Hovhannes Joughayetsi

Hovhannes Joughayetsi was an Armenian merchant who traveled and traded between New Julfa (the Armenian suburb of Isfahan), Northern India and Tibet. He spent five years in Lhasa. His commercial ledger is a unique source of information on products, prices, trading conditions, and the Armenian commercial network on the 17th century routes involving the Safavid and Mughal empires.

Hovhannes was an Armenian merchant who in 1682 entered into partnership with a leading Armenian company in India trading in the Levant, China and many other parts of the world. He joined the firm’s branch in Lhasa in 1686and in his journal left meticulous details of his merchandize and its prices, his borrowings, transmission of funds and so on. He also describes the route by which he travelled by way of Nepal, Kuti and Shigatse. He took with him many kind of goods including pearls, amber and piece goods. In Lhasa he found his countrymen already well established, together with their families. During his stay he had many business dealing and some disputes with lamas, nobles and other traders. When he left, in June 1692, he took a large consignment of musk.