Chap.Xf I. of Monfieur Tavernier. 



Merchant enters into Perfia,. whether it be at Erivan or Tauris , where the Money- 

 is coyn'd , he is oblig'd to tell what Silver he carry's, to the end it may be melted 

 down and ftamp'd with the King's Stamp:, undera great Penalty, if difcovjer'd to 

 be a concealer. But if a Merchant's affairs will not permit him to ftay at Erivan, 

 or at T writ , and that he think it better to carry his Money to the Mint of Ijpahan ; 

 'tis but taking a Note from the. Matter of the Mint either at Tauris or Erivan, to 

 atteft that he has dedar'd the truth of what he carries , and it is excufe enough. 



But they that can cunningly carry their Silver to Erivan , when the Sealbn is to 

 go to the Indies , make a great profit of the Real ; for the Merchants that go to 

 the Indies will give them thirteen and a half, or fourteen Shayez. a piece, for as 

 many as they have. But there are few Merchants that carry their Silver to JRm 

 han- in regârd the Matters of the Mints upon the Frontiers will be fure to prefent 

 them with a good piece of Silver Plate , rather than let them carry away their 

 Bullion to Ijpahan , to have the benefit of Coynage thenifelves. 



They that traffick into Çmlàn for Silks carry their Silver to Tefiis , where the 

 Mafter of the Mint gives them 2 per Cent, profit for their Silver. The reafon is, 

 becaui'e that which he gives them for it is a little fophifticated -, but it pattes currant 

 all over GuiLm. 



In the third place, you muft obferve, That upon the pieces of Silver, as well 

 for the King's Duty as the Coynage of the Money , there is requir'd 7 £ fer Cent. 

 But upon the Copper Money, not above one half , or 1 fer Cent, at moft. Whence 

 it comes to pafs , that when a Workman has need of Copper, rather than lofe time 

 in going to buy it , he will melt down his Cajbeke's. 



There are four lèverai pieces of Silver Coyn ^ Abafffs , Mamoudi s , Shaet's , and 

 Sift? s : but as for the Bifli's , there are very few- at prefent. 



The Copper pieces of Coyn are called Cajbeke , of which there are fingle and 

 double. 



The fingle Cajbeke is worth five Deniers and a Half-peny of our Money. 



The double Cajbeke is valu'd at eleven Deniers. 



Four fingle Cafoekfr > or two double ones , make a Bifli. 



Ten fingle Cafbek^s, or five double ones , make one Shay et in value. 



Two Shayei's make a Mamoudi. 



Two Mamoudi s make an Abajfi. 



The Real or Crown of France is worth three Abajfi s and one Shay 'et » and 

 counting a Real at fixty Sous, an Abajji is worth eighteen Sous, fix Deniers. Though 

 to fay truth , three Abaffis and one Shay et make three Half-pence more than the 

 Crown. 



Number 1 , and Number 2. Are two pieces , which upon one fide bear the 

 Names of the twelve Prophets of the Law of Mahomet , and in the middle this In- 

 fcription , La Illah allah Mahomet refoul Allah . Alt V&li Allah : on the back-fide, 

 The Conquer our of the World, Abas II. gives us permijfion to coyn this Money in the 

 City of Cafhan. 



Num. 1 . Makes five Abajfi s ; and counting our Crown at thirteen Shayei's , it 

 comes to four Livres, twelve Sous, fix Deniers. 



Num. 2. Makes two Abaffis and a half of our Money , or forty -fix Sous and one 

 Farthing. 



Num. 3. Is an Abaft , which comes to eighteen Sous, fix Deniers. 

 Num. 4. Is a Mamoudi , worth nine Sous and a Farthing. 

 Num. 5. Is a Shayet, worth four Sous, feven Deniers, one Half-peny. 

 Num. 6. A Bi(li , worth one Sous , ten Deniers. 



Num. 7. The Copper Coyn, call'd Cajbeke , worth five Deniers, One Half-peny. 



Thefe Coyns, unlefs it be the Cajbeke', bear no other Infcription, but only the Name 

 of the King reigning when they were coyn'd -, the Name of the City where they 

 were coyn'd ; with the Year of the Hegyra of Mahomet. 



Though all Payments are made in Abajfi's , as well at Ormus and other parts of 

 the Gulf belonging to the King of Perfia, as in the Hand of Bahren, where is the 

 great Fifhery and Market for Pearls -, yet there is no mention made but only of 

 Larins. 



G 2 The 



