albeit that gold and silver as all other commodities doe rise and fall, yet this Bise never altereth in value or estimation. Every Bise maketh a hundred Gansaes of weight, and so it doth come to passe that the number of the money is Bisa.

In this Countrey is also seated the Towne of Martaven, a place of great traffique, and the last of this coast; the Inhabitants whereof are wonderfull expert in making of hard waxe, which hence is dispersed throughout India, and into many places of Europe; here is also made those great earthen Iarrs or vessels which serve them to keepe water, oyle, or any other liquor, and are much used in India, and aboord their shippes in stead of caske, barrells, and such vessells, and throughout all these Countries are called of the name of the place Martavanas; and in some places by the Portugalls Tenajos.