Banyan Merchants
W.S.W. Ruschenberger, M.D., in Zanzibar in 1835, describes Banyan merchants, then cites "Establecimientos ultramarinos. Tom. III. Madrid 1786" (Raynal, Guillaume-Thomas-François, abbé (Scandate: 20071026) (in Spanish). Historia política de los establecimientos ultramarinos de las naciones europeas, Volume 3 (Google eBook). Madrid: Antonio de Sancha. OCLC 14135206. http://books.google.ca/books/about/Historia_pol%C3%ADtica_de_los_establecimient.html?id=17QGAAAAQAAJ.) in writing:
....A very short time sufficed them to transact the most important business. They usually dealt in bazaars; the vender told the price of his goods in a subdued voice and in few words; the purchaser replied by taking his hand, and by a certain manner of doubling and extending the fingers, explained what abatement he wished in the price. The bargain was often concluded without speaking a word; and, to ratify it, the hand was again taken in token of its inviolability....
Such were the Banyans three centuries gone by, and we have reason to think, they have not been entirely changed.
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