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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[APRIL, 1876.
belonged to the expedition. When word was this region, which we have spoken of as an brought back that Alexander was approaching, isthmus extending from the Arabian Gulf they sailed again up the river, and anchor into the Erythrean Sea, from being inhabited, the neighbourhood of the bridge by which that even the parts which run up further to Alexander intended to lead his army to Susa. the north are a desert of sand. Moreover, men In that same place the troops were reunited, setting forth from the Arabian Gulf in when sacrifices were offered by Alexander for Egypt, after having sailed round the greater the safety of his ships and his men, and games part of Arabia to reach the sea which washes were celebrated. Nearchus, whenever he was the shores of Persis and Susa, have reseen among the troops, was pelted with flowers turned, after sailing as far along the coast of and fillets. There also both Nearchus and Arabia as the water they had shipped lasted them, Leonnatus were crowned by Alexander with and no further. But those adventurers whom golden crowns-Nearchus on account of the Alexander sent from Babylon with insafety of the expedition by sea, and Leonnatus structions to sail as far as they could along the for the victory which he had gained over the right-hand coast of the Erythræan Sea, with Orite and the neighbouring barbarians. It a view to explore the regions lying in that was thus that the expedition which had start direction, discovered some islands lying in their ed from the mouths of the Indus was brought route, and touched also at certain points of the in safety to Alexander.
mainland of Arabia. But as for that cape XLIII. Now the parts which lie to the which Nearch us states was seen by the exright of the Erythræan Sea beyond the pedition projecting into the sea right opposite realms of Babylonia belong principally to to Carmania, there is no one who has been Arabia, which extends in one direction as far able to double it and gain the other side. But if as the sea that washes the shores of Phænicia the place could possibly be passed, either by a and Syrian Palestine, while towards sun- sea-route or a land-route, it seems to me that set it borders on the Egyptians in the Alexander, being so inquisitive and enterprising, direction of the Mediterranean Sea. Bat would have proved that it could be passed in both Egypt is penetrated by a gulf which extends these ways. But again Hanno the Libyan, up from the great ocean, and as this ocean is having set out from Carthage, sailed out into connected with the Erythræan Sea, this fact the ocean beyond the Pillars of Heroules, proves that a voyage could be made all the way having Libya on his left hand, and the time from Babylon to Egypt by means of this until his course was shaped towards the rising sun gulf. But, owing to the heat and utter sterility was five-and-thirty days; but when he steered of the coast, no one has ever made this voyage, southward he encountered many difficulties from except, it may be, some casual seafarers. For the want of water, from the scorching heat, and the troops belonging to the army of Cam- from streams of fire that fell into the sea. byses which escaped from Egyptand reached Cyrene, no doubt, which is situated in & someSusa in safety, and the troops sent by Ptole! what barren part of Libya, is verdant, pogmy the son of Lagus to Seleucus Nicator sessed of a genial climate, and well watered, to Babylon, traversed the Arabian isthmus has groves and meadows, and yields abundantly in eight days altogether. It was a waterless all kinds of useful animals and vegetable products. and sterile region, and they had to cross it But this is only the case up to the limits of the mounted on camels going at full speed, while area within which the fennel-plant can grow, they carried water with them on camels, tre- while beyond this area the interior of Cyrene is velling only by night, for by day the heat was so but a desert of sand. fierce that they could not expose themselves in So ends my narrative relating to Alexander the open air. So far are the parts lying beyond the son of Philip the Macedonian.
