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
(12) We come now to the great projection Cape Arômata, which is
a continuation of Mount Elephant. It is called in Arabic +Jerd
Hafûn+ or Ras Asir; in Idrisi, +Carfouna+, whence the name by
which it is generally known. [The South point 11° 40´ is Râs Shenarif
or Jerd Hafûn; the N. point 11° 51´ is Râs 'Asir.] It formed the limit
of the knowledge of this coast in the time of Strabo, by whom it is
called +Notou Keras+ or South Horn. It is described as a very
high bluff point and as perpendicular as if it were scarped. [Jerd
Hafûn is 2500 feet high.] The current comes round it out of the gulf
with such violence that it is not to be stemmed without a brisk wind,
and during the South-West Monsoon, the moment you are past the Cape to
the North there is a stark calm with insufferable heat. The current
below Jerd Hafûn is noticed by the _Periplûs_ as setting to the South,
and is there perhaps equally subject to the change of the monsoon.
With this account of the coast from the straits to the great Cape may
be compared that which has been given by Strabo, XVI. iv. 14:
“From +Deirê+ the next country is that which bears
aromatic plants. The first produces myrrh and belongs to the
+Ichthyophagi+ and +Creophagi+. It bears also the
persea, peach or Egyptian almond, and the Egyptian fig. Beyond is
+Licha+, a hunting ground for elephants. There are also in many
places standing pools of rainwater. When these are dried up, the
elephants with their trunks and tusks dig holes and find water. On
this coast there are two very large lakes extending as far as the
promontory Pytholaus. One of them contains salt water and is called
a sea; the other fresh water and is the haunt of hippopotami and
crocodiles. On the margin grows the papyrus. The ibis is seen in
the neighbourhood of this place. Next is the country which produces
frankincense; it has a promontory and a temple with a grove of
poplars. In the inland parts is a tract along the banks of a river
bearing the name of +Isis+, and another that of +Nilus+,
both of which produce myrrh and frankincense. Also a lagoon filled
with water from the mountains. Next the watch-post of the Lion and the
port of +Pythangelus+. The next tract bears the false cassia.
There are many tracts in succession on the sides of rivers on which
frankincense grows, and rivers extending to the cinnamon country.
The river which bounds this tract produces rushes (φλους) in great
abundance. Then follows another river and the port of +Daphnus+,
and a valley called +Apollo+’s which bears besides frankincense,
myrrh and cinnamon. The latter is more abundant in places far in
the interior. Next is the mountain +Elephas+, a mountain
projecting into the sea and a creek; then follows the large harbour
of +Psygmus+, a watering place called that of +Kunocephali+
and the last promontory of this coast +Notu-ceras+ (or the
Southern Horn). After doubling this cape towards the south we have
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