Indian Antiquary Vol 05

SR No.: 032497
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 438
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 127

APRIL, 1876.]
TRANSLATION OF THE INDICA OF ARRIAN.
105
pelted by the army with fillets and flowers. Erythres, from whom the sea receiving its When the king had brought all these demon- name was called the Erythræan. Weighstrations to an end, he says to Nearchus, "I wish ing thence they sailed along the shores of the you not, Nearchus, to incur again any risk of same island and anchor on it again, and desery your life, or to be exposed to hardships, and another island distant from this large one about some other officer will conduct the expedition 40 stadia. It was said to be sacred to Poseidon from this to Suşa." Bat Nearchus answered and inaccessible. Next morning they were putting and said, "I wish, 0 king! in all things to out to sea, when the ebb-tide caught them with obey you, and it is only my duty; but if you such violence that three of the ships were strandwish to do me any favour, pray do not so, but ed on the beach, while the rest of the floet escaped permit me to lead the expedition all through- with difficulty from the surf into deep water. out, until I bring your ships safe to Susa. Let But the stranded vessels were floated off at the it not be that while the difficult and dangerous return of the tide, and on the second day put part of the enterprise has been entrusted to me, into the port where all the other ships had anthe easy part which farne is now ready to chored. This was in another island, distant crown, is taken from me and given into the from the mainland somewhere about 300 stadia, hands of another." Alexander stops him while which they had reached after sailing 400 stadia. he is still speaking, and acknowledged the debt They doparted thence towards morning, passof gratitude which ho owed him. And so he ing a desert island which lay on their left. It sends him down to the coast, giving him but was called Pylora, and they drop anchor off a small escort, as one whose road would be Sisidone, which was a mere hamlet, and through a friendly country. But neither was could supply nothing but water and fish. The his march to the sea made without toil and people subsisted on fish, for the barrenness of trouble, any more than the former march: for the the soil left them no choice of diet. After takbarbarians, having mustered from all the parts ing water on board they bore away, and after around, possessed themselves of all the strong- running 300 stadia anchor at Tarsia, which holds in Carmania, which they did because i is a projecting headland. They touch next at their satrap had been put to death by Alexander's Catna, an island both bare and flat. It was orders, and Tle polemus, who had but recently said to be sacred to Hermes and Aphrodite. succeeded, had not yet secured his authority. The distance run was 300 stadia. To this island And so they had to fight twice or thrice the same every year sheep and goats are sent by the day, with successive bands of barbarians who neighbouring tribes as sacred offerings to Hercame suddenly in view. And thus, without any mes and Aphrodite, and these were to be seen respite from fighting, with pain and difficulty, running about in a wild state,--the effect of time they reached the coast in safety. Nearchus and the barrenness of the land. there and then offers a sacrifice to Zeus the XXXVIII. Up to this point they were in saviour, and celebrates a gymnastic contest. Carmania, and the realms beyond belonged
XXXVII. But when the religious ceremo to the Persians. The length of the voyage nies had been duly performed they put out along the Carmanian coast was 3700 stadia. again to sea, and after coasting along a desolate The people live after the manner of the Persians, and rocky island anchor on the shores of who are their next neighbours, and their milianother island, a large one with inhabitants, and tary system is quite similar. Weighing anchor distant 300 stadia from the last port. The they bore away from this sacred island, and desert island was called Organa, and the isl. now sailed along the coast of Persis, and first and where they anchored Oäracta: it pro- drew to land at a place called Ila, where there duced vines and palm-trees and corn. The is a harbour in a small and desolate island known length of the island is 800 stadia, and the by the name of Cæcander. The distance chief of the island, Mazenes, sailed along | run was 400 stadia. Towards morning they with them to Susa, having volunteered to be reachud another island, which proved to be inpilot of the fleet. In this island they professed habited, and there dropped anchor. Here, as to point out the tomb of the very first sovereign Nearchus tell us, pearls are fished for, just as of the country, and said that his name was in the Indian Sea. Having sailed along the ex