Luca (right) offering to help Basim in exchange for something in return
Luca was a Greek merchant who operated a stall in the Karkh district of Baghdad during the 9th century.
Biography[]
A rival of the Chinese tea merchant Kong, who operated a stall opposite that of his, Luca was accussed of reporting Kong's crates of tea leaves to the Abbasid authorities, resulting in them being confiscated and kept in a warehouse near The Bazaar.[1]
After Kong's friend, the Hidden One Basim Ibn Ishaq, helped him to recover the confiscated crates, Luca eavesdropped on their conversation regarding a warehouse where more of Kong's goods and others were being kept. When Basim exited Kong's storeroom, Luca offered him a deal to provide the warehouse's location in exchange for something in return. Basim offered a token to Luca, who accepted it and provided the Hidden One with the direction of the warehouse.[1]
Later, during Baghdad's annual Da'irat Al-mal, Kong sought to exact retribution on Luca and asked Basim to steal his precious saucer in exchange for information on the Hidden One's target. Kong lied and claimed that Luca had stolen the saucer from him, only to accidentally reveal the truth once Basim delivered it to him. Despite this, the Hidden One allowed Kong to keep the saucer, which the tea merchant added to his personal collection.[2]
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