A 741,453
H
VELO
MEDITERRANEAN
MMERCE of
HF
3499
M4
J13
1809
1
S
·
ARTES
Boy
LIBRARY
11817
VERITAS
WAJAJAJAJAJAJ
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
PLUNIDUS UNUN“
TUEBOR
SCIENTIA
· SI-QUÆRIS PENINSULAM·AMŒNAM
CIRCUMSPICE
•
OF THE
i
REFLECTIONS
ON THE
COMMERCE
OF
THE MEDITERRANEAN,
DEDUCED FROM
ACTUAL EXPERIENCE,
DURING A RESIDENCE ON BOTH SHORES OF THE
*
MEDITERRANEAN SEA.
CONTAINING
A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT
OF
THE TRAFFIC
OF THE
KINGDOMS OF ALGIERS, TUNIS, SARDINIA, NAPLES
AND SICILY, THE MOREA, &c.
With an impartial examination into the manners and customs
of the inhabitants in their commercial dealings, and
a particular description of the manufactures
properly adapted for each country.
BY JOHN JACKSON, ESQ. F. S. A.
THOR OF THE JOURNEY OVER
HOR OF THE JOURNEY OVER LAND FROM INDIA, &c.
NEW-YORK :
Printed and published by Isaac Riley.
1809.
3499
----
MA
713
1909
654403-12G
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE GOVERNOR,
THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL
THE SUB-GOVERNOR,
AND
COMPANY OF MERCHANTS
TRADING TO
THE LEVANT SEAS,
THIS WORK
IS MOST RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
W
IN the following pages we have not had
recourse to the flowers of description, or
availed ourselves of a traveller's privilege,
in magnifying his adventures; on the con-
trary, we have confined ourselves to a
simple narrative of facts, drawn from ex-
perience, during a residence on both
shores of the Mediterranean, which we
have told in so unvarnished, so simple,
and so plain a manner as we trust will be
intelligible to every reader. The follow-
ing sheets contain no more than a digest-
ed journal or diary of actual observations,
on the trade, laws, manners, and cus-
toms, of the people we have had occa-
sion to visit.
We have not presumed to enter into a
minute detail of that part of the Mediter-
ranean trade, with which many British
A 2
vi
merchants are already so well acquainted;
but we have treated only of such parts of
the intercourse and commerce as yet re-
main uncultivated and generally unknown,
submitting to the superior powers of the
legislature, at the same time, the incalcu-
lable advantages to be derived from in-
creasing the number of British consuls
in those seas and upon those shores, where
the importance of such a measure seems
to be so little thought of, or so partially
understood.
If these, our endeavours, to enlarge
the trade of the united kingdom, and to
increase those revenues of our country,
which arise from the very heart-string of
its wealth and glory, namely, its com-
merce, and the exportation of its manu-
factures, shall be attended with that suc-
cess which we have promised ourselves,
our design will be accomplished, and
our fondest hopes will be most amply
gratified.
J. J.
+
PREFACE
TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
1
BY the reimpression of this work, the
publishers of the American edition flat-
ter themselves that they may render no
inconsiderable service to the commerce
of their country.-The citizens of the
United States are actuated by a spirit of
commercial enterprise, unparalleled by
that of any other nation. This spirit of
enterprise, however, in order to be benefi-
cial, should be properly directed. In
this country there exists no necessity of
new incentives to the mania of adven-
ture-we have more reason to lament the
rashness, than to complain of the indo-
lence, of our merchants.-But without
embarking in schemes of unprofitable,
chimerical speculation, it were well to
keep alive (if to quench were even possi-
viii
ble) the enterprise of our merchants, and,
at the same time, to guide it by those
principles of practical calculation which
are the result of long experience. From
these remarks the reader may anticipate
our opinion of the work. We do not
recommend it for its elegance; to that it
makes no pretensions-its style, as the
author candidly observes, is simple and
unvarnished; elegance, indeed, in a work
of this description would be perfectly su-
perfluous.-We recommend the work,
however, for the new and highly interest-
ing mercantile information it contains-
for its authentic statements and details re-
lative to a commerce we have yet little
known, for the prosecution of which many
circumstances give us a peculiar and mani-
fest advantage-our fisheries especially
furnish us with an ample capital for this
trade-a capital which our industry cre-
ates, and which demand never can ex-
haust.
It is imagined that the great obstacle
in this country to the Mediterranean trade
ix
is the difficulty of acquiring a correct
knowledge of its details. Books have
hitherto given us little information on the
subject--even that little we have reason to
distrust. The countries of the Mediter-
ranean have been visited by two classes
of travellers of opposite characters and
pursuits.-The first is that of scholars
and lovers of the fine arts, who are total-
ly occupied by the beautiful productions
of Art and Nature which abound in those
enchanting countries. He who pores
with enthusiasm over the venerable monu-
ments of antiquity, it may be easily ima-
gined, will hardly bestow a thought on
mercantile concerns-from such travellers
then no commercial knowledge could be
derived. From an equally powerful,
though different cause, as little could be
extracted from most mercantile adven-
turers, some of whom were unfitted by
their education to impart, and some deter-
red by their modesty from giving, the
valuable information they had acquired-
while others again viewing it as a lucra-
}
}
X
tive monopoly, wished to retain it exclu-
sively to their own advantage:
A work on the present subject, by a
man of intelligence and experience has long
been a desideratum.—Such a one we are
now happy to offer to the public in this
country.
xi
Extract of a Review of this work from the "Edin-
burgh Review," for July, 1805.
"THIS is a book of a very useful class; it con-
"tains the results of a practical man's experience
"in a most important pursuit, and is immediately
"addressed to those who are disposed to engage
«in the same line of occupation. When the em-
"ployment of capital is daily becoming more
"difficult from its accumulation, and when there
"seems reason to dread that ere long some very
"wide channels will be shut up which it now
"occupies, mercantile men are under no small
"obligations to those who suggest new sources
" of profitable speculation, and furnish not only a
"general outline of the spot where the gains may be
"reaped, but a chart of the route which leads to it.
"The only legitimate encouragements to com-
.CC merce, indeed, consist in the diffusion of such
❝ valuable information; and though no one can
"be sanguine enough to expect that publications
"of this kind will produce their effects directly,
"by engaging a considerable body of capitalists to
"embark in the proposed adventures, yet it is
"clear that they lead ultimately to the same
66 consequence, by tempting one or two specula-
❝tive individuals to follow the new line of trade,
" which soon becomes sufficiently attractive from
"the obvious consideration of their success.
"Mr. Jackson's book is full of details which
"have every appearance of accuracy, and are
"related without any affectation. The reasoning
"which occupies but a small proportion, is in
CC general correct. A number of curious facts,
" interesting in a speculative point of view, may
"be gleaned from his statements; and though the
"style, as well as the arrangement of the materials,
"bespeak an author little practised in the art of
"composition, the air of simplicity and plain sense
which characterize the whole book, would
"atone for greater literary defects.”
xii
TABLES
+
MONIES, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES.
ALGERINE MONEY.
Accounts are kept in Mazonas, Piasters, and
Sequins.
24 Mazonas - - 1 Piaster
3 1-2 Piasters 1 Sequin.
All sorts of Spanish money is current in Algiers.
4 Mazonas
8 Mazonas
40 Mazonas
OF
-
·
i Du cat
1 Terri
1 Carlini -
-
*
The Algerine quintal, or 100lbs. is equal to
the English 112lbs.
1 Real de Plata
1 Pistoreen or Pisetta
1 Hard Spanish dollar.
NEAPOLITAN MONEY.
- 5 Terri
2 Carlini 20 Grains
10 Grains
xiii
1 Grain
I Publici
1 Scudi
-
to
There are pieces of
12 Cavaletti
1 Grain 6 Cavaletti
12 Carlini.
10 Carlini
of 5 Carlini or 1-2 Ducat
of 2, 3, and 4 Carlini
of 4, 12, 13, 24, 26, Grains
Also the Tornese of 6. Cavaletti
piece of 9 Cavaletti
of 5 Tornese or 2 1-2 Grains.
Accounts are kept in Ducats and Grains.
100 Grains make 1 Ducat.
**
NEAPOLITAN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
The cantar of 100 rotolo - 1961b. English.
Each rotolo weighs 33 1-3 ounces.
280lbs.
The cantar of Naples contains
of 12 ounces, the small weight ofpes; and
the English cwt. of 112lbs. is 57 1-3 rotolo, or
160 4-5lbs. the Neapolitan small weight.
A salm of Galipoli oil contains 10 stara of 32 pig-
natelli. The salm is equal to 5 1-2 barrels of
95lbs. Leghorn weight and measure, and 5 1-2
salm make the ton of oil. A gallon of this oil
B
xiv
weighs 7 1-2lbs. equal to 15 cwt. 3qrs. 6lbs. per
tọn of 236 gallons.
A caretti of staves consists of staves for 100
casks, with heads and hoops assorted.
The carre of wine, Neapolitan measure, makes
2 butts of twelve barrels each: 1 butt is about
half a ton English.
5 1-6 Tumuloes of wheat- 1 English quarter
Carre of wheat 36 Tumuloes
1
1
Carre or 8 palms --
2 1-3 Yards English.
guard
SARDINIAN MONIES.
6 Denari
6 Calari
30 Calari
11 Reals and 1 soldi
io Re
1 Calari
1 Soldi
1 Real
1 Spanish silverDollar
1 Scudi of Calari
7 1-2 Rear and 1 Calari 1 Scudi of Piedmont.
Accounts are kept in Denari, Soldi, and Livres.
-
t
•
12 Denari - - 1 Soldi
20 Soldi - 1 Livre.
XV
SARDINIAN LARGE WEIGHTS.
12 Ounces - 1 Pound
104 Pounds 1 Cantara
128 Pounds - 1 Cwt. English.
SICILIAN MONIES.
-
20 Grains -- 1 Terri
12 Terri - 1 Scudi
30 Terri
1 Ounce.
The ounce of Sicily
or 300 terri
VER
- ·
Accounts are kept in Ounces, Terri, and Grains.
The scudi of Sicily
of 12 terri
!
Terri Grs.
The hard Spanish dollar is current for 12 12
The money of Sicily has the same value as that
of Naples, but under different denominations.
is equal to
ཕ{༠
The terri of Sicily is equal to
of 20′ grains
}
to{
•{
1
is equal to
30 Carlini of
3 Ducats
of Naples.
the Carlini
of Naples,
of 10 Grains.
the Scudi of
Naples of
12 Carlini.
T
xvi
1
SICILIAN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
The cantar of 100 rotolo - - 178lbs. English,
Each rotolo weighs 30 ounces or 2 1-2lbs.
The Sicilian cantar is about 10 per cent. less
than the cantar of Naples.
The measures of Sicily are nearly equal to
those of Naples.
TUNISIAN MONIES.
12 Burboes
1 Asper
3 1-2 Aspers
1 Caroob
16 Caroobs
1 Piastre
4 1-2 Piastres - 1 Maboob or sequin.
·
Accounts are kept in Burboes, Aspers, and
Piastres.
12 Burboes - - 1 Asper
52 Aspers 1 Piastre.
**
-
The par of exchange is 15 piastres per pound
sterling,
xvir
TUNISIAN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
100lbs. Tunisian 112lbs. English.
Corn of all kinds is measured in tumuloes.
-
✔
16 Tumuloes - - 1 Caffees.
Each tumulo of good wheat should weigh 50lbs.
Tunisian weight.
44 1-4 Metals of oil, Tunisian measure, will
make one ton English of 236 gallons, weighing
ner 15 cwt. 3 qrs. 6lbs.
10 Metals of oil at Susa will make 12) Tunis
10 Metals of oil at Soliman will make 14 Metals.
M
恋​と
​xviii
*
A GLOSSARY
OF
PROVINCIAL WORDS.
Cancilier, the registrar in a consulary office.
Funduc, the French consul's house at Tunis.
Gypsum, a sort of stucco made in Barbary.
Journata Company, the farmers of wax, hides, &c. -
Kya, a governor of a province.
Prattick, being free from quarantine.
Stevadore, a man employed to stow a ship's cargo.
Tariff, the rate of custom-house duties.
Tiskery, a license from the Dey of Algiers or
Bey of Tunis.
REFLECTIONS
ON THE
COMMERCE
OF
THE MEDITERRANEAN.
CHAPTER. I,
The advantages of embarking in the
Mediterranean trade clearly illustrated.
IT may be considered a very unfortunate
circumstance to the united kingdom, that
the coasting trade of the Mediterranean
should have hitherto been so little known
to British merchants in general. The prin-
cipal object of this work is, to make it bet
ter understood, and to point out the essen-
tial benefits this country may derive there-
from; and we are persuaded that a great
2
many respectable merchants will soon find
it their interest to embark in this commerce,
and even the ship-owners will be very ma-
terially interested in it. When other employ-
ment for their shipping does not imme-
diately offer, they may at all seasons send
them up the Mediterranean for cargoes. They
may certainly very reasonably conclude,
that it is always much better to have their
ships employed to advantage, than keep
them lying in harbour; and in the Mediter-
ranean trade they have this peculiar advan-
tage, that whenever a ship cannot procure
a cargo on freight, the owners, by advancing
a small sum, may always procure a full cargo
on the ship's account. It must then be very
extraordinary, if the ship's freight as well
as the merchant's profit, does not turn to
a good account. And we shall farther ob-
serve, that, in this case, where the ship
and cargo are one property, and the whole
ship's cargo does not amount to a large sum,
say, for example, no more than 500l. first
cost, it will be always better able to bear
3
the charges of insurance, and other expen-
ses, in proportion to cargoes of greater va-
lue. In most parts of the Mediterranean
there are great quantities of bulky articles.
which require much shipping to transport;
and many of these bulky articles may be
purchased for a moderate sum; between
two and three hundred tons, of some goods,
will not cost more than 500l. sterling. This
will, no doubt, appear to some merchants
very extraordinary, and particularly to
those who are not well acquainted with
the commerce with the Mediterranean. In
this work we shall enumerate many articles,
which, we are persuaded, will be sufficient
to prove our assertion very satisfactorily to
all who may consider it their interest to en-
ter into this trade. It very frequently hap-
pens that the master of a ship of between
two and three hundred tons burthen, is
often obliged to draw upon his owners for
more than 500l. to pay his ship's expenses,
in lying only a few months in a foreign port ;
this is very often the case in the port of
Leghorn.
Che
When this commerce is better under-
stood, it will then be found to be of great
national consequence; we shall endeavour to
demonstrate, in the clearest manner, the
immense number of merchant shipping
that may be employed to advantage in it.
In the year 1797, the French merchants
from the port of Marseilles alone, loaded
in the different ports of the kingdom of
Tunis above three hundred sail of mer-
chantmen of various descriptions, being
usually from eighty to three hundred tons
burthen.
This will appear extraordinary, for such
an immense number of shipping to obtain
cargoes in only one of the Barbary states.
With respect to the number of shipping,
we are convinced that it is right; we re-
ceived this information from the French con-
sul himself, at Tunis, in the Funduc, in
the year 1799. The cargoes for these ship-
ping were in a great measure obtained from
the proceeds of sales of French manufac-
5
tures, with a small proportion of other
goods. We might hazard a calculation on
the probable amount of all these cargoes
but we should be liable to error, and pro-
bably mislead. It may be sufficient for us
here to say, that the French have, for a
considerable time past, considered this trade
as of the greatest national consequence.
We shall endeavour to point out, that Bri-
tish manufactures, staples, and colonial pro-
duce would have been preferred.
France has hitherto reaped all those ex-
traordinary advantages, by having a great
number of merchants residing in foreign
countries, to conduct their commercial af-
fairs.
We consider the present a very favoura-
ble opportunity for the British merchants
to establish themselves, and to reap some
benefit in availing themselves of the high
character the nation bears at present on all
the shores of the Mediterranean.
B
For many years past there has been much
more attention paid to the West-India than
the Mediterranean trade; and our govern-
ment, in making treaties of peace, have
always been more attentive to hold West-
India possessions, than any acquisitions in
the Mediterranean. However, we now be-
gin to entertain very sanguine hopes that
this subject will be more attended to, when
we consider the many millions of people
that inhabit both the shores of the Medi-
terranean, who prefer British manufactures,
as well as staples, to those of any other na-
tion.
The French have always paid particular at-
tention to this, as the most valuable part of
their commerce. In consequence of the im-
mense consumption of their manufactures,
as well as colonial produce, they were ac-
customed to import the raw materials of
other nations, and afterwards send them
back, in a manufactured state, at an enor-
mous profit.
"
7
In the proceedings of the Board of Com-
merce, established at Marseilles, it will be
found, that they paid more attention to this,
than any other part of the French commerce.
They made laws and rules to regulate it in
every stage, from the most important af-
fairs, down to the smallest minutia.
And we do not consider it as irrelevant
to this subject, to show why the present
rulers in France are so extremely jealous of
the English holding any possessions in the
Mediterranean; at present the English hold
Malta, which must always be considered
a very desirable object; and it would have
also been very advantageous to have retained
Minorca also. The Minorkeens are a tra-
ding people, have a great number of ship-
ping, and through them England would
have enjoyed the greatest part of the Barbary
trade, as the Minorkcens have always been
accustomed to it. The harbours of Port
Mahon and Malta are esteemed the two best
harbours in the world.
$
C
8
The First Consul of France has always
been very anxious to ingratiate himself into
the good opinion of the people in the south
of France; and it is understood that he has
reserved that for a retreat, in case of any
sudden commotion; and he has promised
the people to make Marseilles a free port.
This will certainly be doing a great deal ;
and, in some measure, will ensure him the
esteem of the people in that part of France;
but it will avail very little, if the French are
shut out of the Barbary and the Levant trade.
This will certainly appear, beyond a doubt,
to be the principal cause why the French go-
vernment are so very anxious to shut the
English entirely out of the Mediterranean.
And we hope and trust the English govern-
ment will always see, that it is the interest
of the country to hold some possessions there.
We shall here endeavour to point out a
plan by which the small possessions the En-
lish hold at present may be made most bene-
ficial to the country.
>
9
We have an idea that retaining the posses-
sion of Minorca, was considered by our
government as likely to be attended with
considerable expense; and that the advan-
tage of the commerce carried on there
would not have been adequate to it; as mer-
chants, we are of a different opinion; and
really think, that small garrisons of that
kind might be made nearly to support them-
selves; not by any trifling impost upon
any particular species of goods, which is
very vexatious, and is always disadvanta-
geous to commerce, but a tonnage duty on
all shipping, say, for example, one shilling
per ton on British, and two shillings per ton
upon all foreign bottoms.
The commerce of the Mediterranean is
better able to bear a duty of this kind than
that of any other part of the world. The
profits in general are very great, being very
often thirty and forty per cent. on bulky ar-
ticles, and sometimes more, from one port
to another, and these ports only at a small
distance.
10
This duty alone, in such a port as Malti,
in time of peace would be almost sufficient
to pay the expenses of the garrison; and
could not be considered as very burthen-
some to the shipping. This would be attend-
ed with very little trouble or expense, as the
prattick master and his clerk would be quite
sufficient to collect it. The Mediterranean
shipping in general having no register, it
might be done in a very liberal and hand-
some manner, by taking a rough calculation
from the master of what number of tons
his ship could conveniently carry by these
means our retaining those acquisitions would
not be very burthensome to the state; and
commerce, which is most benefited by them,
contribute, in some measure, to support
them. We cannot imagine that this could
be considered as oppressive, when it is com-
pared with the very heavy duties that are
paid in most of the ports in the Mediterra-
nean, amounting frequently to fifteen or
twenty per cent. ad valorem. This is paid
on all goods imported; and in some ports,
the duties on exports amount to half the first
cost of the goods.
J
ang
CHAPTER II.
>
On the necessity of merchants being well ac-
quainted with the political economy of
foreign nations.
THERE are a great many men who have
always insisted and argued that merchants
have nothing to do with the politics of other
nations, and that they should only attend to
their own commercial affairs. These argu-
ments are generally made use of by men
who imagine themselves to move in a sphere
above the merchants: the principal cause is
jealousy. These would-be great men are
seldom to be found to possess a general
knowledge of the world, in any degree equal
to what is frequently met with amongst
merchants. These gentlemen, in a sort of re-
venge, often descend to the most scurrilous
abuse; hence the cause why merchants are
so frequently loaded with so many harsh and
low epithets, which in this country has never
€ 2
+
12
yet had the effect these gentlemen have
always expected from it; for the merchant
has hitherto been able to support his dig-
nity, to their no small mortification.
We certainly do not consider it advisable
for merchants to enter into political or reli-
gious disputes in any country whatever:
no good can ever be derived from it. It is
much better to remain quiet spectators, by
which means they will be better able to be
'perfectly acquainted with every thing that
transpires. It is the merchant's interest to
be well informed; and by his travelling
into foreign countries it is but reasonable to
conclude that he possesses a more accurate
and general knowledge of the world than the
nobleman or gentleman who remains at
home.
A
In all countries subject to convulsion and
internal commotion, where the laws are ei-
ther defective in themselves, or badly admi-
nistered, and sometimes both, and very little
stability in the government, money will be
1S
always of more value, and interest much
higher than in countries where the govern-
ments are steady, energetic, and powerful.
This is a general rule in every part of the
world where the use of money is known;
surely it will not be considered by reasonable
men that merchants should not make them-
selves well acquainted with the nature and
causes of these variations.
The merchant who trades with, or tra-
vels in, foreign countries, should possess a
tolerable knowledge of the various classes of
people, and we particularly wish to caution
all merchants not hastily to place too great
or implicit confidence in the individuals of
those nations or sects of people who have
no flag, or whose flag is not respected by
other nations. It may perhaps appear to
some of our readers invidious in us to enu-
merate and point out any of the nations or
sects of people who unfortunately fall under
this description. We by no means entertain
any particular disrespect or antipathy against
any of those nations or sects, but we consider
14
the information too interesting to be omitted,
and it is certainly our duty to caution all Bri-
tish merchants and British subjects against
impositions; and there is more chicanery and
imposition practised on the coasts of the Me-
diterranean, than all the rest of the world..
The Jews are very numerous in all the
Barbary states; they are not tolerated in
Spain, but are in considerable numbers in
Marseilles, and the south of France till
very lately; they were formerly excluded
from Piedmont, but they are very nume-
rous in the other Italian States, down to the
Roman; they are not tolerated in Naples,
Sicily, or Malta; there are a great many in
the Austrian sea-ports, in the Adriatic. In
the Seven Islands, Morea, and Turkey in
Europe, they are not very numerous; and
there are very few in Turkey in Asia, Syria,
or Egypt. Whatever agreement is made
with a Jew in any of the Barbary states,
whether for purchase, sale, or barter of mer-
chandise, provided the particulars of the
transaction are not registered by a cancilier
15
in one of the European consulary offices,
and samples deposited, and the parties bound
in a penalty to perform the contract, the
Jew will not abide by this agreement, how-
ever solemnly he may have pledged himself,
if he has the least prospect of gaining by his
breach of contract; and whenever he is re-
minded of his breach of faith, and non-per-
formance of contract, he will shrug up his
shoulders, and say domane, signifying he
will perform, it on the morrow; and he will
repeat this as often as he is applied to. In
most other places they are bound to perform,
though the agreement is only verbal, pro-
vided it is in the presence of a broker.
The Jews have no flag, but are usually
protected where they locally reside, and in
some places enjoy nearly the same privileges
as the natural born subject. They never
consider their word or faith pledged in the
least binding, and many an Englishman has
often cause to reflect upon his credulity;
but when a person is well acquainted with
their principles and their prevailing passions,
some good business may be done with the
16
Jews, as well as other people, particularly in
making purchases, as the Jews will in gene
ral sell, provided they can make a profit,
however small; but the merchant must be
a competent judge of the article he is pur-
chasing, otherwise he will most assuredly be
imposed upon; the Jews will soon discover
whether he is competent or not, and when
they find him deficient, they will descend
to all the low mean chicanery that can possi-
bly be practised or invented, even to bribe
the merchant's servants.
It will be necessary to observe the same
caution with respect to the Greeks, who com-
pose a considerable part of the population
of the northern shores of the Mediterranean.
They are chiefly subjects of the Grand Sig-
nior, and are at present in a very deplorable
state; they have a flag for their merchant-
men, but that is not considered as an inde-
pendent flag by other nations, and whatever
insult may be committed against them at sea,
they cannot easily obtain redress; the Greeks
have no other power, except the Porte, to
17
apply to for redress, and their complaints
have very seldom been attended to. The
Greeks being a numerous people, the Porte
has always been jealous of them, and instead
of redressing their grievances, which would
soon make them appear respectable in the
eyes of other nations, has taken every oppor-
tunity of reducing them by degrees to the
most abject slavery. The Greeks finding
every representation for a redress of their
grievances treated with indifference, they
now (it may be termed) take the law into
their own hands; whenever a Greek ship
at sea receives any insult from an armed
vessel of any other nation, being too strong,
the Greeks patiently submit to the insult;
but whenever they meet with another vessel
of that nation at sea, and can overpower it,
the Greeks will most assuredly destroy every
soul on board, plunder the vessel of every
thing valuable, and then sink it; therefore it
is considered dangerous meeting with a
Greek ship of superior force at sea.
There are also a great many Greek pirates,
who are sure to find protection in those
18
ports where there are no Turkish garrisons.
The Greeks are a people who are by no
means to be depended upon; they are al-
ways practising every low mean artifice
that can possibly be invented; having no
name or character at stake, they are more
barefaced and less cautious in their imposi-
tions than the Jews.
This shows in a very strong light how
far the minds and principles of individuals,
and even a whole nation, may be reduced
from the highest degree of refinement, the
most amiable virtues and accomplishments, to
the very lowest ebb of human depravity,
when deprived of all political influence.
It also proves the necessity of every nation
and people causing their flag to be respected
by other nations; it does not concern exe-
cutive power alone, every individual is
equally- interested, and it certainly consti-
tutes a crime in any man whatever, to look
with apathy and indifference on his country's
wrongs.
19
The Armenians are another nation or race
of men who are not to be relied on with im-
plicit confidence. They have no king or
head of their nation, neither are they formed
into a republic; they are deprived of all po-
litical authority; though they are much
better than either the Jews or Greeks, yet
whatever virtues are found amongst them, are
more from necessity than principle. In Ar-
menia, and in those countries where they are
in considerable numbers, no man can travel
from one province to another without a pro-
per passport; therefore, whatever fraud or
crime an Armenian commits, he is easily de-
tected. The Armenians enjoy the greatest part
of the commerce of Turkey in Asia, Arabia,
Persia, and the major part of the Caravan
trade. The Caravan ships between Bengal
and Bussora are usually freighted by the
Armenian merchants to and
om India.
They
are protected in their commerce by the
Turks, who are of themselves in general
but very indifferent merchants: and they
usually employ the Armenian merchants to
conduct their commercial affairs. They
D
20
have a great many of the oriental manners
and customs, and have a few good traits in
their character. The Turks treat them
with more respect than they show towards
the Greeks. The Armenians are more
submissive, harmless, and inoffensive, and
do not possess so much of that vindictive
spirit, so universal amongst the Greeks.
There are very few Armenians in Italy or
the Morea, and none in Barbary; but in
Turkey in Asia they form the major part of
the population. There are several Eu-
ropean states and nations on the northern
shores of the Mediterranean, many indivi-
duals of which should not be too hastily or
implicitly confided in on the contrary, the
greatest caution and circumspection will at
all times be found necessary. This is owing
to their flag being held in little estimation
by other nations; and shows how much
political respect operates upon the minds
and principles of the people of that nation.
Whatever the nature of the government may
be, whether hereditary or elective, a monar-
chy, aristocracy, or democracy, provided
21
the government causes its flag to be respect-
ed by other nations, whether from love or
fear, it will have the same effect: the indi-
viduals of that nation will cause themselves
to be respected in foreign countries, and
carefully avoid doing any mean action that
might in the least degrade their high national
character. There are many instances of
governments losing their energy, and the
morals of the individuals, and nearly the
whole of that nation alling off in proportion.
Only two or three centuries past, there
was much noise in Europe about Spanish
honour, Spanish valour, and Spanish in-
tegrity. Spain conquered the new world;
was then a rich and powerful monarchy, and
kept the other nations of Europe in awe.
The Spaniards then boldly exposed their
persons to danger: they would rather perish
than be guilty of any mean action that might
cause the least disagreeable reflection upon
their high national character. This is uni-
versally allowed to have been the character
of the Spaniards at that time. View them
I
22
in their present state, and they will be found
almost the reverse. From a succession of
weak princes, they are reduced to a most
degraded state, both by land and sea; they
will shrink from danger; they have now
very little idea of a national character;
and a Spaniard, without remorse, will as-
sassinate in the dark. In the time of their
power and prosperity, the very idea of
such a lionid and detestable crime would
have been sufficient to have made a brave
Spaniard shudder.
There are other monarchies in Europe
reduced to a similar situation as Spain.
As a thorough knowledge of this subject
may be considered interesting to those who
travel into foreign countries, we beg leave
further to elucidate this matter, by giving
examples of some republics, which will be
sufficient to prove that every state, nation,
or people whatsoever, are in some measure
concerned in the support of their political
respect; even the whole civilized world are
influenced by it, and in these times it is cer-
23
tainly necessary that this subject should be
well understood by every Briton.
6
The republic of Venice, not two centuries
past, was reckoned the richest and most
powerful republic in Europe; all the other
states courted its friendship; it maintained
very powerful armies; and its shipping
were almost innumerable. At Candy it
sustained one of the longest and heaviest
sieges that was ever recorded in history;
and for several years the republic of Venice
supported itself against the whole force of
the Turkish empire. At that time the Ve-
netians were generally esteemed a virtuous
people; and they possessed, in a great de-
gree, the true amor patriæ. It is now our
duty to point out, in a clear and concise
manner, the principal causes why they fell
off into that deplorable situation to which
they were reduced, at the time they were
struck out of the list of independent states.
The state of Venice always was an aristo-
cracy, and continued the same to the last.
D2
24
It fell off by degrees, and the morals of the
people fell in proportion, until they became
the most depraved people in Europe. The
great body of the people was not originally
to blame; the fault was in the princes and
nobility; they were extremely jealous of
each other, and plots, conspiracies, and
assassinations became more frequent in Ve-
nice than any other part of the world; by
the frequent change of its rulers, the govern-
ment lost its stability, energy, and virtue,
and the people became corrupted.
The Venetians have lately experienced a
very considerable change; and there is not
the least doubt, but that the people in gene-
ral will be very materially benefited by it.
They are now under the government of the
house of Austria; a very short time will
serve to show how far a favourable change
of the government influences the principles
of the people; we have an idea it will be
very favourable.
We are enabled to affirm, from our own
knowledge and experience, that the inhabit-
25
nants in general, in the hereditary domi-
nions of the house of Austria, are the most
virtuous people in Europe.
The republic of Genoa was an aristocracy,
and lost its influence in a similar manner
to that of Venice; it has also experienced
a considerable change, but by no means so
favourable for the welfare of the people;
there is not the least doubt but we shall see
a very striking contrast in a very few years.
The various changes in the United Pro-
vinces may serve as an instructive lesson to
other nations.
t
CHAPTER III.
On the advantages to be derived from any
possessions the English may have in the
Mediterranean.
AS Malta is now the only possession the
English hold in the Mediterranean, we beg
leave to submit our ideas on the very great
commercial advantages to be derived from
it. Malta is very conveniently situated for
the trade of the eastern part of Barbary,
Egypt, Syria, the Levant, the Morea, &c.
&c. It affords excellent accommodation
for shipping, both for those which have to
perform quarantine, as well as those that have
obtained prattick. It is admirably situated
to serve as a depot for British merchandise,
as well as the various merchandise, the pro-
duce of the several countries it lies conti-
27
guous to. In the Morea, Levant, &c. the
ports are not very numerous where a large
cargo of merchandise could be disposed of
all together to any considerable advantage,
and it is generally very inconvenient taking
large ships from port to port. An immense
number of small fast-sailing vessels, well
armed, about one hundred tons burthen,
might be constantly employed in disposing
of Britich goods and manufactures, at the
same time they might easily procure cargoes
in return, proper for the British or other
European markets, and take them back to
Malta; whether these vessels were kept in
quarantine, or had obtained prattick, they
need not be detained in port above a week,
both to discharge and take on board a fresh
cargo; thus they might be constantly em-
ployed, without losing much time: by
these means the whole of that intricate na-
vigation in the Archipelago would very soon
become perfectly familiar to our seamen;
the coasting trade of the Mediterranean
would soon be better understood, and open
such an extensive commerce, as very few
28
merchants at present have any idea of. It
has been at all times acknowledged that from
the long continuance of shipping in port,
great injury ensues to seamen, to the vessels
themselves, and to all concerned. In a very
little time this valuable commerce would be
perfectly understood; and more particularly
when the merchants themselves, or British
supercargoes sailed in these trading vessels,
they would readily acquire a knowledge of
the various languages, as well as much use-
ful information.
We certainly are of opinion, that upwards
of one thousand of these small vessels might
be constantly employed in disposing of En-
glish merchandise, and procuring other car-
goes. This is, exclusive of a considerable
number of large ships, more proper to load
in than ports, where they can obtain a full
cargo, without being under the necessity of
weighing anchor.
No foreign commerce, of whatever na-
ture it may be, can ever succeed and be
29
lasting, unless the shipping is very mate-
rially benefited by it; and long detentions
in harbours is one of the greatest evils that
shipping labour under.*
In pursuing a
system similar to what we have here stated,
this inconvenience will, in a great measure,
be remedied, either in peace or war. Seve-
ral good sized ships, from two to three
hundred tons, may, by these means, be
constantly employed from England to Malta,
* The quarantine regulations of Spain, Portugal,
and Italy are very oppressive to the commerce car-
ried on by the United States of America with those
countries. This oppression has indeed now become
so great that it should be made an immediate object
of interference on the part of our administration.
In those countries the length of the voyage, and
the nature of the articles imported are totally dis-
regarded; consequently, cargoes of a perishable na-
ture are very often entirely lost. It is somewhat
singular that their Health-Police should not reflect
that perishable goods, the longer they are kept on
board, instead of being purified, are rendered but
the more liable to generate infection.....AMERICAN
PUBLISHER.
SO
where cargoes would be already prepared.
To discharge one cargo and take on board
another, there would be no necessity to de-
tain the ships above a month in port.
When the supplies are sent out regularly
and the return cargoes procured at their
proper seasons, and deposited at Malta, it
will make a very material difference to the
merchant; besides obtaining a better price
for his merchandise, he will be able to procure
his homeward bound cargoes for thirty per
cent. less. This is the most probable way
to supplant the French in the most valuable
part
of their commerce. Every intelligent
merchant, and even his majesty's ministers,
by giving this subject their serious attention
will very soon be convinced of the great
benefit the nation will derive from it.
Much good may be derived from mer-
chants visiting foreign countries, and ma-
king themselves perfectly competent in the
various branches of commerce: when they
have to depend entirely upon foreigners,
31
they will be always subject to the most gross
impositions, and experience many incon-
veniences.
When the trade of the Mediterranean is
properly encouraged, and carried to the
greatest extent that it is capable of attaining,
it will then be nearly equal to the whole of
our West-India trade. Those who are lit-
tle acquainted with it, may perhaps say, that
this is extending the subject too far; and
we consider it always the best way to sup-
port our opinion by giving examples. We
think it but reasonable to say, above one
hundred good sized ships, say above 200
tons, may be employed between the Baltic-
and the Mediterranean. Not very long ago
the Dutch employed a reater number.
Two hundred ships of the same burthen
may be constantly employed in carrying
corn only in the Mediterranean. They
might sometimes go to Lisbon and Madeira;
and it may be considered that we do not ex-
aggerate, when we say, there is sufficient
•
E
32
employment for two hundred sail of ships
of two hundred tons and upwards, between
the Mediterranean and the British empire,
exclusive of those usually employed in the
fish trade; these are exclusive of the
great
number of smaller shipping we have men-
tioned, that may be employed in the coasting
trade and attending upon the merchants; be-
sides many foreign merchants will always
prefer employing British ships.
We have made these calculations, with-
out including the trade of the Black Sea;
the English have hitherto done very little
business there. This is now a very favoura
ble opportunity of entering into it. The
great length of the voyage, the want of con-
suls, agents, or correspondents, in any of
the ports in the Black Sea, must have been
the principal cause of that trade having been
hitherto neglected, though the profits upon
a cargo of merchandise between the Black
Sea and some of the ports in the Mediter.
ranean only, are almost incredible. Inclu-
ding the fish trade,, and all those ships we
have before enumerated, we may sum up
33
}
the whole of the merchant shipping, of
all descriptions, that may be employed
to advantage in the Mediterranean trade,
to be nearly two thousand sail. Consider-
ing that this commerce carried on with
foreign nations, England will receive more
than double the benefit she could de-
rive from the same quantity of trade carried
on with her own colonies; and the con-
sumption of British manufactures will
nearly equal the whole of our West-India
colonies. The consumption of earthen
ware is far greater, as also woollen goods,
and that of cotton goods nearly equal; be-
sides, the raw materials that might be im-
ported for the use of our manufactories,
would far exceed that of our West-In-
dia colonies except in the article of cotton;
and there are many articles that we cannot
do without, which must come from the
Mediterranean; such as olive oil, sulphur;
barilla, and a great variety of drugs that
are not to be had in any other part of the
world. The nation will also receive mate-
rial benefit in having so great a number of
seamen employed in a healthy climate. We
34
do not consider it very necessary to continué
any longer upon this subject, being per-
suaded we have stated sufficient to support
what we have before asserted, and to con
vince any reasonable man that it is of the
greatest national consequence to hold pos-
sessions in the Mediterranean; such as
Malta, Minorca, &c. where our merchant
shipping may always find protection.
CHAPTER IV.
On the necessity of increasing the number
of consuls and agents in various parts of
the Mediterranean; and the great advan-
tages to be derived from it.
1
IN England this subject has never yet
met with that attention that it certainly re-
quires.
In France it has always been a principal
object, both in time of the monarchy and
the republic. The late conduct of the
French, in sending an immense number of
consuls and commercial agents to all the
ports and cities of any consequence in the
Morea, Levant, Egypt, &c. ought to have
been sufficient to have opened the eyes of
the English. Perhaps some of them were
sent in a double capacity, both for political,
as well as commercial purposes.-However
that may be, they were treated by the
French government in the most handsome
E 2
36
manner, which would always operate in
their favour, and make them appear in the
eyes of the people where they were es-
tablished, as men of real consequence.—
They had men of war to attend, and every
respect outwardly shown them, equal to so
many ambassadors. The French would
not have been at so much expense, had
they not seen their interest in it, and the
necessity of sending out so many agents to
recover that commerce they had lost for a
considerable time; and it would have been
almost impossible for the French to have
made any considerable progress, for a long
time to come, in recovering this trade, par-
ticularly in those countries where they can
never have a regular correspondence, with-
out first establishing consuls and agents to
prepare cargoes for their merchant shipping.
When this commerce so imperiously de-
mands the greatest attention from the French
government, it may not be unreasonable for
us to say, that it ought to be equally inte-
resting to the English. England has never
yet taken such decisive measures in favou
#
37
of commerce, but has generally left the
merchants to pursue their own industry; and
a great many of the consuls that the British
government are pleased to appoint, instead
of their being merchants, are either naval or
military officers, as a reward for their ser-
vices. These gentlemen have always been
accustomed to consider the merchants as mo-
ving in a sphere far beneath them: when this
is unfortunately the case, we cannot reason-
ably expect that commerce can be much
benefited by them. Where merchants are
appointed consuls, it will be found that the
money paid for their salaries affords the
greatest interest to the nation.
The duties of customs alone, upon a very
few cargoes of merchandise, will more than
pay the salaries of all the consuls we have
in the Mediterranean: and had England
three times the number there, it would
always be of increased advantage to this
eountry. It is also a very unfortunate cir-
cumstance, that amongst the consuls and
vice-consuls, a great many of them are not
38
British born subjects; and from these
gentlemen, we cannot expect that they will
attend so much to the interest of this coun-
try, as the natural born subjects. We have
no consul in Sardinia, though an extensive
and fertile island; and there has not been
an accredited British consul there, for a
great number of years: should the govern-
ment ever be pleased to appoint a respectable
consul in that island, with a salary of about
five hundred pounds per annum, they would
soon see the great good the country would
derive from it. The consul for his own
benefit, would soon import and export as
many cargoes of merchandise yearly, as
would pay in duties ten times the amount
of his salary. This is equally applicable to
many other parts of the Mediterranean.
*
His majesty's ships, as well as the mer-
chants, labour under many difficulties, from
want of a greater number of proper accredit-
ed British consuls; and the losses that are
sustained, finally fall upon the country.
The vice-consuls are usually Greeks or
39
Italians, and therefore will always practise
their impositions upon all strangers that
employ them. When a man of war goes
into any port for supplies, and there is no
British consul, the vice-consul will not even
assist them with the necessary supplies,
unless he has a prospect of gaining thirty-
five per cent. exclusive of the usual com-
mission, which only serves as a cloak for
their more exorbitant charges. We have
known an instance where one of his majesty's
ships was supplied by an Italian vice-consul
who charged the man of war in the propor-
tion above mentioned; we discovered this
imposition, by going into the market and
purchasing provision for some English
merchantmen. Some of the vice-consuls
act in that barefaced manner, as if they really
thought themselves entitled to make these
extraordinary charges in time of war; these
impositions alone will amount to many
thousand pounds; most certainly more than
would pay all the consuls' salaries in the
Mediterranean; but the impositions prac-
tised upon his majesty's ships is but very
40
trifling, when compared with what the mer-
chants lose in a similar manner. A merchant
either charters, or sends a ship of his own,
to a port in the Mediterranean, where there
is no accredited British consul. The mer-
chant must write to a vice-consul, or some
merchant there, who in all probability will
be either a Ragusee, Greek, or Italian.
The merchant orders a particular cargo to
be put on board. The correspondent will,
in consequence, purchase a cargo, however
high the price may be, and he will ship the
cargo as soon as he finds it convenient to
himself, frequently detaining the ship at a very
heavy demurrage, which will always add to
his disbursements, out of which he general-
ly clears thirty-five per cent. besides his
commission. This is one of the greatest in-
conveniences that merchants at present
labour under in the Mediterranean trade.
When the cargo is on board, and the bills
of lading signed by the master, the shipper
immediately draws for the amount of the
invoice; and as soon as the British merchant
receives the bills of lading, he will seldom
1
41
hesitate to accept bills of exchange for the
whole cargo. In all countries where a cor-
respondence cannot be kept up regular and
frequent, bills of exchange will be always
negotiated at a considerable loss, however
respectable the house may be in England;
and however great the loss may be upon the
bills of exchange, the shipper will always
immediately more than reimburse himself
though he may not pay for part of the mer-
chandise for six months after it is shipped.
This is frequently the case with people resi-
ding in the country; local strangers can
seldom have that indulgence.
It is a very common observation in Leg-
horn, that an Italian house will be enabled
to support itself in a genteel manner, keep
a coach and equipage, and a handsome box
at the theatre, out of the profits they make
on the sales of two Newfoundland ships'
cargoes yearly. All this cannot be done
out of the usual commission, which is
very moderate.
}
42
It will, no doubt, be a matter of surprise
to a great many men in this country, how
the people we have mentioned can have the
conscience and assurance to charge about
thirty five per cent. more than they really
pay. We have mentioned this circumstance
from our own knowledge, and we know
it to be a common practice all over the
Mediterranean; and the vice-consuls usually
overcharge his majesty's ships in that pro-
portion. We are persuaded no accredited
British consul will do it, or suffer it, if he
knows it, within his jurisdiction; but these
gentlemen are not so numerous as they
ought to be, and British commerce and
British interests have suffered and are still
suffering very materially by it. The vice-
consuls are very often Italians, and we
have frequently discovered, that they had
rather decline furnishing the necessary sup-
plies, when they cannot have a favourable
opportunity of making that additional
charge.
43
We have taken a great deal of pains and
trouble to find out the cause why this
extraordinary imposition should be thirty-
five per cent. as near as possible: at length we
discovered the reason from our Italian ser-
vants: when we sent any of them to market
to buy provisions, either for house or ship's
use, we always found that they overcharged
in the proportion we have mentioned. An
Italian servant will not require any wages
provided he has the privilege of going to
market; he will also get a considerable sum
from all the tradesmen employed. This
practice appears very extraordinary in the
eyes of an Englishman; but we found that
the Italians, Spaniards, and others, do it
from religious principles, and the priests
come in for a considerable share. When
we have reasoned with these people, con-
cerning this practice, and stated the iniquity
of imposing upon those whom they ought
to serve faithfully, they have never acknow-
ledged it to be just, but have frequently
declared, that they were compelled to do it
by the priests, who take this method of
F
44
making the heretics contribute toward
their support.
support. This is a common practice
in Spain, in all the Italian states, Sicily,
Malta, &c. &c. and every other part on
both shores of the Mediterranean, where
either Italians, Spaniards, Ragusees, or
Greeks are employed; and by every other
people who have faith in a clerical absolu-
tion.
{
When merchants can do business to ad-
vantage, at the same time that they are la-
bouring under so many difficulties, how
much more beneficial must it be, when they
are upon the spot themselves, or can have
confidential British agents to act for them.
CHAPTER V.
On the commerce of the kingdoms of Al-
giers, Tunis, Sardinia, Naples, Sicily, the
Morea, &c. &c. on the dispositions of the
inhabitants, modes of traffic, imports and
exports, moneys, weights, and measures,
of each respective country.
BARBARY.
THE commerce carried on between En-
gland and the Barbary states has hitherto
been very inconsiderable; and none of the
Barbary states within the Straits have at
present any direct trade with Great Britain;
yet there can be no doubt, but a very ad-
vantageous commerce might be carried on
by a direct communication between En-
gland and the states of Barbary, within the
Straits; many English manufactures, as
well as staples, are always in demand. The
1
46
merchants at present in Barbary are accus
tomed to receive British goods through the
medium of a third or fourth person, which
must enhance the price considerably: there
are also several ports in Barbary, where re-
turn cargoes may always be procured that are
properly adapted to the English market.
In the following pages we have endea-
voured to explain the nature of the Barbary
commerce more particularly, and we have
devested ourselves of every thing that might
appear mysterious, in writing every thing
as we experienced it.
ALGIERS.
The Deys of Algiers have never paid
much attention to commerce, though pos-
sessing one of the most fertile states in
Barbary; they have hitherto preferred war,
which is always inimical to commerce.
They have often several stout cruisers at
sea, but they seldom cruise without the
Straits. They are at war with most of
4.7
ON&
the Christian princes within the Straits
yet the whole of their ships of war of every
description, does not exceed twenty, of
from ten to forty guns.
Should the Deys of Algiers ever turn
their thoughts to commerce, and study the
true interest of the kingdom, in a very few
years it might be made very considerable,
from the natural richness of the soil.
The principal articles of export from the
kingdom of Algiers are:
Wheat
Barley
Pulse
Bullock's hides
Olive oi
Wax
{
Honey
Wool
Goat skins
Live bullocks
Skins of wild beasts Live sheep.
The exportation of all kinds of provi-
sions is prohibited at the city of Algiers, or
any other place near it: the only purchases
F 2
48
of any consequence are, the prize ships
and their cargoes; and these purchases are
chiefly made by the Jewish house of Bocri
and Busnah, who also farm the Journata
from the Dey; in consequence, hides, wax,
and many other articles, can only be procu-
red through the medium of that house.
Bocri has now a brother established at Mar-
seilles. They have always been in the French
interest, and the present government of
Algiers are very much influenced by that
house while this continues, the English
consul at Algiers must always feel himself
disagreeably situated.
The Deys have always permitted the ex-
portation of cattle from Oran, for the sup-
ply of the garrison of Gibraltar, which they
are obliged to do by treaty. And sometimes
the Deys permit the exportation of corn,
&c. &c. from Bona, but it is often very
difficult to obtain license. The only means
of obtaining that indulgence, is by making
considerable presents to the Dey and his
ministers. The ship going to Bona for
49
corn, must first call at Algiers, and carry
the Dey's tiskery or license for the corn,
otherwise the ship, in all probability, will
lose her voyage.
The English, at present, have no direct
trade with the kingdom of Algiers, nor is
there a very strong temptation to open a
direct trade with it, while the prohibition
on exports is continued: though a consi-
derable profit may be made on many articles.
from England, yet it will very seldom
answer the merchant's purpose, unless he
can obtain a return cargo for his ship. The
merchants in Algiers always pay in ready
cash, chiefly in hard Spanish dollars.
Merchandise always in demand in Algiers.
Pig lead
Lead shot
Logwood, unchipt
Red wood
Black pepper
Allum
Coffee
Nutmegs
Cloves
Cinnamon
Copperas
Tin in boxes
50
1
White ginger
Cutlery
India muslins
Calicoes
Pimento
Cloth (superfine grain
colours)
Fine Irish linen
ALGERINE MONEY.
Sugar (fine clay)
Jamaica rum.
Accounts are kept in mazonas, piasters,
and sequins.
24 Mazonas - - 1 Piaster
3 1-2 Piasters 1 Sequin.
All sorts of Spanish money are current
in Algiers.
-
4 Mazonas - 1 Real de Plata
8 Mazonas
40 Mazonas
-
1 Pistoreen or Pisetta
1 Hard Spanish dollar.
The Algerine Quintal same as the English.
TUNIS.
The commerce carried on at present be-
tween the Christian states, on the northern
51
{
shores of the Mediterranean and the king-
dom of Tunis, is very extensive, and the
exports are chiefly the produce of the coun-
try, which may be always shipped by get-
ting a tiskery from the Bey for those articles
that pay a duty. Tunis is the most con-
siderable state in Barbary for commerce,
and even that was but trifling, until Sidi
Mustapha, late prime minister, encouraged
the cultivation of corn and olives, now the
two chief articles of export from that king-
dom. This has served much to civilize the
inhabitants, who, from a state of perpetual
warfare with the Christians, and often
amongst themselves, begin now to feel the
advantages of commerce; and the duties,
on exports, at present, form the greatest part
of the Bey's revenues.
Wheat
Barley
Beans
The principal articles of export from the
kingdom of Tunis are,
Gold dust
Scarlet caps
Jerbi shawls
52
Olive oil
Senna
Hides
Soap
Skins of wild beasts Sponge
Wool
Cotton
Wax
Ostrich feathers
Orchilla weed
Live cattle
Honey
Madder roots
Ivory
CORN.
The principal port for shipping corn from
the kingdom of Tunis, is Biserta, about
fifty miles west from Tunis; but no busi-
ness can be done without first getting a
tiskery from the Bey, which must pay as
under:
For Wheat, 22 1-2 piasters per caffees.
Barley 11 1-4 ditto
ditto.
The above are the duties actually paid, but
they have been frequently raised by the Bey,
at the instigation of the French merchants,
who have persuaded him to raise the duties,
53
that they might have the preference, more
particularly, when there has been a scarcity
of corn in the south of France; yet the
French merchants have still found their ad-
vantage in doing their business in this man-
ner; and to reimburse themselves for the
extraordinary duties paid to the Bey, they
bribe his officers, and by that means they
contrive to ship more than double the quan-
tity of corn, mentioned in the Bey's tis-
kery.
The caffees, if good measure, is equal
to two quarters Winchester measure: six-
teen tumuloes making one caffees. In mea-
suring, they lay as much corn as they can,
heaped up, upon the tumulo, and some-
times lay more than would otherwise lie
upon the measure, by putting their arms
round the rim to support it, which is reck-
oned very fair; however, it is often neces-
sary to fee the meters, as it sometimes makes
near twenty per cent. difference in the mea-
sure.
54
t
I
The price of corn fluctuates very much;
it is generally cheapest at the end of har-
vest, in August and September it usually
rises gradually from the end of one harvest.
to the beginning of the next.
Wheat fluctuates from 30 to 70 prs. per
caffees.
Barley fluctuates from 12 to 35 prs. per
caffees.
The crops of corn are always in propor-
tion to the quantity of rain; there have
been a few instances of an entire failure in
the crops for want of rain. The soil being
very strong, is usually very productive.
There is always a great demand from Mi-
norca, Majorca, the coast of Spain, the south
of France, the greatest part of Italy and
Malta. In time of peace, the Minorkeens
are chiefly employed in carrying corn from
Barbary to the coast of Spain, performing
quarantine at their own ports, which, from
the kingdom of Tunis, with a clean bill of
health, is twelve days.
I
1
55
OLIVE OIL
}
Is one of the principal articles of exporta-
tion from the kingdom of Tunis; it is
chiefly shipped from Tunis, Soliman and
Susa; but the last is by far the best place
to load at. They will load a ship at Susa,
of three hundred tons burthen, in a week.
Before any shipment takes place, a tiskery
must be got from the Bey, on paying two
and a half piasters, per metal, Tunis mea-
sure, which will weigh about forty pounds
English.
44 1-4 Metals of oil, Tunis measure, will
make one ton English, of 236 gallons,
weighing net 15cwt. 3qrs. 6lbs.
10 Metals of oil at Susa will make 12 Tu-
nis metals.
10 Metals of oil at Soliman will make 14
Tunis metals.
The season for making olive oil, in the
kingdom o Tunis, is from November till
G
56
January; and the best time to ship it is in
the winter months; being sold by measure,
it is more dense than in warm weather, and
not so liable to leak out of the casks: oil of
one year old is the best to ship; it is gene-
rally more clear than new oil; and the oil
that is made in the kingdom of Tunis, has
the good property of keeping sweet for a
considerable time; it will not become ran-
cid so soon as the Italian oils, and, with a
little salt, it may be kept sweet for any length
of time. It is very often shipped in large
jars; this will prevent any leakage, and will
answer very well for short voyages in the
Mediterranean; but we are of opinion, it
would be too great a risk to have a whole
ship laden with jars of oil, to sail on the
boisterous Atlantic.
They have men called Stevadores, who
are always employed in stowing jars of oil;
they have a peculiar method of stowing them,
which our English sailors are not acquainted
with; by only one jar giving way, it might
endanger the whole ship's cargo. We have
57
known an instance of a ship, above two hun-
dred tons burthen, entirely laden with jars
of oil, at Tunis, and the whole was deli-
vered safe at Leghorn, with the exception
of only one jar being broke, and that was
broke by accident, in the delivery. It
would always answer for English ships to
stow jars of oil in the between-decks, as
they might there be very easily secured;
and being free from leakage, would always
prove advantageous both to the ship and
merchant. The tops of the jars are secured
with gypsum, which will soon become as
hard and tight as any part of the jar.
In time of peace, the French, from Mar-
seilles, have loaded three hundred vessels
in one year, in the kingdom of Tunis, with
corn, wool, olive oil, &c. &c. The French
merchants usually took both the clear oil
and the footings, for their cloth and soap
manufactories. Some of the Tunis oil finds
its way to England under the name of Gal-
lipoli: and provided it is of a tolerable good
quality, it is by no means inferior, and more
{
58
particularly for the clothiers, it being a
stronger bodied oil than the Italian; we
have met with eating oil, equal to the Flo-
rence, particularly at Susa, made use of at
the table of Giluli, the Kya of Susa.
The Susa oil is in higher estimation than
the Soliman ; and the latter is reckoned bet-
ter than the Tunis oil.
The best method to ship oil is, by enter-
ing into a contract with the Kyas; the ma-
jor part of the money must be paid down
at the time of making the contract. The
Kyas are the governors of provinces, and,
in general, native princes: they are usually
men of very great property; they can also
obtain tiskeries much easier than private
merchants. The contract with the Kyas
should be always free on board. They are
all men of the strictest honour and integrity,
and will never break their word. It would
be always much better to avoid loading oil
at Tunis, if possible, the distance being so
59
very great between the Goletta, where the
ships lie, and the city of Tunis; and the
very great delays, for want of sandals,
make it very expensive. It is almost impos-
sible to load a ship at the Goletta, of 300
tons burthen, in less time than a month:
it is also rather dangerous for the ships to lie
at the Goletta in the winter months; they
also lie at the Goletta, to receive the oil from
Soliman. Susa is much the best port to
load oil at; and the ships lie perfectly sc-
cure from all winds, except the north-east,
which is not very frequent in the Mediter
ranean.
The effects of olive oil on the human body.
In the kingdom of Tunis, the people
usually employed as coolies, or porters, are,
in general, natives of Gereed or the country
of Dates, about 300 miles from the sea
coast. Their dress is, in general, a wide
woollen coat, its natural colour, with short
wide sleeves over, wrapping round the body
and tied round the waist with a cumber
G
60
band; they never wear a shirt, and seldom
have either trowsers, shoes, or stockings;
they have always a scarlet woollen cap upon
the head, and sometimes a coarse white
turban: those coolies that are employed in
the oil stores, seldom eat any thing but bread
and oil they smear themselves all over
with oil, and their coat is always well soaked
with it. Though the plague frequently ra-
ges in Tunis in the most frightful manner,
destroying many thousands of the inhabitants,
yet there never was known an instance of
any of these coolies, who work in the oil
stores, ever being in the least affected by it.
In the summer it is customary for them to
sleep in the streets, upon the bare ground;
we have frequently seen in the night, scor-
pions and other venemous reptiles running
about them in great numbers, yet we never
heard of a single instance where the coolies
were ever injured by them; nor do the mos-
chetoes, which are always very troublesome
to other people in hot climates, ever molest
them, though their face, hands, and arms,
from their elbows, are exposed, as also
61
their legs and feet; any other people being
so much exposed, would be nearly destroy-
ed by the moschetoes. In Tunis, when any
person is stung by a scorpion, or bit by any
other venomous reptile, they immediately
scarify the part with a knife, and rub in olive
oil as quick as possible, which arrests the
progress of the venom. If oil is not applied
in a few minutes, death is inevitable, particu-
larly from the sting of a scorpion. Those
in the kingdom of Tunis are the most ve-
nomous in the world.
The strength and agility of these coolies
or porters are almost incredible; having a
great many ships to load, we employed seve
ral of these people, and have frequently
seen one of them carry a load upon his back
which weighed half a ton English weight, a
distance of thirty or forty yards.
SPONGE
Is gathered on the sea shore, near Sphax
and Jerbi; it is of a tolerable good quality,
and may be purchased at Susa, at 20 or 30
62
piasters per the 112lbs. English, accord-
ing to quality, This is very inferior in
quality to that which is found on the shores
of the Black Sea, which is generally used
in England.-Though the Barbary sponge
is so much inferior in quality, yet it will
always meet with a ready sale in Malta,
Sicily, Italy, Minorca, Majorca, and the
coast of Spain.
SOAP.
This is an article' which is made in the
kingdom of Tunis, and is exported in great
quantities: it is usually shipped from the
ports of Tunis and Susa: it is generally
much cheaper and of a better quality at Susa.
The price of soap fluctuates from 18 to
25 piasters per quintal, equal to the English
hundred weight: the price varies in propor-
tion to the price of oil. The Tunisians
export both hard and soft soap. The hard
is mostly shipped in boxes of 1lb. each,
and the soft soap in jars. They are both
63
very strong, and wash better than most
European soaps, and the smell is by no
means disagreeable, being entirely com-
posed of olive oil and barilla, both articles
the produce of the country. The best way
to ship soap is by making a contract for
a certain quantity two or three months be-
fore the time of shipping; however, the
length of time must entirely depend upon
the quantity contracted for, as it is seldom
to be procured in very large quantities, ready
made. This circumstance is the cause of
this very valuable branch of commerce being
confined to a few people, who regularly
follow the Barbary trade, or have a regular
correspondence: boxes for hard soap must
be always carried there, as no packages are
to be had in this part of Barbary, except
jars and matts.
matts. The Minorkeens, who
enjoy the greatest part of this trade, will
often take above fifty tons of hard soap in
bulk rather than be at any expense for boxes.
Great quantities of Barbary soap are ship-
ped for Minorca, Majorca, the coast of
Spain, and part of Italy.
64
It is almost incredible how very advan-
tageous this branch of commerce is to the
Minorkeen merchants; they even sell it at
their own port for more than double the
first cost. We are persuaded it would
answer very well amongst our clothiers:
though the duties are very high, yet the
clothiers are allowed the duty on all foreign
soap that they make use of in their manu-
factories.
Hard Barbary soap would answer very
well for the North American market, put
up in boxes of 30lbs. net each. In taking
out a tiskery for the exportation of soap
from the kingdom of Tunis, the shipper
must always pay one piaster per quintal of
Tunis, which is the same as the English
hundred weight; 110lbs. of Tunis make
112lbs. English.
ORCHILLA WEED.
This article of commerce grows in great
abundance amongst the ruins of Carthage,
65
and on the rocky mountains to the eastward
of Tunis: that from the mountains is rather
longer, and of course of better quality; it
is very much inferior to that of Cape de
Verd. It may be collected from 15 to 20
piasters per quintal: it requires much time
to collect any considerable quantity; the best
mode of collecting it is, by employing the
Bedouins, and then it would require a month
to collect five tons.
The orchilla weed would always sell very
well in England, were it not for the great
quantity of dirt the Bedouins scrape from
the rocks along with it, to make it weigh the
more, which renders it almost unfit for the
English market.
WOOL.
Immense quantities of wool are annually
exported from the kingdom of Tunis. The
quality entirely depends upon the part of the
country where it is from: at Tunis, and to
the western part of the kingdom, the quality
66
of the wool is but very indifferent; at Susa
it is much better; at Jerbi, Sphax, and the
eastern part of the kingdom, it is
very fine,
being nearly equal to the Spanish wool,
only a much longer staple, which makes it
better adapted to the manufacture of shawls;
when it is full grown upon the sheep it
hangs down in ringlets, and has a silky ap-
pearance. In Persia we have seen a kind
of sheep, with wool very similar to the wool
in the eastern part of the kingdom of Tunis.
The finest part of the wool the inhabitants
of Jerbi and Sphax manufacture into shawls
and burnoases; some of these are exceeding
fine.
The French merchants usually ship the
major part of the wool. The price is from
18 to 30 piasters per quintal; it pays a duty
on exportation of one piaster per quintal.
The fleeces are mostly very foul, and lose
much in washing; which make them unfit
for the English market.
67
The importation of Barbary wool into
ports of France, chiefly into Marseilles, was
always considered as one of the most bene-
ficial branches of the French commerce.
They manufactured it into cloth, proper for
the Barbary market, from which the French
merchants drew an immense profit. The
Moors being very particular in their colours,
the French put up their bales, properly
assorted, and call them Londras.
The French do not shear their cloth so
close as the English do in general; and the
wool from the eastern part of the kingdom of
Tunis having a silky appearance, the French
put a good face upon the cloth, which is
always very pleasing to the eye; and the
Moors, who are but very indifferent judges
of cloth, provided it costs them little, are
the better pleased with it; they look more
to the colour than the quality; some of the
French cloth has very little substance in it,
being little stouter than some English flan-
nels. The Moors reason and draw conclu-
sions different from any other people. A
וּן
H
68
}
1
-
Moor will say, if I can buy a cloth for four
piasters per pike, it will certainly answer
my purpose much better than giving eight
piasters per pike; I can have two coats for
the same money; and surely two coats are
better than one. A few bales of the best
superfine cloth or shallees will always meet
with a ready sale amongst the princes and
ministers, who will have the very best ar-
ticle they can lay their hands on, whatever
may be the price.
On the mountains, towards the southern
boundaries of the kingdom of Tunis, in the
country of Gereed, which is often distin-
guished in the map by the name of Biledul-
gerid, but is distinguished at Tunis by the
name of Gereed, or the country of Dates,
they have sheep that grow wool equally as
fine as the Spanish, and not much longer
staple; we have seen several samples of
it, but could not procure any considerable
quantity it is very seldom sent to Tunis,
or any part of the coast. The Tunisians
are at a very great expense in purchasing
69
Spanish wool, which they manufacture into
the scarlet skull caps, and which they export
in immense quantities to the Levant.
?
It is almost incredible the quantity of
these caps that are made in Tunis; we have
seen a ship of two hundred tons burthen en-
tirely laden with them. The Tunisians are
obliged to carry the caps to the waters of
Luan, near forty miles distance; these wa-
ters were formerly conveyed to Carthage,
by an extensive aqueduct. They have a
peculiar quality in dying a most beautiful
scarlet. There is no doubt but that the Tuni-
sians might produce a sufficient quantity
of wool, of the same quality as the Spanish
in their own country; but such is the dis-
position of the inhabitants and the unsettled
state of the government, that the Bey is
obliged annually to send a large army to
collect his revenues in the distant parts of the
kingdom; every thing must be done by
force; and the tribes in the interior would
not pay any tribute whatever, unless they
were obliged to do it by a superior force; in
70
consequence very little. commercial inter-
course can be carried on from one province
to another.
IVORY AND GOLD DUST.
These are articles of export from Tunis,
yet they are not the produce of the country.
They are brought by the caravans from
Tombucto, a large city in the interior of
Africa: the articles brought by theṣe cara-
vans are chiefly slaves, ivory and gold dust.
They generally arrive at Tunis in the month
of June, and dispose of their merchandise:
and then make purchases of goods to take
back with them. The goods they take in
return consist chiefly in long ells, coarse
woollens, fire-arms, gunpowder, watches, and
hardware. The caravans again set out from
Tunis in October, for Tombucto and the
coast of Guinea.
OSTRICH FEATHERS
..
May be purchased in considerable quan-
tities; they are sold by weight, and divided
71
into classes, according to quality, such as
first, second, and third. In the first class,
to which the others bear but a very small
proportion, if particular care is not taken,
the Moors will tie a large quantity of twine
round them, to make them weigh the more,
HIDES AND WAX.
*
These are considerable articles of export
from the kingdom of Tunis; but the ex-
clusive privilege of shipping them belong to
the Journata Company, who pay a large sum
of money annually to the Bey for that in-
dulgence. It is not an unusual thing for
this Company to send a ship to Italy entirely
laden with wax. This company has all
the wax, and every bullock's hide that is
produced in the kingdom of Tunis, at a
stipulated price.
The Journata Company, in return, are
obliged to furnish the Bey with clothing for
his troops, and several other articles. This.
company will sell to any merchant a cargo
2 H
1
72
of wax or hides, who will pay them a rea-
sonable price.
IMPORTS.
The imports into the kingdom of Tunis
are at present very great, and form no very
inconsiderable part of the commerce of the
Mediterranean.
The Tunisians import from Syria
India muslins, by
the caravans, via
Bassora
Cottons
Carpetings
Silks, raw and manu
factured-
Opium
Copper
Tobacco.
FROM THE MOREA.
Dried fruits and figs, to make brandy.
FROM TRIPOLL
Madder-roots and senna.
73
Wine
Brandy
Wool
Glass ware, of vari. Iron
ous kinds
Wood, in beams and Woollens, chiefly
planks
low priced.
}
FROM TRIESTE.
Fine linens
FROM SPAIN.
Naval stores, of all.
kinds.
FROM FRANCE.
Hardwares of all sorts Woollen cloth of
Watches
all kinds
Trinkets
Fine linens
Sugars
Coffee.
74
脂
​FROM LEGHORN.
Swedish iron, narrow
and flat bars
Tin, in bars and
sheets
Lead, in pigs and shot
Quicksilver
Aquafortis
Spices of all sorts
Stick-lack, black and
red
Gum Benjamin
Allum
Copperas
Sugars of all sorts
Coffee
Cloth of various
kinds
Cochineal
Logwood
Nails
Ginger, white
and black
Fine linens
Sheet iron.
DEN
The Tunisians have
very
seldom any di-
rect trade with England; they receive most
of the British manufactures, &c. via Leg-
horn; and it will be very easily observed
that a great part of the imports into the
kingdom of Tunis is through the hands of
the merchants at Leghorn. It is usually the
case, when war or any other cause puts
a stop to the French trade, the Leghorn
merchants then enjoy a greater share of it,
75
and the Journata Company mostly ship för
Leghorn.
The Tunisians consume a considerable
quantity of English manufactures, particu-
larly coarse 'woollens; great quantities of
long ells made in the neighbourhood of
Exeter, are sent out to Leghorn, most of
which find their way to Tunis. The bales for
the Tunis market should be assorted as
under :-
LONG ELLS.
10 Pieces light blues
9 Pieces Turkey blues
9 Pieces mazareen blues
9 Pieces red
10 Pieces coffee
2 Pieces yellow
1 Piece green
50 Pieces in each bale.
}
76
ARCH IMPERIALS.
30 Pieces blue
15 Pieces red
5 Pieces sorted colours (no green)
50 Pieces in each bale.
Scarlet long ells should always be sent in
separate bales; two or three bales of scarlet
are sufficient at one time, and for the other
bales, assorted as we have stated. There is
always a demand at Tunis for any quantity;
two hundred bales, or even a whole ship's
cargo at a time, would not overstock the mar-
ket. The caravans take immense quanti-
ties into the interior of Africa. These goods.
will always bear a very handsome profit to
the merchant; they will always answer to fill
up a ship, when it happens that he cannot
conveniently get a full cargo; or, where the
ship takes a large proportion of lead or tin,
taking in a considerable number of these
bales, will always make the ship easier at
sea.
Į
by my
The cloth the Tunisians have chiefly made
use of for many years past, has been French
manufacture; they look more into the
colour than the quality of the cloth; the bales
should be assorted as under :-
1 Piece Scarlet
1 ditto crimson
1 ditto light wine
1 ditto deep wine
2 ditto Deroy
1 ditto purple
2 ditto mazareen blue
2 ditto light blue
1 ditto green
12 Pieces in each bale.
The pieces should be from 18 to 20 yards
each, 7-4 wide; the cloth should not be
shorn bare, but have a tolerable dress upon it.
The Moors always entertained a favoura-
ble opinion of English manufactures, and
the French to humour them, gave their
78
•
cloth the name of Londras, wishing to make
the Moors believe it was manufactured in
London.
The French merchants at Tunis were
formerly in the habit of selling their goods
very high, and giving long credit; but,
from the instability in the government, and
the natural disposition of the lower class of
Moors to cheat the Christians whenever in
their power, many respectable French mer-
chants have been ruined by it: giving cre-
dit should always be carefully avoided; the
Moors will never give any credit.
A few years ago the French gained most
by their exports to the kingdom of Tunis ;
the return cargoes for their ships being then
very trifling. Since Sidi Mustapha, late
prime minister of Tunis, encouraged the
planting of olives and the growth of corn, the
French have gained more by their imports.
The best season for a ship to go to Tu
nis with a cargo of merchandise, is in the
1
79
months of September and October, particu
larly for woollens; the weather then becomes
rather temperate, and the Moors never
think of purchasing an article for their own
wear till the moment it is wanted, though
they often pay double for it.
1
Spices of all sorts are always paid for in
ready cash lead, and all sorts of naval and
military stores, pay no duty whatever; all
other articles imported in British ships, are
by treaty to pay three per cent. ad valorem,
but the tarif does not amount to more than
two per cent.
The French pay the same tarif as the
English; most other nations pay 10 percent.
ad valorem, and the Jewish merchants, who
enjoy the whole of the trade between Tunis
and Leghorn, pay 10 per cent. tarif upon all
their imports.
The English have, therefore, a considera-
ble advantage, and are enabled to under-
I
80
擎
​sell most nations, particularly in goods direct
from England.
At Tunis there is always a demand for a
well assorted cargo of English goods, suffi-
cient to load a ship of 300 tons burthen;
and in some articles the market cannot be
easily overstocked, which will always allow
the ship a good freight, and a certain profit
to the merchant; these articles are chiefly
staples, such as iron, tin in sheets, plate iron,
lead, and alum, with all kinds of naval stores.
Provisions of all kinds are very cheap in
the kingdom of Tunis, particularly at a dis-
tance from the capital. Ships loading there
should lay in a considerable quantity for sea
stock.Merchant ship sare limited in the
quantity of provisions, but letters of marque
and men-of-war are allowed to take on board
as much as they please, and are entitled to
keep the hides of all the bullocks they kill
on board; but when a merchant ship kills a
bullock; the hide belongs to the Journata
Company.
81
Their biscuit and flour are very good, and
in proportion to the price of wheat, from 10
to 20 piasters per quintal.
Having, while at Tunis, to provide provi-
sion for several ships, we frequently bought
the wheat at market, and had it ground,
which is very convenient for shipping; the
bran and coarse flour is particularly service-
able for live stock, and we found it yield in
the following proportion.
Grinding and dressing 1001b. wheat at
Tunis.
Fine flour
Com. flour
3d quality
4th ditto
Bran
Loss
-
-1
Ibs.
45
22 1-2
- 11
- 7
- 10 1-2
4
A
100 lbs
82
CURRENT PRICE OF SUNDRY GOODS IN TUNIS, IN 1799.
Piasters.
Swedish iron, narrow flat bars
Tin in sheets
sheets.
Lead in pigs
Tin in bars
Quicksilver
Aquafortis, best quality
Pepper, black
Pimento
Cloves
Cinnamon
Stick-lack
#
Gum Benjamin, 1st quality
Ditto
2d
Ditto
3d
English alum in large lumps
Copperas
Loaf sugar
Fine clay sugar
A
Common sugar
Very ordinary ditto
Nutmegs
·
12
3 1-4 Aspers
16 Caroobs
4 1-2 Piasters
-
-
W
-
W
23 per quintal.
40 per box of 100
The money current in the kingdom of Tunis.
Burboes make 1 Asper.
1 Caroob.
20 per quintal.
200
275
40
250
100
800
400
250
600
400
250
40
10 per quintal.
200
151
120
90
30
1 Piaster.
1 Maboob or Sequin.
83
Accounts are kept in burboes, aspers and
piasters.
12 Burboes make 1 Asper
52 Aspers
1 Piaster.
In the exchange between England and
Tunis, the par is 15 piasters per pound
sterling.
The rate of exchange between England
and Tunis is in general regulated according
to the rate of exchange at Leghorn. Very
little is done at Tunis in bills of exchange,
except through the hands of the consuls,
who usually draw for their salaries, and
are often imposed upon by the Jews. It
will seldom answer the purpose of a mer-
chant to draw bills of exchange, to procure
a cargo of merchandise, while he has goods
on hand; it is the best way to barter; the
Moors are partial to that mode of doing
business, for they calculate that by this
method they make a double profit.
21
84
TUNIS WEIGHTS.
100lbs. Tunis make 112 English.
Corn of all kinds is measured in tumuloes.
MEASURE.
16 Tumuloes make 1 Caffees.
Each tumulo of good wheat should weigh
50lbs Tunis weight.
PROVISIONS.
At Tunis we had a great many ships to
victual, in the hottest season; we had not
only to provide for their daily expenditure,
but also to lay in a large sea stock, which
if not effectually cured in a very few hours,
the whole would be inevitably lost. We
killed upwards of forty bullocks in the
hottest season, and, by observing the fol-
Towing method, never spoiled one ounce of
meat.
85
The animal should be killed as quietly as
possible; the best method of killing a bul
lock, is by thrusting a sharp pointed knife
into the spinal marrow, behind the horns,
when the bullock will immediately fall, with-
out any struggle; then cut the arteries
about the heart. As soon as he is skinned
and quartered, begin to cut up in six pound
pieces, not larger, particularly the thick parts.
Take half a pound of black pepper, half a
pound of red pepper, and half a pound of
the best saltpetre, all beat or ground very
fine; mix these three well together, then
mix them with about three quarts of very
fine salt this mixture is sufficient for eight
hundred weight of beef. As the pieces are
brought from the person cutting up, first
sprinkle the pieces with the spice, and in-
troduce a little into all the thickest parts; if
it cannot be done otherwise, make a small
incision with a knife. The first salter, after
rubbing salt and spice well into the meat,
should take and mould the piece, the same
86
as washing a shirt upon a board; this may
be very easily done, and the meat being
lately killed, is soft and pliable; this mould-
ing opens the grain of the meat, which will
make it imbibe the spice and salt much
quicker than the common method of salting.
The first salter hands his piece over to the
second salter, who moulds and rubs the
salt well into the meat, and if he observes
occasion, introduces the spice; when the
second salter has finished his piece, he folds
it up as close as possible, and hands it to
the packer at the harness tubs, who must
be stationed near him: the packer must be
careful to pack his harness tubs as close as
possible..
All the work must be carried on in the
shade, but where there is a strong current
of air, the harness tubs in particular; this
being a very material point in curing the
meat in a hot climate. Meat may be cured
in this manner with the greatest safety, when
the thermometer in the shade is at 1100, the
extreme heat assisting the curing.
87
A good sized bullock of six or seven hun-
dred weight, may be killed and salted with
in the hour.
The person who attends with the spice
near the first salter has the greatest trust im-
posed upon him; besides the spice, he
should be well satisfied that the piece is suffi-
ciently salted, before he permits the first
salter to hand the piece over to the second
salter.
1
4
All the salt should be very fine, and the
packer, besides sprinkling the bottom of
his harness tubs, should be careful to put
plenty of salt between each tier of meat,
which is very soon turned into the finest
pickle. The pickle will nearly cover the
meat as fast as the packer can stow it away.
It is always a good sign that the meat is very
safe, when the packer begins to complain
that his hands are aching with cold..
It is better to kill the bullocks on board a
ship than on shore; in all hot climates there
is generally a land or sea breeze, the ship
i
1
88
will of course ride head to wind, and by
spreading an awning over the ship's deck,
there will be a thorough current of air,
which increases the evaporation, the cause
of the extreme cold.
By this method, there is no doubt but that
the meat is perfectly cured in three hours from
the time of killing the bullock: the saltpetre
in a very little time strikes through the
meat; however, it is always better to let it
lie in the harness tubs till the following mor-
ning, when it will have an exceeding plea-
sant smell on opening the harness tubs; then
take it out and pack it in tight barrels, with
its own pickle.
1
PRIME BEEF.
?
For cabin or particular private use, take
the thick flanks, briskets, and tops of the
ribs, and after curing them as we have de-
scribed, add a little clay sugar, with pimen-
to, which serves to give it a very rich flavour.
1
89
These parts should be packed in kegs,
about sixty pounds each, and when packed
to be preserved any considerable length of
time, should be in its own pickle, which is
much better than any made pickle.
Provisions cured in this manner will keep
during the longest voyages, are more whole-
some and more palatable than any other, and
a sure preventive against the scurvy, partly
owing to the spices that are made use of in
the curing; and also, that a careful cook
may always make good soup from this meat,
as the salt is very easily extracted; for the
same operation which served to impregnate
the meat with the salt, will also serve to ex-
tract it.
. SARDINIA
Is a very fertile island, and well situated
: for the commerce of the Mediterranean.
At a distance it appears to be very
mountainous, but, on a nearer inspection,
90
it will be found to contain a very large pro-
portion of fertile level country, and capable
of the highest cultivation. There are also
extensive lakes and marshes; it is even na-
vigable through the middle of the country
for small craft, from Ourestan, on the north-
west part of the island, to Calari, the capi-
tal, on the south-east; it has several good
roadsteds for shipping, where they may
take on board cargoes with safety at any
season of the year.
W
The inhabitants only cultivate grain and
vines in any considerable quantities. Their
wheat is of a superior quality, the finest in
the Mediterranean, but it will not keep good
so long as many other wheats: it should
never be kept above eighteen or twenty
months. Their barley is also very fine.
The Sardinian bread is much finer and
whiter than any other bread made in the
Mediterranean. No part of Europe has
finer bread. Were the inhabitants incli-
ned to make improvements, it might easily
91
be made one of the richest islands in the
world. It has a great many marshes, which
makes it rather unwholesome in some parts,
in the summer season; but all these might
be very easily drained, and made the most
fertile at a very little cost. To turn a
swampy marsh into fields of corn and vine-
yards, the contrast is very great: from be-
ing unwholesome, and even dangerous, it
might be made the most healthy and plea-
sant.
Situated as Sardinia is, near so many civi-
lized nations, it is almost incredible, and
no person without being an eye witness,
could believe that the inhabitants are in such
a degraded state.
In the country, the men dress themselves
in goat skins, with the hair outwards, one
skin before and another behind: no breeches,
shoes, or stockings; a woollen or skin cap
upon the head; they never shave their beard,
or comb their hair. The country women
dress in a gown which reaches down to the
K
92
A
ancles, made of scarlet long ells, English
manufacture; they have neither shoes nor
stockings: a small woollen cap and gown
are all the garments they wear. The coun-
try people always go armed, and are all
thieves and robbers; they will not hesi
tate a moment in taking away the life of a
defenceless stranger, where there is the
least prospect of gaining the most trifling
sum. No stranger whatever can travel in
the interior, without being well armed, and
accompanied with guides and guards of the
country. Though thieves and murderers
by profession, yet they are strongly attached
to their king and country.
We had an opportunity of being an eye
witness to some of their attempts at plunder
and massacre. About twenty miles south-
east from Calari we captured a Spanish pri-
vateer; the Spaniards, after they had struck
their colours, run their vessel on shore, and
part of the crew escaped; in consequence,
we were obliged to take several heavy articles
out of the privateer to get her afloat, and our
93
people rolled through the surf several casks
and pipes of wine on shore, till we got the
vessel afloat. Upwards of twenty, wild
Sards came down to the shore, some on foot,
others on horseback, all well armed in the
manner of the country; we observed several
more pouring down from the country; for
some time they remained quiet spectators,
observing our efforts to get the vessel afloat,
but when they thought our people so much
engaged as not to observe the motion of the
Sards, they began to roll the pipes of wine
up the country; we sent a boat's crew on
shore, all well armed, to recover the wine
and other property. The sailors, being
rather too impetuous at the idea of losing the
wine, and the Sards becoming very nume.
rous, we were obliged to cover our people
from the Spanish privateer; several shots
were fired at the boat's crew and we imme-
diately commenced a fire of musketry
from the privateer, when the Sards fled up
the country; we did not observe any Sards
fall, one horse was shot dead, but we believe
the rider escaped.
94
These wild Sards are a most wretched and
depraved people, and do not appear to have
the least honour or honesty about them.
It is even dangerous for any ship to wood
and water on the eastern coast of Sardinia,
without having the people well armed, other.
wise they run the greatest risk of being cut
off. Towards St. Peter's and St. Antioch
the natives are rather more civilized. There
is a striking contrast between the people
in the country, and the citizens in the capi-
tal; the latter may be considered as prison-
ers, scarce ever venturing to stir beyond
the city walls; yet no people observe more
pomp and outward show. Every one
above a mechanic must always appear with
a bag-wig, sword, and his chapeau under his
arm; and taylors and ba bers on a holiday
strut about with their bag-wigs and swords.
Learning is at a very low ebb, even amongst
the gentry.
Provisions of all kinds are very cheap;
a few reals will maintain a man for a consi-
95
derable time. There are at Calari frequent
instances of men, dressed in a style equal to
a nobleman, at the same time asking charity.
The clergy form a large proportion; in con-
sequence, their commerce is not so consi-
derable as might be expected from such an
extensive and fertile island: a numerous
clergy are at all times inimical to commerce.
Provisions of all kinds are cheaper in Sar-
dinia than any other part of the Mediterra-
nean, except Algiers. Their bread, beef,
and vegetables are of superior quality, and
in great abundance; though very little care
is taken in cultivating the soil, yet they pro-
duce a great deal more than is necessary for
their own consumption, and sometimes near
two hundred vessels of various descriptions
go from Minorca to Sardinia to load, in the
course of one year.
The tunny fishery, between St. Peter's,
and St. Antioch, is the most considerable of
any in the Mediterranean. They take suf-
ficient to load a great many ships in one
2 K
4
96
season: the fishermen place their nets zig-
zag ways, in from eight to eighteen fathom
water; at each angle they have several
chambers, and over every angle they have
moored, with two or three fishermen in it,
who are always watching the fish when they
enter the chambers, and, with a line, sup-
ported on the surface by a buoy, they draw.
a net across the chamber door. They do
not take up the net until they have caught
several fish, and then it sometimes requires
near one hundred men to haul up the net.
As soon as they take up the net they are
obliged immediately to cut up the fish and
salt them. The tunny fish are from one to
seven and eight hundred weight, and some-
times larger they are much fatter than sal-
; the belly part is most esteemed. They
are packed in kegs of about three quarters
of a hundred each. It requires a capital
of twenty thousand dollars to begin a tunny
fishery. They are all private property.
Don Gieusseppe De Ripallo, a Genoese no-
bleman, and Count Antonico Porcelli, a
Sardinian nobleman, have the largest fishe-
ries.
97
Besides the grain and other articles we
have already mentioned, the exports from
Sardinia, are,
Rabbit skins
Goat skins
Kid skins
Fox skins and
other wild beasts
Bullocks' hides
Calf skins
Salt provisions of
all kinds
Live hogs, cattle,
horses, &c.
Flour
Biscuit
Indian corn
Macaroons
Wine
Brandy
Barilla
Ditto of an ordina-
ry quality, called
Burdina
Starch
Capers
Cork
Cheese
Salt.
Their cheese is chiefly made in the neigh-
bourhood of Ourestan; it is of a very in-
ferior quality; the cheeses are made in the
manner of the Dutch. The first cost of the
cheese in the interior of the country is from
two pence to two pence halfpenny, sterling,
per pound. It is exported in large quanti-
98
ties to Naples and Genoa, where the mer-
chants make a great profit upon it.
The bay of Calari is one of the best places
in the Mediterranean to load salt either for
the Baltic or Newfoundland; and any num-
ber of shipping may be always sure of get-
ting cargoes it costs about six-pence the
English hundred weight, free on board.
Vessels of a moderate draft of water should
go into the basin to load their salt.
GOAT SKINS.
It requires a great deal of care to choose
a cargo of goat skins, and to prevent impo-
sition: they should be all large sized, and
not wormed; gray and light colours are the
best. If cut or torn, they are allowed for,
by taking two skins for one, three for one, or
three for two, according to the damage;
salted skins are not so good. They should be
well beat before they are shipped; they should
have the hair entire; and care should be
taken to have as few black skins as possible.
99
Goat skins may frequently be procured
at a place where there is no convenience to
pack them in casks or cases; they should
be tied up in bundles, as tight as possible,
and taken to the nearest port for repacking.
GOODS PROPER FOR THE SARDINIAN
MARKET.
These are chiefly British manufactures.
An assorted cargo for Calari should consist
of
10 tons
Copperas
Alum
1
50cwt.
Black pepper
Fine clay sugar
100
100
Martinico coffee
Red and scarlet long ells and arch
imperials, 150 bales or more
1 Bale superfine black cloth
1 Bale second ditto
1 Bale superfine blue cloth
1 Bale second ditto
1 Bale superfine fashionable mixed
cloth.
100
I
2 Bales coatings
10 Bales of black says or long ells
Soal leather
A small quantity of hardware
A few trunks of Pullicat handkerchiefs
Tin, in boxes
Lead, in pigs
5 to 10 puncheons of Jamaica rum
A few boxes of fine Irish linens
Cotton hosiery.
All sorts of bale goods should not be as-
sorted, but the whole of the bale be the
same quality and price.
In the assorted cargo we have only put
down the different articles in such small
quantities as would not overstock the mar-
ket; on the contrary, such a cargo as we have.
chosen, might be sold at Calari in a few
days; and there are some very respectable
merchants that may be depended upon, who
are people of large property, and are very
honourable in their dealings. The quantity
of bales of arch imperials and long ells can
101
scarce be too great; fifty bales, more or
less, would not very materially affect the
market.
CUSTOMS.
The duties or customs on imports at Ca-
lari are very great; strangers pay 18 per
cent. ad valorem, and the inhabitants 15 per
cent. but from the tarif it will seldom
amount to more than 10 or 12 per cent.
The difference in the duties being so much
in favour of the inhabitants, it is much bet-
ter to sell the cargo by samples on board the
ship, and leave it to the merchant to pass his
goods through the custom-house. It might
perhaps be difficult to get hard cash for so
valuable a cargo as we have mentioned;
when that is the case, the merchants of Ca-
lari draw upon Leghorn.
England, at this moment, sustains a very
considerable loss by not having a proper
accredited British consul in Sardinia; most
of the articles imported by the Sards are
✓
102
either British manufactures, or may be ea-
sily supplied from England: at present they
all pass through several hands before they
reach Sardinia this is undoubtedly owing
to our not having a proper consul in all that
extensive island; neither is there a male Bri-
tish subject in the whole island. Could the
English have a proper accredited British
consul, connected with a respectable mer-
cantile house, to reside at Calari, much
good business might be done, and a regular
direct trade opened between England and
Sardinia: both countries would be essential-
ly benefited by it, as well as every indivi-
dual concerned. There is also another very
strong reason why a consul should be es-
tablished in Sardinia, while the English hold
any possessions in the Mediterranean; they
might reasonably entertain a better hope of
receiving supplies of provision from thence,
and even for Gibraltar, particularly when it
is observed how very reasonable the price of
provisions are in Sardinia, as may be seen in
the annexed tables, which, for their accuracy,
may
be depended upon. Pork may be had
103
nearly in sufficient quantities to supply the
whole of the English navy; at the same time
it is the finest pork in Europe. The hogs
are almost wild, and are fattened upon ches-
nuts; we have no pork, either in England
or Ireland, equal to it either for taste or co-
lour. The best season for pork is in the
months of November, December, and Janu-
ary; in these months it is very fat. Both
beef and pork are very good, and, when
ready cured for shipping, will be found not
to cost more than three pence per pound.
Though salt provisions are so very reasona
ble, yet there is no doubt but that they might
be shipped much cheaper, had the English
a factory established either at Ourestan or
Calari.
MONEY CURRENT IN SARDINIA.
2 Denari
6 Calari
make 1 Calari
1 Soldi
30
1 Real
11 Reals 1 Soldi make 1 Spanish Silver Dollar
30 Reals
1 Scudi of Calari
7 1-2 Reals and 1 Calari 1 Scudi of Piedmont.
J
-
-
-
104
Accounts are kept in denari, soldi, and
livres.
1
Z
J
12 Denari make 1 Soldi
20 Soldi
1 Livre.
SARDINIAN LARGE WEIGHTS.
12 Ounces make 1 pound.
104 Pounds
1 Cantara.
128 Pounds Sard are equal to the English Cwt.
-
105
TABLE,
Showing the lowest, middling, and the highest
prices of sundry goods, the produce of Sar-
dinia in Sardinian money, viz. Livres,
Soldi and Denari,
Wheat per starello, about. 96lb.
Sard
Barley per starello
Beans
ditto
Peas
ditto
Tares
ditto
Flour, fine (called semola) per
cantara
Flour, common (called farina)
per cantara
Beef and pork, salted, per can-
tara
Lard
Cheese, 1st quality
Ditto 2d ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Brandy
Wine
-
Macaroons, 1st quality
2d quality
3d quality
4th quality
5th quality
6th quality
Vinegar
Wool
Goat skins
Rabbit skins
Fox skins
per cantara
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
per quartiere
ditto
per cantara
each
ditto
ditto
Lowest. Middling. Highest.
3 10 0 4
0
0
0 415 0
115 0
2
0
0
210 0
2
10
0.3 0 0
2. 0 0
5 0 0 6
310 0 4
5
0
7 10 0
5
5
0
5 0 0
6 13 4 8 6 8 10 0 0
5 0 0 6 5 0 7 10 0
12 10 0 13 15
15 0 0 20 0
15 0 0 17 10
12 10 0 15 0
20 0 0 22 10
015 0 0
0:5 0 0
020 0 0
0 8 0 0
025 0 0
11 13 4 13
8/15 0 Q
10 0 0
11
412 10 0
7 10 0
810 0 0
4
7 10 0
8 613 4
0115 0 0
0
0 12 0
6 0 6 0
015 0 0
4 0 1 6
2014
0 12 10 0 15 0
5 0 0
4 3 4
10 0 0
0 8 0
0 5 0
12 10 0
012
0 1 0
0 10 0
6
13
8 6
6 13
5 16
12 10
0 10
0 5
*
13 15
0 1
0 1
*C
t
T
106
TABLE,
Showing the duties to be paid to the king, upon
sundry articles, the produce of Sardinia,
when exported.
Cheese 1st quality
Ditto 24 ditto
per cantara
ditto
Wool in whole fleeces
ditto
Ditto loose called Mezza Lana ditto
Bullock's hides
Cow and calf skins
Horse bides, called Cordovanni
Sheep skins
Small bullock skins
Goat skins
Rabbit skins
Fox skins
Skins of Wild beasts
Old duty.
0 12
6
0 6
3
0
6
6
6
0
6
8
0 15
0 7
each 0 15
ditto
0
ditto
0
ditto
0
ditto
0
ditto
the two skins
0
each
0
ditto 0
7
1
0
3
0
0
© Ord
2260
additional
duty.
0 7 6
000
0 7 6
0 0 0
015 0
0 7 6
0
1 0
0 6
0 3 8
0 0 2
0 0 2
0 0 0
010
107
TABLE,
Showing the duties upon sundry goods on
exportation.
Wheat,
Barley,
Maize,
Pulse,
Common Flour,
Fine Flour,
Biscuit,
Macaroons,
Vinegar,
Brandy,
Starch,
Salt Provisions of all kinds,
Wine,
Wax and Tallow Candles,
Iron Ore,
Lead,
Lead Ore,
Barilla Fine,
Ditto Burdina,
Horses,
Mares,
per starello
ditto
ditto
ditto
Bullocks,
Calves,
Sheep,
Asses,
per cantara
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
per quartiere
ditto
per eantara
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
on each
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
21.
Additional
King's duty. king'sduty
1 1 4 0 38
0 16
4
0 14
8
0 14 8
10
0
3
6
6
6
6
0 2
1 11
2
2
0
1
1
2
0
12
0
12
0 6
0 12
0 12
4, 0
25 0
77 0
0 10
0 5
C
PR24RIT2
55 12
11
2 12
0 1
0 7
0 12
6
6
8
Q
2
0
Q
026
026
026
000
026
026
0 2 6
0
2 6
2
0.0
108
SICILY.
From the richness of the soil and its cen-
tral situation, no island whatever can be
better situated for commerce. The climate
is very good, and generally esteemed as
very healthy; and provided it were inhabit-
ed by an industrious people, there can be
no doubt but that it would soon become a
place of the greatest consequence.
In its present degraded state, occasioned"
by a weak government, it is one of the
poorest and most wretched places in Europe;
all nature's bounties seem to be thrown away
upon it. There is more wretchedness and
poverty in the two Sicilies, than all the rest
of Europe.
In the large cities it is not an uncommon
thing to see poor people die in the streets,
for want of bread: it may be truly said,
that in the midst of plenty, the poor are
starving.
109
The princes and nobility, who hold large
tracts of land, are generally in want of mo-
ney, and the peasantry under them the most
miserable wretches in the world. The no-
bility, instead of improving their estates,
are generally in arrears. Their time is wast-
ed in balls, masquerades, and such like
dissipation; and when they want to raise
money, will often dispose of the produce
of their estates a twelvemonth before it can
be delivered; in consequence, they must
submit to a certain loss of 30 or 40 per cent.
The merchants who are enabled to keep a
little cash in hand, have frequently very fa-
vourable opportunities of making advanta-
geous contracts; particularly in Palermo,
the capital, where the principal nobility
usually reside at the time of making the
contract, the merchant pays one-third part
in cash, and the remaining two-thirds on
the delivery of the goods.
F
110
BARILLA.
Contracts for barilla are usually made in
May, to be delivered in August; the price
is from 50 to 65 terri per cantar; if shipped
immediately after burning, it will gain in
weight from 5 to 8 per cent. The barilla is
divided into three classes, viz. Toka, Toka-
ta, and Pulvere. The first is the prime
part of the barilla, in very large pieces or
lumps, frequently weighing two or three
hundred weight each. The Toka from Si-
cily is mostly shipped in bulk, as mats in
Sicily are very expensive. The Tokata is
in small pieces, about the size of a man's
fist. There is very little difference in the
quality between the Toka and Tokata, only
the latter being small, is more liable to
waste. This is generally shipped in bulk, on
account of the great scarcity of packages,
particularly on the south coast, where the
ships usually load. The Pulvere is com-
posed of the smallest pieces of barilla and
dust; and the Sicilians sweep up every
thing near it that has the colour of barilla,
F
111
to mix with it; and if shipped without be-
ing put in casks or mats, it is almost sure
to be lost; the least damp in the ship soon
dissolves the nitrous particles, and it loses
its strength; it is then of very little use,
not even worth the heavy duty that is laid
upon it. Therefore, in making barilla con-
tracts, particular care should be taken to
have as little Tokata and Pulvere as possi-
ble. The Sicilians, in their contracts, usual-
ly divide the barilla into four parts, to de-
liver two-fourths in Toka, one-fourth in
Tokata, and one-fourth in Pulvere; and
provided they have a large quantity of small
barilla on hand, they will endeavour to
make their contract to be delivered in three
equal proportions; but this should be always
carefully avoided; it will never answer the
purpose of an English merchant; he had
much better pay a few terri per cantar more,
than have any proportion of the Pulvere.
The island of Lustica, ten leagues north
from Palermo, produces annually about
seven thousand cantar of good barilla;
having, in general, a very small proportion
-
112
of either Tokata or Pulvere amongst it.
A late contract for the produce of the whole
island was sixty-five terri per cantar, to be
delivered in Palermo.
The estimation of the barilla, made in the
different parts of Sicily, is as follows:
The first and most esteemed barilla is
made in the island of Lustica.
Then Catania
Then Marsila
Then Trapani
Then Locati
Then Locatelle
And Lastly, Terra Nova.
BRIMSTONE.
Contracts for brimstone are generally
made in the month of April, to be deliver-
ed in September following: the price is
usually from twelve to fifteen terri per cantar,
free on board, to be delivered on the coast..
The hiring of coasting vessels to bring
રૈ
113
round the ship's cargoes, is always a very
heavy charge in Sicily; and where the ma-
jor part of a ship's cargo can be loaded on
the coast, it is much better to send the ships
round, where it can be done with safety.
T
The brimstone most esteemed in the En-
glish market is loaded at Siciliana, Falconera,
Luarte and Palma; the last place has gene-
rally the preference; yet there is a great
deal of very ordinary brimstone sometimes
shipped from all those places; it is usually
cast into large cakes; they mostly look
well on the top of the cake; but particular
care should be taken to examine the bottom
of the cake, where there will be very often
found streaks of grayish sandy particles,
which settle towards the bottom of the cake,
when the brimstone is in a liquid state.
When these grayish streaks run large,
the cakes containing them should be thrown
aside and not permitted to pass through the
scale. It is always customary to purchase
the cargoes by sample. The confidential
1
114
agent on the part of the purchaser, who at-
tends the scale, should always have the ori-
ginal sample near him for his government.
Brimstone is usually shipped in large cakes,
and it would be always much better to keep
it in that state. On the southern coast of
Sicily, when the weather is favourable,
they will load the largest ship in a few days.
They carry it off to the ship in the country
boats, as fast as it can be passed through
the scale. The hurry and bustle is then
very great, particularly on board the ship.
They discharge the boat as fast as possible,
taking the brimstone upon deck. The
sailors then throw it down into the ship's
hold, where it is often broke into a great
many pieces; the Sicilians will also break a
great deal in loading their boats. This
mode of doing business is always attended
with great loss, both to the ship and mer-
chant; it may be easily avoided. The Si-
cilian workmen will always aks for a regala,
that is, a present for their exertion and at-
tention; and if it is mentioned to them at
the time they receive their regala, to break
115
as few cakes as possible, they will be very
attentive; and when the brimstone is upon
the ship's decks, it can be no very difficult
task to lower it down into the ship's hold by
a tackle, either in baskets or tubs. The
work may be done equally as fast. When
the brimstone is much broke, and a great
deal of dust, it falls down amongst the
dunnage: in some cargoes a great many
tons are thus wasted, not being worth the
duty charged upon it.
ON THE ECONOMY OF LOADING A SHIP
WITH HEAVY GOODS FOR A FOREIGN
VOYAGE.
In shipping brimstone, barilla, and all
other heavy cargoes, there is one very ma-
terial point which should be always care-
fully attended to; that is, the manner o
stowing the ship's cargo, which is some-
times shamefully neglected. The ship is
then very uneasy at sea, when the wear and
tear in the sails and in her standing and run-
{M
116
ning rigging, are almost incredible, and
very often endanger the ship and all her
crew. To avoid all these misfortunes and
expenses, it will be necessary to raise the
cargo with that sort of dunnage that will not
give way. It may be taken for a general
rule amongst all sorts of shipping, the high-
er the centre of gravity is raised, the ship
will be easier in all her motions at sea.
This great and general principle, in which
all shipping are very materially interested,
is not so universally understood nor prac-
tised as it ought to be. The most material
part will be to point out the most advanta-
geous method of stowing so large a propor-
tion of a ship's hold as may be necessary
for the dunnage of these heavy cargoes.
The present custom is to cut a large quan-
tity of brushwood and faggots, and spread
them in the ship's hold, which soon fills up
a large space: the brimstone is then laid upon
it, and as the weight increases, it is pressed
down the more, till it sinks lower than could
be at first imagined. When the cargo is
117
en board, it is too late to be altered, and
the ship will be very uneasy at sea and it
is not an uncommon thing for a ship to re-
turn into port to take out a great deal of her
cargo, before she can proceed upon her
voyage. There are many instances where
the ship's dunnage for a cargo of barilla or
brimstone has not been properly attended to,
that after loading upon the coast, the ship
has been so very burthensome to herself,
that they have even found the greatest diffi-
culty to get into port. By this sort of dun
nage the most experienced masters of ships
are often deceived; besides, by the ship's
returning into port to take out part of her
cargo, they lose a great deal of freight, and
are put to an immense expense, which
might all have been avoided, had the cargo
been properly stowed, and the ship might
have carried it with the greatest ease. In
Palermo, Messina, and all the principal
ports, there are generally plenty of good
oak pipe-staves to be purchased very rea-
sonably; they will always allow a handsome
freight to the ships, and are always in de-
118
1
mand in England: dunnage of this kind
cannot shrink much, and it will always
keep the ship's hold clean. By dunnaging
the ship with brushwood, the leaves soon
decay through the dampness of the ship,
and rot the ship's ceiling; and the small
particles of barilla or brimstone, falling
down amongst it, are generally lost; the
barilla is lost inevitably.
Should there be any want of oak staves,
which is not very probable, there is always
plenty of wood, which at first costs but
very little, and is of some use in this coun-
try. Cork-wood is always in great abun-
dance, and would be very useful amongst
our turners and blockmakers.
In shipping cargoes of brimstone, barilla
and other articles upon the coast, there
should always be a person on the part of the
ship to attend the scales, &c. who is well
acquainted with the language, which, if
properly attended to, including loss and
waste, the ship will deliver in England--
One ton for every 13 Sicilian cantar.
1
119
The exports from Sicily, exclusive of
the articles already mentioned, are
Silk
Wine
Raisins
Figs
Currants
Sweet almonds
Bitter almonds
Small nuts
Brandy
Tarter
Shumac
Liquorice pasté
Linseed
Linseed oil
Olive oil
Locusts
Rags
Goat and kid skins
Rabbit skins
Rabbit wool
Anchovies
Essence of bergamot Tunny fish
Wheat
Marble
Pistacheos
Lemons
Oranges
Lemon juice
Essence of lemon
Barley
Beans
Kidney-beans
Calavances
Argols, &c. &c.
Salt
Soap
Manna
Cantharides.
2 M
120
Imports into Sicily.
Baccaleo
Tanned calf skins
Tanned bullocks' Tin in sheets and
hides
Bar iron
Plate iron
Lead in pigs and Hardware
sheets
Pepper
Pimento
bars
Pilchards
Manchester goods
Earthenware
Copper
Coffee
Cocoa
Pitch and tar
Silk and cotton hose
Rum
Alum
Spices of all sorts
Sugars of all sorts
Indigo
Cochineal
Herrings
Dye woods of all Copperas
sorts
Irish linens.
The imports into the island of Sicily are
very considerable; they have very few
manufactories of their own, and they must,
in consequence, import very largely, par-
ticularly wearing apparel, and the consump-
tion of some articles is very great; there is
121
*
2
?
one very great advantage to the merchant,
he is sure to get return cargoes for any
number of shipping, and he may frequent-
ly barter his goods for his ship's return car-
goes, to advantage.
THE CUSTOM-HOUSE.
All merchandise of every denomination
are indiscriminately landed at the custom-
house, where there are proper warehouses
to receive them; and they may remain
there one whole year without paying any
duty. Should the proprietor find it his in-
terest to change the market within the year,
he is at liberty to do it, and is only liable
to pay a small passive duty; but, upon the
expiration of the year, one-third of the
tarif must be paid, and at the end of two
years, two-thirds, and when the merchan-
dise has remained in the custom-house
three whole years, the whole of the tarif
must be paid.
122
MONEY OF SICILY.
20 Grains make 1 Terri
12 Terri
1 Scudi.
30 Terri
1 Ounce.
Accounts are kept in ounces, terris, and
grains; the hard Spanish dollar is current
for 12 terri 12 grs.
ALMONDS
Are gathered in the months of July and
August, and they begin to ship them in
October. They have both sweet and bit-
ter almonds; the price of the sweet is ge-
nerally from six to seven ounces per cantar
free on board; the bitter almonds are about
ten per cent. less price. The best are
gathered at Avela, the next in quality at
Fusarahaco, Aragoni and Girgenti.
123
MANNA
Is gathered and shipped in the months of
August and September. The best in quali-
ty, as well in flakes as sorts, is that of
Gerachi. The produce of Capaci is very
good, particularly in flakes. Manna, the
growth of Gerachi, is usually sold by the
pound; and manna, the growth of Capaci,
is always sold by the rotolo. A few cases
of manna that is first gathered will always
sell for a good price in Leghorn.
LINSEED OIL.
Great quantities of linseed oil are made
in Sicily. That made at Pattineo, Fusia,
and Cephaleo, are all remarkably fine oils,
of a beautiful straw colour. Those linseed
oils that are made in the neighbourhood of
Melazzo, are in much greater abundance,
but of very inferior quality; great quanti-
ties are frequently shipped for Marseilles,
for the soap manufactories.
124
BRIED FIGS.
Figs grow in great abundance all over
Italy; the best dried figs are to be had in the
neighbourhood of Messina and Calabria:
they are gathered and dried in the month of
August, and are usually shipped either in
barrels or baskets.
The price is generally from 45 to 60 terri
per cantar, free on board.
SMALL NUTS
Are gathered in August and September;
the best are the growth of Stravagunta,
Franca Vella, and Castigliani; they are sold
by the salm of sixteen tumuloes.
The price is generally from 90 to 100
terri per salm.
LEMONS AND ORANGES.
These grow in great abundance in every
part; they gather and ship them in the
125
months of November, December and
January, for Triest, Hambro', and the
Baltic; they are generally packed in chests,
containing four hundred and eight lemons
and oranges.
The shippers will guaranty
them to keep good and sound for six months.
Each lemon or orange is separately rolled
in paper; the usual price, free on board,
including chest and all expenses, is from
.12 to 15 terri per chest. Messina and Pa-
lermo are the best ports to ship lemons and
oranges from.
LIQUORICE PASTE.
This is made in many parts of Sicily;
the best is made in Calabria, but shipped
at Messina; it is usually made in the
months of April and May, and shipped at
all seasons; it is always packed in chests;
the smallest, hardest, and most brittle
rolls are the best; the price is from eight
to ten ounces per cantar, free on board, in-
cluding chests and all expenses.
126
SHUMAC
Is gathered in the months of July and
August; the best quality of Shumac is the
growth of Castelamare, which is usually
shipped off at Palermo, which is the best
port to load a cargo at. It is sold by the
salm of 280 rotolo, three bags to each salm;
the usual price is from three to three and a
half ounces per salm, including bags and
all expenses; each bag should weigh
162lbs. net, English weight.
It is customary for ships, which load
brimstone upon the coast, to return to Pa-
lermo to fill up with bags of shumac.
ence.
Shumac is frequently shipped from Cala-
bria, and several ports in Spain; but the
shumac of Sicily, and particularly that of
Castelamare, has always had the prefer-
-
127
CANTHARIDES.
These insects are collected in the months
of April and May, and are usually shipped
off in boxes. The whole produce of the
island of Sicily is disposed of in one con-
tract. The price has lately fluctuated very
much, from 50 to 80 ounces per cantar.
The major part of the cantharides are sent
into the Baltic.
SMALL DRIED ORANGES.
These are gathered in the months of July
and August; they are packed and shipped
off in casks; the price is from 70 to 80 terri
per cantar, free on board, including casks
and all expenses.
+
ESSENCE OF LEMON AND BERGAMOT.
These essences are made in the months
of November, December and January, at
the time of shipping oranges and lemons ;
N
128
*
when a lemon has received any injury, and
not fit to be shipped, it is made into essence
and lemon juice. These essences are always
put into copper vessels, well secured at top,
generally soldered: the price is from seven
Messina is the best
to ten terri per pound.
port to ship them at.
ANCHOVIES
Are caught in the months of June, July
and August, principally in the bay of Pa-
lermo, Termini, and the other bays in that
neighbourhood. They are generally pack-
ed in barrels, with the top head loose, near
a cantar in each barrel: they are shipped in
large quantities to Leghorn, where they are
mixed and packed in small kegs, with the
Gorgona anchovies. They are also shipped
in great quantities to the coast of Spain.
We cannot conceive why the Gorgona an-
chovy should always have the preference:
it must depend upon the manner of curing
them. The Sicily anchovies are certainly
the finer fish to eat when fresh. The price
129
is usually from three to four ounces per
cantar, free on board, including casks and
all expenses. Great care should be taken to
have them always covered with pickle.
CORAL.
$
The coral fishery is carried on with great
success on the western coast of Sicily and
the islands near it. The value of it is not
easily determined, entirely depending upon
the quality and size; some of it is worth
more than ten guineas an ounce, and others
not ten pence per pound. The greatest
part is taken to Leghorn, and from thence
all over Europe.
AMBER.
This is found in considerable quantities
on the southern and eastern coasts of Si-
cily the largest and the best is found near
Catania: it is generally carried to Messina
and Palermo, where it is manufactured into
beads, &c. The price depends entirely
130
upon the quality. One necklace of amber
is often worth twenty guineas; at the same
time another necklace is not worth so many
pence.
There is no part of the world where am-
ber is found in such large quantities as the
coasts of Sicily; it finds its way to every
market in Europe, Africa, and the East-
Indies. Large quantities of amber are
carried from Liverpool to the coast of Gui-
nea.
t
GOAT AND OTHER SKINS.
Great quantities of goat, kid and lamb
skins are exported to England and Germa-
ny. The rabbit skins are usually sent to
Lyons, for the hat manufactory. The
price is about ten per cent. dearer than the
Sardinian skins; it requires great care to
pack them for a long voyage; whether they
are packed in cases or casks, the seams
should be well payed with pitch, which
will prevent the air from entering, and also
US
131
keep in the smell of any strong perfume,
which is usually put amongst them to pre-
vent the worm.
LINEN RAGS.
It is almost incredible the immense quan-
tity of linen rags that is annually shipped
from Messina and Palermo. The greatest
part is sent to Genoa and Leghorn, and part
to England. The price is from 35 to 40
terri per cantar.
SOAP.
The white soap made near Palermo, on
the road to Monte Real, is of a remarkable
good quality; it is made into cakes, and
usually shipped in chests. The price, in-
cluding chests, and all expenses free on
board, is 150 terri per cantar, or 17 grains
per English pound.
2 N
132
Mottled soap made at Melasso, near Mes-
sina, in imitation of Leghorn soap, made
on purpose for the American market, is to
be had in any quantity by entering into a
contract, and giving sufficient time to make
it. This soap is always put into boxes con-
taining 28 pounds net English weight; it is
taken by American ships chiefly to the
southern states, and from thence is sent by
the Americans over all the West-India
islands.
This article alone is one of the most pro-
fitable branches of the American Mediterra-
nean trade. They sell it in the West-In-
dies for more than three times the first cost,
and it is always in demand. The price at
Melazzo, to be delivered either at Paler-
mo or Messina, including boxes, and all
charges free on board, is from six to six
and a half ounces per cantar; on making
the contract it will be advisable to get a box
for a sample.
133
GRAIN.
The richest, and sometimes the most
abundant product of Sicily is grain in gene-
ral, all of which are usually excellent in
their kind, and particularly wheat, the
growth of Termini, Girgenti, and Lacer-
ta. Barley, beans, Indian corn, French
beans, lentils, wild peas, lupins, &c. &c.
are usually shipped off near the places of
their growth, when the ports are open for
the exportation of grain. The price is al-
ways according to the abundance of the
The wheat and barley are gene-
crops.
rally sent to Genoa and Leghorn; and
some cargoes are sent to Lisbon. Beans,
peas, and most kinds of pulse, are ship-
ped off for Minorca, Majorca, and the
coast of Spain, and sometimes a few car-
goes of wheat.
WINE.
This is a most comprehensive article in
the island of Sicily, and is almost beyond
184
4.
calculation, every mountain and every val
ley throughout the island producing wines
of a different quality and flavour; it will
therefore be impossible to enumerate one-
fiftieth part of the different wines that are
made in Sicily.
The red wine made at the Faro of Mes-
sina is the most agreeable to an English-
man's taste, in preference to all the other
red wines; it is a full-bodied, strong,
rough wine; when new, it is rather sweet,
but that goes off by keeping; it will bear
the sea much better than any other red
wine in the island. The red wine of
Melazzo is in much greater abundance
than that of Faro; the quality very inferior.
There are annually more cargoes of red
wine shipped from Melazzo, than any other
port in the island. The Syracuse and
Mount Etna white wines are very rich,
but not fit to be drank, except in very
small quantities. The Muscatel, the white
and red Lipari, and Malvazia, are all rich.
wines ; one small glass is sufficient at a
time.
135
MARSALA WINE.
This is what is usually called a dry moun-
tain wine, and more suitable to an English-
man's taste than any other wine made in the
Mediterranean; and it is daily rising into
repute, and there is little doubt but that it
will be equally esteemed with the Madeira
wine, to which it has a very similar flavour :
and when the Marsala has attained the age
of six or seven years, it cannot be distin-
guished from the best old Madeira wine.
This wine is the growth of the moun-
tains on the western part of Sicily, behind
Marsala and the neighbourhood of Tra-
pani.
A
Messrs. John and William Woodhouse,
the manufacturers of the Marsala wine,
have erected an extensive factory, about a
mile distance from the city of Marsala.
This factory is very large, and frequently
contains three thousand pipes of wine, be-
sides room for staves, various utensils, and
136
about twenty coopers, employed in making
the casks within the factory: besides the
dwelling-houses, there is a distillery, for-
ges, &c.
The Marsala wine has often been found
of great service to the sick on board the
British fleet in the Mediterranean;
the
fleet having frequently taken five hundred
pipes.
>
The greatest mart for this wine at pre-
sent, is to the southern states of North
America; several ships' cargoes are sent
annually. A great deal of it is drank in
America, but the major part is again ship-
ped off and carried by the Americans to the
West-Indies, where it is sold for Madeira;
and after two voyages at sea it is not readily
distinguished from real Madeira; it has
also the same properties; the hotter the
climate the better it is for the wine: time
always improves it, and it may be kept in
any climate for many years, without the
least risk of spoiling.
137
CONTRACTS.
All purchases and shipments from the
island of Sicily are usually done by contract,
where it must be always understood to be
free on board; that is, the duties and every
expense attending the shipping and packa-
ges to be paid for by the seller. The na-
tives of Sicily have a peculiar privilege in
preference to aliens, both in imports and
exports: aliens pay about five per cent.
more than a native. Major part of the pro-
duce of Sicily pays a duty on exportation;
therefore all entries inwards and outwards
at the custom-house should be made in the
name of a native.
138
MESSINA.
This is the best port in Sicily for an as-
sorted cargo of merchandise; besides a
large proportion of the various produce of
Sicily, there is generally a great variety of
goods, the produce of the Morea and the
Levant.
The Greeks who are subjects of the
Grand Signior, are not permitted to trade
further west than Tunis, Malta, and Mes-
sina. There is at present a treaty between
the Grand Signior and the Dey of Algiers,
that whenever the Algerine cruisers capture
any ships belonging to the Greeks, subjects
of the Grand Signior to the westward of
the above-mentioned ports, they are deem-
ed good prizes, and the crews sent into
slavery.
The Greeks bring to Messina, currants,
cotton, carpets, silks, drugs, figs, rosin,
timber, gums, and a great variety of other
139
merchandise, the produce of the Morea and
the Levant.
Messina is by far the best port in Sicily
for trade; its situation is superior to any
other port in the Mediterranean for general
trade; it has also very good accommodation
for shipping; the only fault it has, is having
too much water; there is from 20 to 25
fathom all over the harbour. Every master
of a ship should be careful how he moors.
his ship, particularly in the winter he
should have two good anchors out in the
stream, and two good strong hawsers made
fast to moorings on shore; we have known
instances of ships being nearly lost here, on
account of their being carelessly moored;
there are frequently very strong gusts of
wind from the hills behind the city, which
are sometimes so violent as to cause the
ships to break their moorings on shore, and if
they are not well moored in the stream, the
ship may be lost before there is time to get
another anchor and cable ready.
"
140
ť
i
NAPLES.
The most considerable article for expor-
tation of the produce of the kingdom of
Naples, is that of oil, generally known by
the name of Galipoli oil; this is the pro-
duce of the provinces of Puglia and ´Cala-
bria Ultra; the oils of Puglia are the best,
and are always preferred by the woollen
manufacturers. They are bought by the
salm, containing 10 stara of 32 pignatelli.
The salm is equal to five and a half barrels
of 85lb. Leghorn weight and measure; and
five and a half salm make the ton of oil.
A gallon of this oil weighs seven pounds
and a half, equal to 15cwt. 3qrs. 6lb. per
ton, of 236 gallons.
There are two methods of procuring car-
goes of Galipoli oil, the one is by entering
into contract for the oils only; this usually
obliges the purchaser to make good his pay-
ment for the oil, in about a week after the
agreement is signed; the sellers, in return,
141
are obliged to deliver the oil into the cis-
terns, and the purchaser pays all charges of
duties, casks, porterage, and every other
expense to put it into the ship; these
charges generally amount to seven or eight
ducats per salm, according to the value, the
duties being paid in proportion to the cur-
rent price of the oil.
&
When the contract is made free on board,
the first cost of the oil, and every other
charge attending the shipping, is to be paid
by the seller, except iron hoops, a small
present to the cooper attending, commission
and brokerage; by this method, the pur-
chaser pays down half at the time of signing
the contract, one-fourth the week following,
and the remaining one-fourth on the receipt
of the bills of lading.
t
$
·
•
A merchant may sometimes find it more
convenient to purchase his own cargoes
of oil, at Galipoli, and superintend the
shipping, &c. particularly a merchant who
142
understands the language and their mat-
ner of doing business; in that case, sup-
pose
One salm of oil first cost is
The duty of Baronia that he must
pay will be
WOOL.
1
Duc. Grs.
13 50
1
- 6 55
20
5
Puglia wool is much esteemed for its uni-
form quality, by the manufacturers of
woollen cloth, both in France and Germany,
who give orders, annually, for more wool
than Puglia produces: and for the following
season they endeavour to make their con-
tracts in March and April, and the sheep
shearing commences in May. The con-
tracts are usually made to deliver the quanti-
ty contracted for, in the following assort-
ments : one half Lucoli wool, or first
quality, which is worth from one and a half
♣
143
to two carlini per rulbo, more than the se-
cond or celano wool, of which they put in
one-third to the assortment, and this is usual-
ly reckoned to be worth from one to one
and a half carlini per rulbo, more than the
third quality, of which they put in one-
sixth to complete the assortment.
SILK.
The silks that are produced in the king-
dom of Naples are always in great demand
from France and Spain; those of Reggio
and Sambattelli for England.
The pro-
duce of these provinces and Terra de La-
vona, are known by those names.
200
02
19
The whole of the silks are always bought
for ready money. Most merchants pre-
fer purchasing the raw silks, and reduce
them in frames, by the workmen in Naples,
who will finish them very well, and are
usually paid from four to four and a half
carlini per pound, according to the fineness
and quality.
144
ARGOLS.
A
There are large quantities of both white
and red argols produced in the kingdom of
Naples; they are generally bought for rea-
dy money, one half of each colour assort-
ed; they are usually shipped in hogsheads,
and the price according to quality, from five
to seven ducats per cantar, including casks,
free on board. There are also great quanti-
ties of argols shipped from Messina, Me-
lazzo, and Palermo.
STAVES.
1-0
•
Oak and chesnut staves, for pipes and
hogsheads, are provided in great quantities,
in the kingdom of Naples; they are usual-
ly bought by the caratte, consisting of
staves for 100 casks, with heading and
hoops assorted. The hoops are shipped at
Castellamar, about 16 miles from Naples,
and the oak staves are loaded at Naples.
The price, in general, is according to the
demand, about 270 ducats per caratte of
Wax
145
100 pipe staves, and 150 ducats per hun-
dred hogshead staves, all oak, with head-
ing and hoops complete.
They are usually contracted for, free on
board, with all charges, which includes
every expense, except a fee to a cooper
who superintends the quality and assort-
ment.
WINES.
There are a great variety of wines pro-
duced in the kingdom of Naples; those
of the growth of Pozzoli are shipped in
the greatest quantities: they are bought
by the carre of two large casks, contain-
ing 12.barrels of eleven gallons each.
The price entirely depends on the abun-
dance of the vintage; on an average, may
be reckoned from 45 to 55 ducats per carre
of 24 barrels, equal to 264 gallons; to the
first cost may be added from seven to eight
per cent. for charges, besides the value of
the casks. There are a great variety of
146
other wines; to enumerate the whole is im-
possible, each hill or valley producing a dif-
ferent flavoured wine, none of which are fit
for the English market.
Besides the various articles, the produce
of the kingdom of Naples, herein enume-
rated, there are also a great many others not
particularly specified as the produce of this
kingdom, but have been mentioned in the
commerce of Sicily. There is but very
little difference between the imports and ex-
ports of Naples and Sicily, and not much
difference in their manner of doing business.
The importation of salt fish into the king-
dom of Naples is very considerable, al-
most beyond calculation, and the Neapoli-
tans are not so very particular, as to the
quality, as they are at Leghorn, and several
other ports in Italy.
147
WEIGHTS, MEASURES, &c.
OF THE
KINGDOMS OF NAPLES AND SICILY.
MONEY.
The money of Sicily has the same value
with that of Naples, but under different de-
nominations; the ounce of Sicily is 30 tari,
equal to 30 carlini of 3 ducats of Naples.
The tari of Sicily is 20 grains, equal to
the Naples carlini, of 10 grains; the scudi
of Sicily, of 12 tari, is equal to the scudi
of Naples, of 12 carlini.
WEIGHTS.
The Sicilian cantar of 100 rotolo, is equal
to 178lbs. English weight; each rotolo
weighs 30 ounces, or 2 1-2lbs. the Sicilian
cantar is about 10 per cent. less than the
cantar of Naples.
148
The Naples cantar, of 100 rotolo, each
rotolo 33 1-3 ounce is equal to 196lbs. En-
glish weight. The cantar contains about
280lbs. of 12 ounces, the small weight of
Naples; and the English hundred weight of
112lbs. is 57 1-3 rotolo, or 160 4-5lbs. the
Naples small weight.
MEASURES.
The carre of wine, Naples measure,
makes 2 butts of 12 barrels each; 1 butt is
about half a ton English.
1
1
5 1-6 Tumuloes of wheat is equal to the English
quarter.
Carre of wheat is 36 tumuloes.
Canne is 8 palms, equal to 2 1-3 yards En-
glish.
The measures of Sicily are nearly the same as
those of Naples.
149
MONEY OF NAPLES.
1 Ducat is 5 terri
1 Terri - 2 carlini and 20 grains
1 Carlini 10 grains.
1 Grain - 12 cavaletti.
1 Publici 1 grain 6 cavaletti.
1 Scudi 12 carlini.
GOD
·
-
Pieces of 10 carini.
Dicto
Ditto
Ditto
5 carlini, or half ducat.
2, 3, and 4 carlini.
4, 12, 13, 24, 26 grains.
The Tornese of 6 cavaletti.
9 cavaletti.
Piece of
Ditto of
5 tornese or 2 1-3 grains,
Accounts are kept in ducats and grains.
100 Grains make 1 ducat.
150
NAPLES GIVES UNCERTAIN
50 Grains more or less
84 Grains
114 Ducats
42 Grains
23 Grains
120 Ducats
116 Ducats
120 Ducats
59 Grains
99 Ducats
1 Ducat, Regnio
1 ditto ditto
1 ditto ditto
EXCHANGES.
TO RECEIVE CERTAIN
1 Florin, Banco Amsterdam
1 Dollar old Plata, Cadiz, or Madrid
100 ditto of eight reals. Leghorn
1 Marc, Banco Hamburg
1 Livre Tournois, Paris, Lyons, and Marseilles
100 Scudi, of 12 terri, Messina and Palermo
100 Ducats, Banco in Venice
100 Scudi, of 10 guilios in Rome
1 Florin, current in Vienna
100 Ducats in reals, Bari and Lucca
more or less.
ÚSANCE.
2 months date.
3 months date.
20 days date.
75 days date.
60 days date.
22 days sight.
15 days after accept.
22 days sight.
50 days date.
15 days sight.
108 Sols, Genoa,
44 Pence, London,
650 Rees, Lisbon,
The Exchange between Sicily and England is usually from 41 to 52 terri per pound sterling-
151
PRO FORMA
INVOICE FROM NAPLES TO ENGLAND.
Invoices of sundry articles contracted for
at Naples, and sold by the weights of Sici-
ly, of which 1 cantar is 100 rotolo or 250lbs.
equal to 178 English: the cantar of Sicily
being ten per cent. less than that of Naples.
This has been the usual mode of doing bu-
siness, on account of the great number of
shipping unloading at Naples, which is
always to the prejudice of the English mer-
chant.
20 Half boxes of Gerachi manna, in ≥
sorts, weighing 5100lbs. 23 grs.
Shipping charges
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per cent.
1
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
P
Duc. Grs.
1173 0
150 0
1323 O
33 0
Duc. 1356 - 0
1751. 3 0
152
20 Half boxes of Capaci manna,
in flakes, weighing net 3340
rotolo, at 56 grains per rotolo
Sundry shipping charges
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
12 Casks of linseed oil, containing
43 cantars, at 15 duc. per cantar
Sundry shipping charges
}
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
}
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
Duc. Grs.
Duc. 2081 16
1870 40
-
160 0
50 76
2681. 16
Duc. Grs.
645 0
30 0
675 0
16 77
Duc. 691 77
G.S
891. 7 0
153
1350 Cantars of Lipari currants, at
8 duc. per cantar
Sundry shipping charges
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
te
}
"
Duc. Grs.
10800 0
100 Barrels of Lipari raisins, weighing
87 cantars, at 6 duc. 5 grs. per
cantar
Sundry shipping charges
1610 0
Duc. 12720 25
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
12410 O
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat 16437. 0 7 1-2
310 25
1
Duc. Grs.
565 50
70 0
1
635 50
15 88
Duc. 651 38
847. 28
T
!
.154
衡
​N. B. Currants and raisins, the produce of Lipari,
are usually put on board a ship at Messina, being
generally carried there in their own coasting vessels.
The casks are always included in the weight of the
currants and raisins, and paid for after the same rate,
the same as is usually done in the Morea with the
currants; in consequence, the coopers make the
casks, particularly for currants, of very heavy wood,
the casks generally weighing more than double the
weight that is necessary, though it requires consi-
derable strength, to bear the pressure of packing,
and the weight of the currants.
J
200 Sacks of small nuts, containing 1002
salms, at 11 duc. 75 grs. per salm
Sundry shipping charges
Brokerage and commission
#
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
Duc Grs
1175 0
150 0
1325 O
33 0
Duc. 1358 0
1751. 8 2
155
262 Bags of Alcamo shumac, 87 1-2
salms at 12 duc. per salm
Sundry shipping charges
:}
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
10:
?
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
Duc. Grs.
1048 0
3000 Salms of Trapani salt, at 1 duc.
50 grs. per salmı
}
Sundry shipping charges
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
P 2
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
130 0
1178 ◊
Duc. 1207 45
29 45
1557. 19-2
Duc. Grs.
4500 0
120 O
4620 อ
115 50
Duc. 4735 50
6117. 3.4
150
400 Chests of sweet oranges, containing
each 408, at 1 duc. 60 grs. per chest
Sundry shipping charges
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
100
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
Duc. Grs.
604 0
FR
M
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
590 Chests of lemons, containing each
408, at 1 duc. 70 grs. per chest
Sundry shipping charges
}
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
100 0
740 O
Duc. 759 25
19 25
Duc. Grs.
981. 1 4
1003 0
147 O
1150 0
28 75
Duc. 1178 75
1527. 5 1
157
500 Barrels of Sicily anchovies, weigh-
ing 400 cantars, at 16 duc. per cantar
Sundry shipping charges
1
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
20
Duc. Grs.
6400 0
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
130 O
6530 0
163 O
Duc. 6693 0
864/. 10
The casks containing the anchovies are always in-
cluded in the weight of the fish, and paid for the
same as the fish.
4.
N. B. The above, as well as all the foregoing pro
forma invoices, are supposed to be contracted for at
Naples, with the merchants there, and the ships
usually proceed to some of the principal ports in Si-
cily, to take on board their cargoes; the merchandise.
will, in consequence, cost a little more than when it
is contracted for with the merchants in Sicily; this
is for want of a more general correspondence in Si-
cily. There are only two ports in the whole island
where any British merchants reside.
158
PRO FORMA
INVOICES OF SUNDRY ARTICLES,
Which are always sold and shipped by the weights
of Naples. 1 Cantar is 100 rotolo, or 250lbs. (small
weight) equal to 196lbs. English weight.
500 Cantars Belvidere or Calabria rai-
sins, at 7 duc. 5 grs. per cantar
Sundry shipping charges.
}
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
Duc. Grs.
3750 0
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
350 0
4100
102 50
Duc. 4202 50
542/. 16 5
Į
159
100 Cantars cream of tartar, at 10
}
duc. per cantar
Sundry shipping charges
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
Exchange at 21d. sterling per ducat
-300 Salms of Calabria oil, free on
board, at 31 duc. per salm
!}
Sundry small charges
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent**
}
Duc. Grs.
1000 0
Duc. 1055 70
30 0
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat.
1030 O
25 70
136/. 7 4
Duc. Grs.
9300 0
12 0
9312 O
232 80
Duc. 9544 80
1232/. 17 4
160
100 Casks of oil-proof brandy at 1302
duc. per cask, free on board
Brokerage and commission
30}
!
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
Duc. Grs.
13000 O
Duc. 13325 O
325 O
100 Casks of Hollands proof brandy, 2
at 120 duc. per cask, free on board
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
}}}
cent.
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
17214. 2 11
N. B. 12 Barrels, of 60 caratt to the barrel,
make one cask of brandy, equal to 147 gallons En-
glish, or 12 1-2 gallons to the barrel.
Duc. Grs.
12000 0
300 0
Duc. 12300 0
15887. 15 0
}
161
15 Boxes of white soap, weighing 20
cantar, at 21 duc. per cantar
}
Sundry shipping charges
Brokerage and commission, 2 1-2 per
cent.
Exchange at 31d. sterling per ducat
заменить автомат
M
LIB
m
Duc Grs
3
420-0
10 O
430 O
10 75
Duc. 40 75
ANT
PHILADA
567. 18 7
162
THE MOREA.
That part of the produce of the Morea
properly adapted for the English market, is
very considerable, both in bulk and value:
on this account the commerce of the Morea
will be always a very desirable object. The
merchants may procure cargoes for their
ships, according to their circumstances,
and almost at all seasons, which will be
found a great accommodation to the ship-
owner. In all parts of the Morea provisions
are plentiful and cheap, and money of more
value there than in any other part of the
Mediterranean; in consequence there is no
good market for any considerable quantity
of British goods. Lead and tin are always
in demand, but there is not consumption for
a large quantity of either at any one port.
It will be found very convenient for the
ships that take cargoes of fish to Venice or
Triest, where there is always a great con-
sumption, to take in ballast, and run down
the gulph of Venice, and load immediately
163
in the Morea, instead of lying two or three
months in those ports for a cargo. Yet the
shipping will still labour under some incon-
venience, unless the cargoes are already pre-
pared for them. There is a very great diffi-
culty in making a seaman a merchant; and
unless the merchants visit foreign countries
more than they do at present, or send their
sons or confidential servants to provide car-
goes for their shipping, they will labour
under many disadvantages. It is not the
merchant's interest alone to visit foreign
countries: their own country is very mate-
rially benefited by it. It certainly can be
no difficult matter to prove, that this coun-
try derives more real benefit from ten re-
spectable British merchants residing in fo-
reign countries, than it can possibly receive
from one hundred of the same class remain-
ing at home. Petrasso, near the mouth of
the Gulph of Lepanto, is a very good port
to load a cargo for England. The harbour
is not a very safe one, being too much ex-
posed; but the anchorage is very good:
Q
164
there is also an accredited British consul
there, a very respectable man, a Greek by
birth, and educated in England.
It would be a difficult task for us
to at-
tempt to give a particular description of the
various articles the produce of the Morea,
they being so very numerous; we shall only
briefly mention some of the more bulky ar-
ticles which are to be had in general, in con-
siderable quantities, and which serve to fill
up the ships, when there is not a sufficient
quantity of more valuable goods.
CURRANTS
Are a considerable article of export from
the Morea; Petrasso is one of the best ports
to ship them from. The fruit is rather
larger and more free from sand or gravel
than the fruit of either Zante or Corfu.
They are shipped in various sized casks,
from twenty hundred weight down to fifty
pounds, for the English market. They
must weigh above five hundred weight net,
165
otherwise they are liable to seizure. The
asks are always included in the weight of
the fruit, and paid for as such. The coop-
ers make the stayes of heavy wood, and
domble the strength that is necessary.
There are three times the quantity of cur-
rants shipped from Petrasso as grows upon
the island of Zante. The Morea currants
have the preference in most countries, ex-
cept in England, where the Zante currants
are more merchantable.
The tonnage of currants is very large,
on account of the casks; and there are very
few ships that are able to deliver more freight
than their measurement tonnage.
New fruit is always in highest estimation,
and a ship may easily load new fruit the be-
ginning of October, and reach England be-
fore Christmas, the season when currants
are most in demand, provided the ship has
not to wait for convoy. The first cost of
currants in the Morea is usually about three
halfpence per pound English weight. At
166
Petrasso they pack a great quantity of cur-
rants in small casks, about 80lbs. net each
these are usually the prime fruit, and a
perfectly free from sand or gravel.
W
Currants being a heavy cargo, are very
convenient to put into the bottom of a ship;
they are always packed very close, and in
consequence are not so liable to damage as
many other articles of merchandise.
YOUNG FUSTIC.
This is commonly called Zante young
fustic; is a good dye-wood for dying a
bright yellow it is chiefly shipped from
Petrasso, as more of it grows in the Morea
than in any other part; it is
very convenient
to stow amongst a dry cask cargo, where it
is stowed to great advantage for the ship,
and it may be cut up into convenient lengths,
without injuring the wood. A common
merchant-ship of two hundred tons register
tonnage, taking on board a dry cask cargo,
may easily stow from twenty to thirty tons
167
of fustic, without taking up any extra room.
It is frequently in great demand in England;
price fluctuates very much, but it will
ays allow a very handsome freight.
COTTON.
This is a very considerable article of ex-
port from the Morea and the Levant; even
Malta, though a very small island, pro-
duces several cargoes; but the inhabitants
being the most industrious people in the
Mediterranean, spin the major part into
yarn, and export it to Spain in that
state. They reserve a considerable quanti-
ty, which they manufacture into various
kinds of cloth and hosiery, for their own
consumption. The Levant cottons are ge-
nerally of a very inferior quality, yet they
are always in demand in the English mar-
kets. With respect to the cotton of the
Mediterranean, both merchants and ship-
ping have laboured under many inconveni-
ences; the cottons are first put up in a very
Q 2
168
;
;
loose slovenly manner: to stow a ship to ad-
vantage, they are obliged to raise a very
heavy purchase; the steeving geer alor
which is necessary to load a ship in the p
F
sent manner, will fully load two long boats;
by this method of stowing cotton, if the
ship is not very strong, she is very liable to
be ruined by it: there are many instances
where a bale of cotton has been drove
through a ship's bows; there is also another
very great disadvantage the shipping at pre-
sent labours under, by the present method of
stowing a cargo of cotton in the Mediterra-
nean; to stow a ship of three hundred tons
burthen will cost near five hundred pounds
sterling: this is certainly a very heavy
charge against a ship, besides injuring the
ship very materially by scuttling the ship's
decks in several places. This inconvenience
and heavy charge might be very easily reme-
died: the merchants residing at the princi-
pal ports for shipping cotton might have
screws erected to pack their cotton, similar
to those now used at Bombay; this would
enable a ship to take nearly double the quan
169
tity of cotton they can stow by the present
mode. The whole expense of screws,
eams, and every other article, would not
ceed the present charge of stowing only
one ship's cargo. They might have them
at Petrasso, Salonica, Smyrna, and some
other ports where large quantities of cotton
are usually shipped. There can be very
little doubt but the merchants will soon find
it their interest to adopt this method of pack-
ing cotton we are a little surprised that it
has not yet been attempted. We are well
aware of the objections that will be made
to such a proposal: we cannot put these
people out of their old way: will a sensible
merchant say, that this is sufficient to pre-
vent an attempt to accomplish so desirable
an object? We would recommend the
merchants to fix the proper machinery and
employ the ships' companies, should the
people of the country be unacquainted with
the proper method, or until they have ac-
quired it. A ship's company will be able to
pack a cargo in a reasonable time. The
cotton will not require half the quantity of
170
bagging that is at present made use of; and
for the lashings, there is plenty of flax im-
ported from Egypt, that will make cordag
proper for that purpose, similar to the M
nilla cordage now used at Bombay. The
operation of packing cotton, as we have
proposed, is certainly the proper work of
seamen; the pressure is effected by heaving
with capstand bars, the same as on board a
ship, and to sew up the bales with a palm
and needle, which every good seaman un-
derstands perfectly; lashing the cords is
also the work of seamen, and no people
whatever understand it better. There is
another objection which will be made by
some people to this plan of packing cotton,
that by pressing such a large quantity of cot-
ton into so small a compass, the very heavy
pressure will break the staple of the cotton
and injure it. We a
We are of opinion that this
sort of cotton would not receive the least
damage by close packing, more than the
Surat cottons, as they are now packed at
Bombay; and when packed, as we have de-
scribed, would not be so liable to waste
171
or damage, to avoid which should always be
the primary consideration with merchants.
We have no doubt when this method is
oroughly investigated and understood,
that it will soon be adopted, as so much
good may be derived from it; both ship and
merchant will be very materially benefited
by it.
The freight will be considerably
lower, as a ship will be able to stow almost
double the quantity of cotton without her
decks hogged, and the whole ship strained,
which is always the case by the present
method. Should the plan we have proposed
be adopted, it will be as easy to stow a ship
with cotton as with cases or trunks; the
bales may be made near a perfect square,
and of the size that is found most conve-
nient.
OLIVE OIL
MIGA
Is made in considerable quantities in some
parts of the Morea and the Archipelago; in
general it may be shipped from thence at a
172
:
much lower rate than from Italy or Sicily,
and is of a tolerable good quality. At Mo-
dona, near the island Sapientia, there is
very convenient harbour for shipping, an
a ship will very seldom be disappointed
procuring a full cargo of good olive oil,
nearly of the same quality as Galipoli in
general it may be purchased free on board
in jars, at twenty-five pounds sterling per
ton. A ship taking on board a cargo of oil
at Modona, for England, should always
carry the casks with her: good oil casks are
very seldom to be procured in the Morea in
any considerable quantities.
There is a great deal of oil, of a superior
quality, made in the island of Candia; but
the Turkish government usually reserve the
produce of that island for the supply of
Constantinople. In most of the ports in the
Morea and the Greek islands, oil may be
procured in large quantities.
173
VALONIA.
This is a very considerable article of ex-
brt from the Morea and the Levant. It is
thered in autumn, and shipped at all sea-
sons it is a kind of acorn, and the more
substance there is in the husk or cup of the
acorn, the better; it is of a bright drab co-
lour, which it will always preserve while it
is kept dry; any kind of dampness injures
it, as it then turns black, and the valonia
loses both its strength and value it is
chiefly used by tanners, and is always in
great demand in England. The first cost
is usually from three pounds ten shillings to
five pounds sterling per ton; though it is a
very bulky article, it is always bought and
sold by weight: a ship can only take a small
proportion of her register tonnage; in con-
sequence, the freight of valonia, per ton,
is always very high. There is no ship what-
ever however flat or full she may be built,
that will be able to stow near her register
tonnage; and the ship taking valonia should
always have some heavy goods, such as cur-
174
+
rants or black fruit, in the bottom of the
ship's hold, to keep her in good sailing trim.
A great deal of care is required to load a
ship with valonia to the best advantage; an
a stranger, who had never loaded a s
with this article, would, in all probability,
feel himself at a loss how to stow it. The
method usually practised is to roll large
water butts, after they have taken on board
a considerable quantity, to press it down :
this is a very dangerous plan, as the bungs of
the butts may very easily fly out, and water
entirely spoils it. We would recommend à
much easier method, and less dangerous:
this is to employ as many men as can pos-
sibly work to advantage, with large pieces
of wood, similar to what the paviors make
use of, and ram it well down, all over the
ship's hold; after they have trod it pretty
even, this method will press it down a great
deal more than the water butts, without any
risk of damage; it is certainly the duty of
every master of a ship particularly to attend
to this point. By taking a good deal of
care in stowing a vessel with valonia, it will
175
frequently make thirty or forty tons differ-
ence, which is a considerable object to the
ship-owner. This is one of the articles we
have before hinted at with which a merchant
may load his ship to advantage, when his
finances are but small, and the ship will
make almost as much freight as when she
has more valuable goods on board. Petras-
so is a good port to load valonia, as great
quantities are collected in that neighbour-
hood. There are also large quantities to be
had at several of the Mediterranean ports on
the continent of Anatolia. To enumerate
and describe very fully the various produce
of the Morea would of itself make a large
volume; we have hitherto only particularized
the more bulky articles, and pointed out to
the ship-owners where cargoes may be ob-
tained to load their ships, either on ship or
merchant's account, rather than detain a ship
in port for several months, waiting for a
freight.
Be care
R
176
1
Besides the various articles, the produce
of the Morea, we have already mentioned,
there are several others, which sometimes
form a large proportion of a ship's cargo,
such as
Dried fruits of various kinds,
Almonds,
Small nuts,
Gums of various kinds,
Galls,
And a great variety of drugs.
We have not treated very considerably on
the trade of the Morea, yet hope we have
mentioned sufficient to convince every in-
telligent merchant, that to be acquainted
with the trade of the Morea, is a very de-
sirable object, and also useful for every
master of a ship trading to the Mediterra-
nean, to point out where he may most easi-
ly procure a cargo for his ship.
+
We have hitherto laboured to explain and
point out that part of the Mediterranean
trade which we consider may be made most
177
beneficial to this country, as well as a con-
siderable part not generally known, though
open to any one who may choose to embark
in it. We have not considered it necessary
here to describe the trade of the Levant, the
exclusive right of which belongs to a pri-
vileged company, and none can enter into
that trade, with any prospect of success,
without first being made a member of that
company.
With respect to the trade of many other
parts of the Mediterranean, which we have
not particularly mentioned, we shall take a
hasty sketch, and point out how far this
country is at present benefited by it. We
shall begin with the Spanish ports on the
northern shore, Malaga, Alicant, Barcelo-
na, &c. in all these much good business may
be done, to the advantage of the merchant;
yet England is generally a very considerable
loser by this trade, on account of the im-
ports from thence being far greater than our
exports; this is chiefly owing to the many
strict laws, almost prohibiting the importa-
1
178
·
tion of any British manufacture. We have,
in consequence, little more than the sale of a
few fish cargoes, earthenware, and a few
staples, to balance against the large import-
ation of fruits, wine, brandy, wool, baril-
la, &c. &c. We shall now endeavour to
point out in what manner this part of the
trade of the Mediterranean may be made
advantageous to this country, which we trust
will appear to every intelligent merchant a
most desirable object to accomplish. We
consider that it may be most easily effected,
by entering into the coasting trade of the
Mediterranean with spirit: in all the ports.
on the Spanish coast the importation of corn
is immense; it is even almost impossible to
overstock the market. A great many mer-
chant-ships might be constantly employed
in carrying corn from Barbary and many
other parts where it is to be procured in
abundance. This trade has always been
very profitable; and the whole of the pro-
fits upon it (the major part being the pro-
duce of the country) would naturally find
its way to England; by this means a large
179
proportion of our imports from thence
would be paid for. Thus what at the pre-
sent moment impoverishes, might be turn-
ed to a source of wealth to this country.
This will nearly be the case with respect
to our trade to the different ports in the south
of France and the northern states of Italy,
where corn is always in demand, and the
large sums of money paid for oils, silks,
&c. far exceed the amount of British goods
there imported.
S
The port of Leghorn has, for many
years past, enjoyed the greatest part of the
English trade with the Mediterranean, by
receiving English merchandise, and after-
wards distributing it to every other part of
the Mediterranean, and receiving the differ
ent products to load the shipping in return;
thus the British merchants have hitherto
been contented to receive their merchandise
through a third or fourth hand, which must
always enhance the price of the goods,
R 2
180
The produce of Tuscany, properly adapt-
ed for the English market, is but very tri-
fling; marble and oil are the chief articles;
therefore our connection with Leghorn must
be always to our disadvantage; and what
still operates against England, the agio upon
gold is seven per cent. and all bills of ex-
change are supposed to be paid in gold.
Civita Vecchia is the only sea-port on the
western shore of the Roman state where any
considerable business is done; and though
it is so very near the capital, yet the import-
ation of British merchandise is very incon-
siderable; the principal imports by British
shipping are a few cargoes of fish, and
the chief article of export for England is
linen rags.
Ancona, on the Adriatic, is another con-
siderable sea-port in the Roman state, yet it
is seldom visited by British ships. The
chief article imported by British ships is
fish; and the exports to England, are hemp
and rags.
181
Venice is now an Austrian port, but since
the revolution, England has not done much
business there it appears as if Venetian
commerce was on the decline, and that of
Triest increasing. This is owing to the
latter port having better accommodation for
shipping, and being more convenient for
transporting merchandise into the interior of
Germany. They are at present making
canals between Vienna and Triest, which
communicate with the Danube; when
these canals are completed, we may reasona
bly expect to receive the produce of the in-
terior of Germany at the port of Triest.
The importation of British goods into the
port of Triest is very considerable, besides
an immense quantity of fish. Any ship
bound from England to that port, may, in
general, fill up with several bulky articles,
which are always in demand, and which
will always pay a good freight. The con-
sumption of West India produce is very
considerable; sugars, coffee, rum, pimen-
to, mahogany, dye-woods, &c. &c. The
exports from Triest to England are not very
182
considerable, and sometimes the ships fill
up with the produce of the Morea and the
Levant, taken there by the Greeks: though
the exports from Triest to the British market
are not very great, yet for the coasting trade
of the Mediterranean they are immense.
At Fieume, hemp is to be procured in large
quantities, and spars in abundance, suitable
for any sized ship: spars are in great plenty
down the whole coast of Istria. The trade
up the Gulph of Venice should be avoided
as much as possible in the months of De-
cember and January, the navigation being
then very dangerous; the gulph is narrow,
and the gales of wind are frequent and very
violent.
INDEX,
ALGIERS is a fertile country, but the Deys
I
pay little attention to commerce, though
great advantages may be derived there-
from
#
articles of export from thence
the Deys are obliged by treaty to
supply Gibraltar with cattle
PAGE
articles always in demand in Algiers
no considerable advantages to be de-
rived from a direct trade with the Al-
gerines, while there is an embargo on
their exports
the merchants always pay in Spa-
nish dollars
Spanish money always current
Algerine money
treaty between the Dey and the
Grand Signior
Almonds, when gathered, and how sold
Amber, where found; its uses, its value
46
47
48
49
ib.
ib.
50
ib.
138
122
129
INDEX.
Anchovies, when caught and where, how pack-
ed, from whence shipped, and at what
prices
Ancona, a considerable port of the. Roman
state, but seldom visited by British ships
Archipelago, great quantities of olive oil are
made there
Argols, both white and red, are produced in
Naples; they are bought for ready money,
one-half of each colour being assorted and
shipped in hogsheads
they are also' shipped from Messina,
Melazzo, and Palermo
their prices
Armenians, are not to be relied on
have no political authority
noné can travel among them without
a passport
enjoy most of the trade in Asiatic
Turkey, Arábia, Persia, and the caravan
trade
aré protected by the Turks
their manners are Oriental; they
are submissive, harmless, and inoffensive
few reside in Italy or the Morea,
and none in Barbary
Austrians, the most virtuous people in Eu-
rope
Autumn, the best season for třadé in Tunis
PAGE
128
180
171
144
ib.
ib.
19
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
20
ib.
24
78
INDEX.
Baretro- ku les of, have no direct commerce
Great Britain
Aat advantages may be derived from
atre with them
aria profitable import in the Mediterra-
Bewn trade
Y
a particular description of this com-
odity
mode of contracting for it
Beef for the navy may be had in great quan-
tities in Sardinia, and very cheap
Bergamot, essence of, Kide Essence
Black Sea, trade of, recommended
¿
want of trade, owing to the want of
consuls and agents
profits of this trade incredible
Brimstone, time and mode of contracting for it
of the various qualities
how shipped -
Calari Bay, the best place in the Mediterra-
nean for loading salt
Canals communicating with the Danube are
making between Vienna and Triest
Candia, a superior quality of olive oil is made
của Anh tiết mới
there
Cantharides, when collected and shipped, and
at what price
?
PAGE
45
ib.
33
110
ib.
103
32
ib.
ib.
112
113
114
98
181
172
127
INDEX.
Caps, scarlet, manufactured at Tunis from
Spanish wool, exported in large quantities
to the Levant
Catholic Priests, are the cause of the imposi-
tions practised by the Italians, Spaniards,
and their servants, on the English
Cheese of Sardinia made at Ourestan; descrip-
tion of it
Chesnut staves.
Civita Vecchia is the only port on the western
shore of the Roman state where any con-
siderable business is done, and there the
British imports are very inconsiderable
Cloth, the Moors are but indifferent judges of
this article, and are led by the cheapness
of it
Vide Staves.
Consuls and Agents, on the necessity of in-
creasing their number in various parts of
the Mediterranean
it is owing to the want of
them that the British have no trade in the
Black Sea
in France this is an object
of great attention
British born
the duties of customs would
do more than pay the salaries of all the
consuls in the Mediterranean
British consuls should be
PAGE
69
43
97
180
68
35
32
35
37
38
INDEX.
Consuls and Agents, the establishment of one
strongly recommended in Sardinia
particularly in Calari
J
•
foreigners when appointed
as consuls practise great impositions
instances of such imposi-
tions
Contracts, how made in the Sicilian trade
Coral, where found, its value
Corn from Tunis, principally shipped at Bi-
serta
duties payable to the Bey thereon
fluctuation of prices at the different
seasons
is always in the greatest demand in Spain,
on the northern shores of the Mediterra-
nean
Cotton goods in great demand in the Mediterra-
nean
a considerable article of import from the
Morea and the Levant
PAGE
the Maltese spin it into yarn and export
it to Spain
the cotton of the Levant is inferior
disadvantages of the present mode of
02
packing
double the quantity might be as easily
stowed
102
85
39
ib.
137
129
52
ib.
54
178
83
*167
ib.
ib.
168
ib
INDEX
PAGE
170
Cotton, the proper mode of packing cottons
Currants, mode of packing and shipping 153, 164
those of the Morea are the best
165
**
best season for shipping
first cost
not very liable to damage
Customs, the duties of customs on imports are
very great at Calari, in Sardinia, and
therefore it is better to sell cargoes by
sample
→
Drugs, the produce of the Mediterranean, are
profitable imports
Dunnage. Vide Ship, loading of
→
Earthen-ware, in great demand in the Medi-
terranean
Essence of lemon and bergamot, when made
and shipped, how preserved, and at what
prices
Exchanges between Naples and the rest of Eu-
rope
between Sicily and England
Figs dried, where found, how preserved, when
shipped, and general price
ib.
ib.
166
101
33
33
127
150
ib.
124
INDEX.
Fish, salt, a very considerable import among
the Neapolitans
Flag, it is essential that every flag should be
respected by other nations, as the great
type of high national character
France, the French are sensible of the import-
ance of the Mediterranean trade
and have derived great advantages
from it, particularly in the year 1797
is desirous to shut the English out of
the Mediterranean
the increase of consuls is a great ob-
ject among the French
of the French trade in Tunis
Fustic, used for dying yellow
from whence shipped, and how
in great demand in England
PAGE
Genoa, like Venice, has lost its aristocratic in-
fluence
Goat skins, method to choose and pack a cargo
Grain, Sicilian, the most abundant product of
the country
the several sorts, qualities, and prices,
and where most in demand
Greeks must be treated with caution
are a numerous people
146
21
6
4
7.
35
78
166.
ib.
167
25
98
133
ib.
16
ib.
r
INDEX.
Greeks, are mostly deplorable subjects of the
Grand Signior
PAGE
have a flag for their merchant ships,
but not an independent one
can only find redress at the Porte, and
that but partially; for the Porte is jealous
of them, and endeavours to reduce them
to slavery
observe the law of retaliation
are less cautious than the Jews
though subjects of the Grand Signior,
are not permitted to trade further west
than Tunis, Malta, and Messina
their imports into Messina
Hemp may be procured in immense quantities.
at Fieume
Jews are numerous in Barbary, in Marseilles,
and the South of France, in Italy, Naples,
Sicily, or Malta, and in the Austrian ports
on the Adriatic
are numerous, but not in the seven
islands, Morea and Turkey, nor in Syria
or Egypt
16
138
138, 139
were excluded from Piedmont, and are
not tolerated in Spain, Naples, Sicily, or
Malta
ib.
17
ib.
18
182
14
ib.
ib.
INDEX.
1
Jews, disregard their contracts, without com-
pulsion
have no flag, but are locally protected
good business may be done with them,
but great caution must be observed
Jou rnata Company, their privileges in Tunis
PAGE
Invoices stated pro forma, for the trade of
Naples
15, 16
71
Italians, instances of gross imposition in them
and their servants
Ivory and gold dust are articles of export from
Tunis
151, 158
they are brought from Tombucto, in the
interior of Africa, and sold in exchange
for long ells, coarse woollens, fire-arms,
gunpowder, watches, and hardware
S 2
Kyas are governors of provinces, and men of
the strictest honour and integrity
Leghorn has long enjoyed most of the English
trade of the Mediterranean
15
ib.
-
Lemons and Oranges, where found, when ga-
thered and shipped; how packed, and at
what prices
39
70
ib.
58
179
124, 125
*
INDEX.
Levant Company; none can trade to the Le-
vant with advantage, without being made
a member of that company
Linseed Oil. The various qualities and uses
Liquorice Paste, where and when made and
shipped, and at what price
Malta, the only English possession in the Me-
diterranean
conveniently situated for the eastern
trade of Barbary, Egypt, Syria, the Le-
vant, Morea, &c. &c.
affords excellent accommodation for
shipping
is an admirable depot for British and
other merchandise
PAGE
the ports are not numerous, and it is
inconvenient to take large ships from port
to port
many small vessels may constantly be
employed in the British trade, and British
seamen would thereby become acquainted
with the intricate navigation in the Archi-
pelago
no necessity, in this trade, to detaif
the ships above a month in port
-- a prodigious and advantageous trade
may be carried on with this place
177
123
125
26
ib.
ib
ib.
27
ib.
32
27, 28
INDEX.
Malta, and the French may be supplanted in
the most valuable part of their commerce
the Maltese are the most industrious
people in the Mediterranean
Manna, when gathered, the various qualities,
and how sold
Marseilles, the First Consul has promised to
make this a free port
Mediterranean Trade has been too much neg-
lected by the English
The advantages of em-
barking in trade pointed out
The present is an im-
portant period for the British to establish
this trade
C
spected
especially as the French
are desirous to shut the English out of
these ports
1
Plan for making this
PAGE
commerce beneficial to England
Reasons why the English
are losers by trading on the northern
shores of the Mediterranean, and remedy
suggested
Mediterraneàn Sea, northern shores; caution
should be used with their inhabitants
their flag is but little re-
2
30
177
123
8
1
પ
5
8
ib.
187, 188
20
ib.
+
•
I
INDEX.
*
I
Mediterranean Sea, Advantages to be derived
from English possessions in these seas
Merchants are recom-
mended to go out in their own vessels
trading to the Mediterranean
may be made equal to the
West India trade
Merchants, the inconvenience they suffer for
want of consuls
Messina, its port has too much water
port
подреди
dangers to be guarded against in that
cargo
Minorca is an important possession to the En-
the best port in Sicily for an assorted
4.1
*
glish
Modona is a convenient harbour for shipping
olive oil
W
Moors are, but indifferent judges of cloth
their character and mode of traffic
are partial to trading by barter.
Morea, the commerce of this country is a very
desirable object to the English
provisions are plentiful and cheap, and
money of more value than in any other
part of the Mediterranean
PAGE
observations on this trade
produce fit for the English market
26
28
31
40
139
ib.
138
7
172
67
79
83
162
ib.
164
ib.
INDEX.
Morea, a superior quality of olive oil is made
in the Morea
advantages of trading with the Morea
abstractedly stated
•
Muschetoes are repelled by the use of olive
oil
Naples, Galipoli oil, a principal article of
trade
oils are the produce of Puglia and
Calabria; but the Puglia is the best for
the woollen manufactures
Oils, how bough
methods of procuring cargoes
Nuts, small, when gathered, how sold, and at
what prices
Oil of Olives, a profitable import in the Medi-
terranean trade
a principal article of exportation
from Tunis, Soliman, and Susa
duties payable to the Bey
Tunisian measure
season for making the oil
mode of shipping
·
1
Be
#
·
sold in England, as Galipoli oil
Susa oil is of the best quality
PAGE
171
176
60
140
ib.
ib.
ib.
124
33
58, 59
55
ib.
ib.
56 ...
57
58
INDEX.
Oil of Olives, contracts for shipping
its effect on the human body
a preventive against the plague
also against poisonous reptiles
is made in great quantities in the
Morea and the Archipelago
Modona is a convenient harbour
for shipping it
how shipped, and at what prices
a superior quality of oil is made
in Candia, Morea, and the Greek islands
Ostrich Feathers may be bought at Tunis by
weight
Orchilla Weed, grows among the ruins of Car-
thage, and on the rocky mountains about-
Tunis
rendered unfit for the English
market, from the dirt gathered with it
PAGE
58
59
60
61
Petrasso, a good port to load a cargo for En-
gland, though not a safe one
there is also an accredited British
consul
Policy of nations, ON THE NECESSITY OF
MERCHANTS BEING WELL ACQUAINTED
WITH THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF FO-
REIGN NATIONS
171
172
ib.
64, 65
ib.
70
ib.
163
164
pink
INDEX.
Fr
Pork, sufficient may be had of the best quality,
to supply the whole British navy and Gib-
raltar
Provisions are cheap in Tunis
remarks on victualling ships
method of curing them in the hot-
test weather
prime beef for cabin or private use
Puglia Oil, mode of contract for it
F
Rags, Linen, their value and prices
Raisins, mode of packing and shipping
Reptiles, venomous, their bite cured by the ap-
plication of olive oil
the scorpions of Tunis are
the most venomous
PAGE
Salt of the Mediterranean is best loaded at
Caluri
Sardinia, though a fertile and extensive island,
has not for many years had a British
consul
custom house at Calari
necessity of a British consul there
prices of goods in Sardinia
鞋
​the establishment of one strongly re-
commended
131
153, 154
103
80
-81
*
85
88
141
61
1*
ib.
98
38
ib.
101
102
105
****
INDEX.
Sardinia, duties payable to the king of Sardinia
- description of the island and its pro-
duce
Mediterranean
well situated for the commerce of the
good
description of the inhabitants
provisions of all kinds are cheap and
106, 107
Tunny fishery considerable
exports from Sardinia
goods proper for this market.
Scarlet, the waters of Zuan have a peculiar
quality in this dye
Ship, ON THE ECONOMY OF LOADING A SHIP
WITH HEAVY GOODS FOR A FOREIGN
VOYAGE
the higher the centre of gravity is raised,
the easier a ship will be in all her motions
at sea
Shipping is most materially injured by long
detention in harbour
Shumac, when gathered, its various qualities,
where shipped, and at what price
Sicily, description of this island and its inha-
bitants
exports from Sicily
imports into Sicily
PAGE
69
ib.
91
95
ib.
97
99
75
115
116
29
126
108
120
INDEX.
Sicily, the custom-house
the money of
contracts, how made in Sicily
Silk, the silk of Naples is in great demand in
France and Spain
1
and that of Reggio and Sambatelli in En-
gland
they are bought for ready money, and are
mostly wrought by the workmen in Na-
ples
Skins of goats and other animals, their value
and prices, and mode of packing
Soap made in great quantities at Tunis
washes better than English soap
best mode of shipping it
T
M
this trade is confined to few, and why
very advantageous to the Minorkeens
would answer well for British clothiers
so for the North American market
duties payable at Tunis
Sicilian, where made, its various quali-
ties and prices, where most in demand,
and how packed
Spaniards, their former greatness and present
decline
*
PAGE
121
122
137
143
ib.
ib.
130
62
63
ib.
ib.
$
64
ib.
ib.
ib.
131
21
INDEX.
Spars are procured in great abundance along
the whole coast of Istria
Sponge, where found, and where most saleable
in the Mediterranean
Staves of oak and chesnut, how bought
where the hoops are shipped
their prices
how contracted for
Sulphur, a profitable import in the Mediterra-
nean trade
#O
A
Tonnage duty recommended in the commerce
with the Mediterranean
this duty alone would pay the
expenses of the garrison of Malta
Trieste, a thriving port, and more commodious
for shipping than Venice
more convenient for transporting mer-
chandise ipto Germany
canals communicating with the Da-
nube are making between Trieste and
Vienna
British imports are very considerable
into this port
so is West-India produce
but not British exports
yet British exports for the coasting
trade of the Mediterranean are immense
PAGE
182
61
144
ib.
ib.
145
33
16
181
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
192
INDEX.
Tunis, the most considerable state for com-
merce in Barbary
great commerce with the Christian states
articles of export from Tunis
Biserta is the principal port for shipping
11
corn
its qualities in different parts of the king-
dom
||
excellent soap made in Tunis
great quantities of wool exported from
Tunis
this trade may be made equal to that of
Spain
ivory and gold are also articles of trade,
brought from the interior of Africa
hides and wax are also articles of export
the several articles of import into Tunis,
from Syria, the Morea, Tripoli, Trieste,
Spain, France and Leghorn
the Tunisians use great quantities of En-
glish manufacture, which they receive
via Leghorn
for English staples there is always a de-
mand in Tunis
A
current prices of goods in Tunis
current money in Tunis
PAGE
51
rates of exchange between London and
Tunis
ib
51
52
62
65, 66
65
66
70
71
72, 73, 74
74
80
82
ib.
83
INDEX.
Tunis, weights and measures of Tunis
Tunny fi hery is very considerable in Sardinia
description of the Tunny fish,
and of the fishery
Tuscany, the produce of Tuscany proper for
the English market, is very trifling
95, 96
Valonia, a kind of acorn, its nature, qualities,
and uses
how purchased and shipped
mode of stowing it advantageously
advantages of shipping this article.
Venice, the former splendour and present de-
cline of this republic
is now under the government of Aus-
trin, which forbodes the returning virtue
of the people
since the revolution this trade has de-
clined in favour of Trieste
trade in the Gulph should be avoided
in December and January, when the winds
are frequent and very violent
Vienna, canals communicating with the Da-
nube are making between Vienna and
Trieste
PAGE
84
95
Winds, north-east, not very frequent in the
Mediterranean
180
173
ib.
174
175
23
24
181
182
181
59
INDEX.
Winds, are so frequent and so very violent
in the Gulph of Venice in December and
January, as to endanger the safety of
trade
Wines, the abundant sorts and qualities made
in Sicily
Marsala, its nature and quality
the factory of Messrs. Woodhouse de-
scribed
where most in demand
of Naples, the numerous qualities,
and how shipped
Wool, exported from Tunis in great quantities
and of all qualities
ranean
but too foul for the English market
the French draw an immense profit from
the cloth
the growth of Gereed is as fine as the
Spanish
the trade of Tunis may be made equal to
that of Spain
Woollen goods in great demand in the Mediter-
nisian markets
proper assortments for the Tu-
PAGE
145, 146
Zuan, 40 miles from Tunis, the waters have a
peculiar quality in dying scarlet
182
134
135
ib.
136
65
66
67
68
69
33
75
69
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