Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/306

 by the vse of trade: to the end that this decay and losse might be repaired, and the treasures of the East might be imparted with the West, as it was woont in the times of quietnes and peaceable liuing, they began to deuise a way to passe to India, which was not as the former way was by the Red sea and the riuer Nilus, but a way of farther sailing and farther length and cost also.

For they brought their ware vp the riuer Indus, and there vnladed it, carying it by land through the countrey of Paropanisus by Carauans vnto the prouince of Bactria, and then shipped it in barks on the riuer Oxus, which falleth into the Caspian sea, and so sailed ouer that sea vnto an hauen of the riuer Rha named Citracan or Astracan, and so vpwards in the said riuer which now is called Volga: and as it appeereth they carried it to the citie of Nouogrode in the prouince of Resan, which now belongeth to the great Duke of Moscouia, standing toward the north in 54. degrees of latitude: and therehence they trauailed ouer land vnto the prouince of Sarmatia vnto the riuer Tanais, which is the diuision of Europe from Asia; where they againe laded it in barks, and caried it downe the riuer, into the lake Mæotis, and to the citie of Caffa, which in ancient time was called Theodosia, which then belonged to the Genowais, who came thither for those wares in their galliasses or great ships.

It is also left written, that the trade this way endured vntill the reign of Commo*dita Emperour of Armenia, who prouided for a better course, and commanded this trafficke of the spices to be conueied by the Caspian sea, and so through the kingdome of Hiberia, which now is called Georgiana, and from thence they entred by the riuer Phasis, now Phasso, into Pontus Euxinus, and so vnto the city of Trapezunda standing in 40. and odde degrees of northerly latitude. And to that place came shipping for the marchandises out of Europe and Africa.

It is further left recorded concerning this way of trafficke, that Nicanor determined or had already begun to open aboue 120. miles of land, which lieth betweene the Caspian sea and Pontus Euxinus, that they might come and goe by water with their spices, drugs, and other commodities, there vsed. But in the