Hazirlayanlar

506

HOŞGÖRÜ TOPLUMUNDA ERMENİLER

country only ie. Abyssinia:“Heere goeth from thence yearely ten Carra-

vans, whereof eight are great. The commodities they carrie, are all kind of 

Indian clothing, and likewise of our English Commodities, (Broad-cloth, 

Kerseys, Lead, Tinne; likewise, Velvets, Damaskes, Sattens, Taffi taes, and 

all other sorts of Silke Stuffes). Their measure is about halfe a yard; Cloath, 

which is worth in Moha foure Rials of eight, is there worth eight Rials. 

the price of Kerseyes, is halfe the price of Broad-cloath: The colours they 

most desire, are Reds, Greens, voilets, Mureys, and other light colours: 

Yellowes in no esteeme, nor blacks.Velvets of china of all sorts are worth 

ten Rials of eight the halfe yard. Velvets of Italy are much more worth: but 

not so profi table to the Merchants, because they are much deerer. Sattens 

of fl orence are worth ten Rials; Damaskes of the better sort, worth eight or 

ten. Rials. Taffi taes three Rials; all colours well sold, excepting Yellowes 

and Blackes.

“Civet, great quantitie is to be had, the price is three Wakias, (which 

is neere upon foure ounces english), for fi ve rials of eight. Elephants teeth, 

the Bahar, worth thirtie rials. the Bahar is three hundred and sixtie rottol-

lies of Moha. Waxe one hundred Rottollies, worth one riall of eight. Gold 

the Rottolly, worth sixtie rials, the rottolly is neere upon sixteene unces and 

a halfe. Lead and Tinne in great rquest. tinne worth the Rottolly, one rial, 

Lead much more worth, because the Turk wil not suffer any to be carried 

into his country.

 “Bezar-stones many are to be had, and little worth: here are many 

Beasts with one horne in their fore-head like a Unicorne; which horne, 

they say, is good against poyson. There are of them which weigh eight 

pound, some seven, foure, and three pound: the greatest and fairest, worth 

some foure rials the piece, and those of a lesser sort worth lesser: among 

the Turkes and Moores in Arabia, every pound is worth one Riall of eight.

From Grancairo there goeth in August a great Carravan, and likewise anothr 

in November. the Commodities they carrie from thence, are Broad-cloaths, 

Kerseyes, Velvets, Sattens, Damaskes, and all sorts of Silkes. From Cayro 

to Dombia is fi ftie daies travell by Caravan.First, he sits on a gilt Bed-sted 

like those of china, and there commeth great troops of men daily to salute 

him; some daies two thousand, some daies more, some daies lesse; but Fri-

day being their day of Fast, there commeth a farre greater quantitie.”(45)

Abu Talib Isfahani had found the Armenian merchants not only very 

prosperous in Turkey but very alert and having awareness of the situation 

---

507

Prof. Mansure HAİDAR

despite the fact that he was terribly disappointed by their indifferent and 

detached behaviour. While he was all along conscious of Perso-Ottoman 

strained relations and maintained a somewhat critical and circumspect at-

titude, he had to depend upon others for satisfying his Grigarious instincts. 

He,therefore writes: “They compensate for the inattention of the Turks, I 

had a very extensive society of Persians, Indians, and Armenians. The two 

former were, in general, well-informed, or religious men, who had come 

to Constantinople for the purpose of study. The latter reside in Galata, and 

are mostly engaged in trade: they come hither form Aleppo, Tokat, Ama-

sia, and other cities in subjection to the Turks. Their language is a mixture 

of Armenian and Turkish. Many of them have acquired great wealth; but, 

as their national vice is avarice, I never ever experienced any degree of 

hospitality or liberality from them.” The traveler however admits that “ 

Once or twice I was asked to their evening parties, and had an opportunity 

of seeing a number of their young women, many of whom I thought hand-

some.”(46)

Martin Broniovius de Biezerfedea who had been sent as an Ambas-

sador from Stephen king of Poland to the Crim Tartar in 1605 gives a 

gloomy picture of the plight of Europeans but stresses the good condition 

of Armenians. He records: “ The Chan hath a common custom House with 

the Turkes at Perecopia, Casslovia, Capha, and other cities of Taurica or 

Peninsula which are of Turkish Empire. He demands annually a contri-

bution of the Tartars, Armenians,, Jews, Circassians, Petigorens, Grecian 

Christians ---“ He adds further: “ The Romism churches of Christians are 

demolished the Houses cast down the walls and towers wherein are seine 

many tokens of honour of the Genoese and Latin inscriptions are fallen”. 

But he adds further ‘Only two Catholick temples and two Armenians re-

main which is granted to them by the Turks after their own custom to 

maintain their proper priests and to be present at their public devotions. It 

is replenished with Turks, Armenians, Jews but very few Italians, Greeks 

and Christian inhabitants. Now also it is famous over all that part of Tau-

rica for Navigation and the Haven. It hath almost innumerable vineyards, 

orchards and gardens. Men sail very often to capha, from all the bordering 

and remote islands of Greece but oftener from the city Constantinople”. 

(47) Hasan Beg Rumlu categorically stated that the revenue from Erevan 

was equal to that of Qandahar(ie. 1000,000). Referring to numerous tolls, 

duties on silk, and animals, Olearius says that the Armenians had to pay 

100,000men at 2 Rth per head in Persia and poll tax. But instances of their 

---