The Commerce and Navigation of the Erythræan Sea: Being a Translation of the Periplus Maris Erythræi, by an Anonymous Writer, and of Arrian's Account of the Voyage of Nearkhos, from the Mouth of the Indus to the Head of the Persian Gulf
History
The Commerce and Navigation of the Erythræan Sea: Being a Translation of the Periplus Maris Erythræi, by an Anonymous Writer, and of Arrian's Account of the Voyage of Nearkhos, from the Mouth of the Indus to the Head of the Persian Gulf
Classical geography; Geography, Ancient; India -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Indian Ocean Region -- Commerce -- History
XXXVIII. Karmania extends as far as this island, but the parts beyond
appertain to Persia. The extent of the Karmanian coast was 3,700
stadia.[94] The people of this province live like the Persians, on
whom they border, and they have similar weapons and a similar military
system. When the fleet left the sacred island, its course lay along
the coast of Persis, and it first drew to land at a place called Ila,
where there is a harbour under cover of a small and desert island
called Kaikander.[95] The distance run was 400 stadia. Towards daybreak
they came to another island which was inhabited, and anchored thereon.
Nearkhos notices that there is here a fishery for pearl as there is in
the Indian Sea.[96] Having sailed along the shores of the promontory in
which this island terminates, a distance of about 40 stadia, they came
to an anchor upon its shores. The next anchorage was in the vicinity
of a lofty hill called Okhos, where the harbour was well sheltered
and the inhabitants were fishermen.[97] Weighing thence they ran a
course of 400 stadia, which brought them to Apostana, where they
anchored. At this station they saw a great many boats, and learned that
at a distance of 60 stadia from the shore there was a village. From
Apostana they weighed at night, and proceeded 400 stadia to a bay, on
the borders of which many villages were to be seen. Here the fleet
anchored under the projection of a cape which rose to a considerable
height.[98] Palm-trees and other fruit-bearing trees similar to those
of Greece, adorned the country round. On weighing thence they sailed in
a line with the coast, and after a course of somewhere about 600 stadia
reached Gôgana, which was an inhabited place, where they anchored at
the mouth of a winter torrent called the Areôn. It was difficult to
anchor, for the approach to the mouth of the river was by a narrow
channel, since the ebbing of the tide had left shoals which lay all
round in a circle.[99] Weighing thence they gained, after running as
many as 800 stadia, the mouth of another river called the Sitakos,
where also it was troublesome to anchor. Indeed all along the coast
of Persis the fleet had to be navigated through shoals and breakers
and oozy channels. At the Sitakos they took on board a large supply
of provisions, which under orders from the king had been collected
expressly for the fleet. They remained at this station one-and-twenty
days in all, occupied in repairing and kareening the ships, which had
been drawn on shore for the purpose.[100]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account