CHAP. XIII. 



TRADE OF ITALY. 353 



over extensive countries, wanted not gold but 

 industry and cultivation. They perceived the 

 necessity of employing the Venetians, who 

 brought to them from the east, drugs, salt, 

 clothing, arms, gold, gold dust, silver, and a 

 hundred other commodities, which they ex- 

 changed for grain, wine, iron, wood for ship- 

 building and for oars, and other purposes ; for 

 wood abounded in Italy and on the Alps. These 

 were eagerly demanded and abundantly supplied, 

 in spite of the prohibitions of Agnello Parteci- 

 pazio, Doge of Venice, in 822, and of the Greek 

 emperor in 971 The latter particularly com- 

 plained that the Venetians, not being satisfied 

 with trading in the products of the neighbouring 

 countries, and with being the carriers between 

 the several Mahometan divisions of Egypt, Cara- 

 mania, and Barbary, were supplying the infidels 

 with ship timber and with arms 1 ." The same 

 author observes, p. 39, " The Venetians ob- 

 tained the privilege in several Mahometan 

 countries, as well in Africa and Caramania, 

 as in the cities on the Black Sea, of possessing 

 churches, keeping inns, and of being tried by 

 their own judges. They were besides exempt 

 from taxation on wine, and were even permitted 

 to coin zechins out of the old Saracenic dirhemi." 



1 Memorie Storicha de' Veneti di Jacopo Filiasi. Padova, 

 1812, vol. vi. p. 23. 



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