Indian Antiquary Vol 08

SR No.: 032500
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 404
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 159

MAY, 1879.]
PERIPLUS OF THE ERYTHRAAN SEA.
137
called the islands of Kalaios. The inhabit- round, called the hill of Semiramis. The ants of the adjacent coast are cruel and strait which separates them has a width of treacherous, and see imperfectly in the day- 600 stadia, and through this opening the Persian time.
Gulf pours its vast expanse of waters far up 35. Near the last headland of the islands of into the interior. At the very head of this gulf Kalaios is the mountain called Kalon there is a regular mart of commerce, called the (Pulcher), to which succeeds, at no great city of Apologos, situate near Pasinoudistance, the mouth of the Persian Gulf, Kharax and the river Euphrates. where there are very many pearl fisheries. 36. If you coast along the mouth of the On the left of the entrance, towering to a gulf you are conducted by a six days' voyage to vast height, are the mountains which bear another seat of trade belonging to Persis, called the name of A saboi, and directly opposite Omana. Barugaza maintains a regular on the right you see another mountain high and commercial intercourse with both these Persian
(35) Before the mouth of the Persian Gulf is 1 We enter now the Gulf itself, and here the Perireached occurs a height called Kalon (Fair Mount) plús mentions only two particulars: the famous at the last head of the islands of Papias-Tây Pearl Fisheries which begin at the straits and Ilamlov výowy. This reading has been altered by
extend to Bahrein, and the situation of a regular Fabricius and Schwanbeck to Tây Kalálov
trading mart called Apologos, which lies at vhowi. The Fair Mount, according to Vincent, the very head of the Gulf on the Euphrates, and in would answer sufficiently to Cape Fillam, if the vicinity of Spasinou Kharax. This that be high land, and not far from Fillam are place does not appear to be referred to in any the straits. The great cape which Arabia other classical work, but it is frequently protrudes at these straits towards Karmania is mentioned by Arabian writers under the name of now called Ras Mussendom. It was seen from the Oboleh or Obolegh. As an emporium it took opposite coast by the expedition under Nearkhos, the place of Tered ôn or Diridotis, just as to whom it appeared to be a day's sail distant. Basra (below which it was situated) under the The height on that coast is called Semiramis, and second Khaliphate took the place of Oboleh also Strongyle from its round shape. Mussen- itself. According to Vincent, Oboleh, or a village dom, the Asabon akron' of Ptolemy, Vincent says, that represents it, still exists between Basra and the " is a sort of Lizard Point to the Gulf; for all the Euphrates. The canal also is called the canal of Arabian ships take their departure from it with Oboleh. Kharax Pasinou was situated where some ceremonies of superstition, imploring a bless
the Karum (the Eula é us of the ancients) ing on their voyage, and setting afloat a toy
flows into the Pasitigris, and is represented like a vessel rigged and decorated, which if it is by the modern trading town Muhammarah. dashed to pieces by the rocks is to be accepted by It was founded by Alexander the Great, and after its the ocean as an offering for the escape of the vessel." destruction, was rebuilt by Antiokhos Epiphanes, [The straits between the island of Mussendom who changed its name from Alexandreia to Antioand the mainland are called El Bab, and this is kheia. It was afterwards occupied by an Arab the origin of the name of the Papiæ islands.- Chief called Pasines, or rather Spasines, who Miles' Jour. R. A. Soc. N. S. vol. x. p. 168.] gave it the name by which it is best known. Pliny
The actual width of the straits is 40 miles. states that the original town was only 10 miles Pliny gives it at 50, and the Periplús at 75. Cape from the sea, but that in his time the existing Mussendom is represented in the Periplas as in place was so much as 120 miles from it. It was Ptolemy by the Mountains of the Asabi which the birth-place of two eminent geographersare described as tremendous heights, black, grim, Dionysius Periegetes and Isidôros. and abrupt. They are named from the tribe of (36) After this cursory glance at the great Beni Asab.
gulf, our author returns to the straits, and at once
18 "This" (Mons Pulcher) says Major-General Miles, "is Jebel Lahrim or Shaam, the loftiest and most conspicuous peak on the whole cape (Mussendom), being nearly 7000 feet high."-Jour. R. As. Soc. (N.S.) vol. X. p. 168.-ED.
19 « The city of Omana is Sohar, the ancient capital of Omana, which name, as is well known, it then bore, and Pliny is quite right in correcting former writers who had placed it in Caramanis, on which coast there is no good evidence that there was a place of this name. Nearchis does not mention it, and though the author of the Periplas
of the Erythrman Sea does locate it in Persis, it is pretty evident be never visited the place himself, and he must have mistaken the information he obtained from others. It was this city of Sohar most probably that bore the ap. pellation of Emporium Persarum, in which, as Philosturgius relates, permission was given to Theophilus, the ambassador of Constantine, to erect a Christian church." The Homna of Pliny may be a repetition of Omans or Sohar, which he had already mentioned.-Miles in Jour. R. As. Soc. (N. 8.) vol. X. pp. 164-5.-ED.