voyage: which if it had pleased God to prosper, that all things had come
home as safely as they were carefully prouided, and painfully laboured for,
it had proued the richest voiage and most profitable returne of commoditie,
that had euer bene vndertaken by English merchants, who, notwithstanding
all misfortunes, lost nothing of their principall aduenture, but onely the
interest and gaine that might haue risen by the vse of their stocke in the
meane time.

* * * * *

Further obseruations concerning the state of Persia, taken in the foresayd
fift voyage into those partes, and written by M. Geffery Ducket, one of
the Agents emploied in the same.

Shamaky is the fairest towne in all Media, and the chiefest commoditie of
that countrey is rawe silke, and the greatest plentie thereof is at a towne
three dayes iourney from Shamaky called Arash: [Sidenote: Grosin or
Georgia.] and within 3. dayes iourney of Arash is a countrey named Grosin,
whose inhabitants are Christians, and are thought to be they which are
otherwise called Georgians: there is also much silke to be sold. The chief
towne of that countrey is called Zegham, from whence is caried yeerely into
Persia, an incredible quantitie of Hasell nuts, all of one sort and
goodnesse, and as good and thin shaled as are our Filberds. Of these are
caried yeerely the quantitie of 4000. Camels laden.


Of the name of the Sophy of Persia, and why he is called the Shaugh, and of
other customes.

The king of Persia (whom here, we call the great Sophy) is not there so