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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1876.
ficulty and uncertainty. The distånce from Aginis to Susa appears to me to be much under-estimated.
The following extract from Strabo will illus- trate this part of the narrative :
- Polycletus says that the Choaspes, and the Eulæus, and the Tigris also enter a lake, and thence discharge themselves into the sea; that on the side of the lake is a mart, as the rivers do not receive the merchandize from the sea, nor convey it down to the sea, on account of dams in the river, purposely constructed; and that the goods are transported by land, a distance of 800 stadia, to Susis : according to others, the rivers which flow through Susis discharge themselves by the intermediate canals of the Euphrates into the single stream of the Tigris, which on this account has at its mouth the name of Pasítigris. According to Nearchus, the sea-coast of Susis is swampy and terminates at the river Euphrates; at its mouth is a village which receives the merchandize from Arabia, for the coast of Arabia approaches close to the mouths of the Euphrates and the Pasitigris; the whole intermediate space
is occupied by a lake which receives the Tigris.
On sailing up the Pasitigris 150 stadia is a | bridge of rafts leading to Sasa from Persis, and
is distant from Susa 60 (600?) stadia; the Pasitigris is distant from the Oroätis about 2000 stadia ; the ascent through the lake to the mouth of the Tigris is 600 stadia; near the mouth stands the Susian village Aginis, distant from Susa 500 stadia; the journey by water from the mouth of the Euphrates up to Babylon, through a well-inhabited tract of country, is a distance of more than 3000 stadia."-Book xv. 3, Bohn's translation.
The Bridge.-This, according to Ritter and Rawlinson, was formed at a point near the modern village of Ahwaz. Arrowsmith places Aginis at Ahwaz.
CHAP. XLIII.-The 3rd part of the Indica, the purport of which is to prove that the southern parts of the world are uninhabitable, begins with this chapter.
The troops sent by Ptolemy.-It is not known when or wherefore Ptolemy sent troops on this expedition.
MAXIMS AND SENTIMENTS FROM THE MAHABHARATA. - BY J. MUIR, D.C.L., LL.D., Ph.D., EDINBURGH.
(Continued from p. 313.) 40. Beneficence a duty. Mahabharata
Who toils immensely, little sleeps, ji. 13745.
Who, not content to belp his friends, A man should do with all his might
When asked, his help to foes extends. The good his heart has once designed.
44. Mutability of human things. xi. 48. Ne'er let him wrong with wrong requite,
In scatterings end collections all; But be to others ever kind.
High towering piles at last must fall; 41. The humble are wise. v. 1010.
In parting every meeting ends; Those men who far 'bove others rise
To death all life of creatures tends. In learning, wealth, or royal state,
45. All sins known to the gods. xii. 7058. And yet with pride are ne'er elate,
Poor uninstructed mortals try By all are justly reckoned wise.
Their wilful sins from view to screen; 42. Selfishness. v. 1011.
But though by human eyes unseen, Who more inhuman lives than he,
The gods their guilty deeds descry. Of dainty food who eats the best,
46. Evils of wealth; praise of contentnient. In rich attire is always drest,
iii. 84. And stints his helpless family?
As fire consumes the wood from which it 43. Marks of a virtuous mus. v. 1088. springs, No ill the thoughtful man disturbs,
So inborn greed to mortals ruin brings. His hungry appetite who curbs,
The rich in constant dread of rulers live, In comfort all his household keeps, I of water, fire, thieves, kingmen crying "Give."
