top-gallant sails. Although the master assumed the command, the crew were under charge of the leading pilot, who had a chief mate, whose station, as now, was invariably at the bow of the vessel. There were likewise on board a carpenter, smith, archer, and armourer, and their assistants, furnished from the government arsenal. Besides several cooks, there was a storekeeper, and four inspectors, who kept an active watch over everything shipped and delivered, under the direction of a clerk or super-cargo, to whom all the merchandise was entrusted.
Value of their cargoes.
Despatch boats.
The value of the cargoes brought back in the galeasses,
especially from Egypt and Syria, amounted
on an average to about two hundred thousand ducats,
and consisted to a considerable extent of precious
stones, spices, perfumes of Arabia, with everything
tending to administer to the luxuries and pleasures
of the wealthy Venetians. Large quantities of
medicinal drugs were also imported, the greater
portion of which were afterwards distributed over
the markets of Europe. This eastern trade was a
source of immense profit, alike to the merchants and
government. Paul Morosini, in a letter to the syndic
at Nuremburg,[1] says that in his time the republic
had twenty-four large galleys, divided into squadrons,
with settled periods of departure for the East, carrying
the mails, or rather the despatches of the
government, with letters from private individuals.
Besides these, the government had in their service
numerous despatch boats, known as "geippers,"
which served in war as scouts, and, during peace,
for any service requiring unusual speed.
- ↑ MS. quoted by Filiasi, Memorie Storiche de Venet.
