This Day I Had
A Letter From The Mami, Or Captain Of The Gallies, Saying That The
Answer From The Pacha To The Governor Was In These Words:
"Haydar Aga,
You write me that three English ships are come to Mokha for trade,
having the pass of the Grand Signior.
Give them from me a faithful
promise to come on shore, to take a house, and to buy and sell till the
monsoon be past. You likewise write, that they mean to send up two men
to me: Give them all things fit for their journey, &c." The Captain
Mami said farther, that whatever I chose to propose, the aga and he
would underwrite; and that as for traffic and bartering, they would do
much for love, but nothing for force, and were as willing to load all
our three ships as one of them.
We were informed that the weight in use at Mokha is called Incu, which
is two rotulas. Ten incus, or twenty rotulas, make 23 pounds English
haberepoize, sometimes 24, as the weigher chuses to befriend you. A
churle of indigo is 150 rotulas, and of our weight between 166 and
170 pounds. Cotton-wool is sold by the bahar, which is 300 rotulas, or
between 332 and 334 English pounds averdupois, and is sold very good and
clean at 18 dollars the bahar. Their measure of length is called a
pike, containing 27 inches, or 3/4 of our yard. According to the report
made by the governor to Mr Cockes, the custom of this port of Mokha is
worth yearly to the Grand Signior, 150,000 chekins; which, at five
shillings each, amount to L37,500 sterling.[416]
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