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MAY, 1879.]
PERIPLUS OF THE ERYTHRÆAN SEA.
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24. The mart of Mou z a has no harbour, but own local products-myrrh of the finest quality its sea is smooth, and the anchorage good, owing that has oozed in drops from the trees, both the to the sandy nature of the bottom. The com- Gabiræan and Mincean kinds; white marble (or modities which it imports are
alabaster), in addition to commodities brought Toppúpa, drápopos kai xvdala-Purple cloth, fine
from the other side of the Gulf, all such as were and ordinary.
enumerated at A douli. The most favourable Ιματισμιός 'Αραβικός χειριδωτός, ότε απλούς και ο season for making a voyage to Mouza is the month κοινός και σκοτουλάτος και διάχρυσος-Garments of September,--that is Thoth, but there is made up in the Arabian fashion, some plain and
nothing to prevent it being made earlier. common, and others wrought in needlework and
25. If on proceeding from Mouza you sail inwoven with gold.
by the coast for about a distance of 300 stadia, Kpókos-Saffron.
there occurs, where the Arabian mainland and Kúrepos-The aromatic rush Kyperos. (Tur. meric?)
the opposite coast of Barbaria at A u a'OBártov-Musling.
litês now approach each other, a channel of no 'Abondai-Cloaks.
great length which contracts the sea and encloses Adukes où modal, doi te kal evróm -Quilts, in
it within narrow bounds. This is 60 stadia wide, small quantity, some plain, others adapted to the and in crossing it you come midway upon the fashion of the country.
island of Diodôros, to which it is owing that Zwvat okaral-Sashes of various shades of colour. the passage of the straits is in its neighbourhood Múpov pérprov-Perfumes, a moderate quantity. exposed to violent winds which blow down Xpñua ikavor--Specie as much as is required. from the adjacent mountains. There is situate Oivos-Wine.
upon the shore of the straits an Arabian village Siros où tolús-Corn, but not much.
subject to the same ruler (as Mouza), Okelis The country produces a little wheat and a by name, which is not so much a mart of comgreat abundance of wine. Both the king and merce as a place for anchorage and supplying the despot above mentioned receive presents water, and where those who are bound for the consisting of horses, pack-saddle mules, gold interior first land and halt to refresh themselves. plate, silver plate, embossed robes of great value, 26. Beyond O kelis, the sea again widening and utensils of brass. Mouza exports its out towards the east, and gradually expanding region is called Elisar o a, from a king bearing Sijan. The larger of the two entrances is 11 miles that name.
wide, and the other only 11. Strabo, Agathêmeros, (24) Adjacent to the Homeritai, and subject and Pliny all agree with the Periplús in giving 60 to them when the Periplus was written, were the stadia as the breadth of the straits. The first Sabaeans, so famous in antiquity for their wealth, passage of those dreaded straits was regarded as luxury and magnificence. Their country, the a great achievement, and was naturally ascribed Sheba of Scripture, was noted as the land of to Sesostris as the voyage though the straits of frankincense. Their power at one time extended Kalpê was ascribed to Heraklês. far and wide, but in the days of our author they Situated on the shores of the straits was were subject to the Homerites ruled over by a place called Ok@lis. This was not a Kharibael, who was assiduous in courting the mart of commerce, but merely a bay with friendship of Rome.
good anchorage and well supplied with water. (25) At a distance of 300 stadia beyond Mouza It is identical with the modern Ghalla or we reach the straits where the shores of Arabia Cella, which has a bay immediately within the and Africa advance so near to each other that the straits. Strabo following Artemidoros notes here passage between them has only, according to the promontory called Akila. Pliny (VI. xxxii. 157) Periplús, a width of 60 stadia, or 7 miles. In the mentions an emporium of the same name "ex midst of the passage lies the island of Dio- quo in Indiam navigatur." In xxvi., 104 of the doros (now Perim), which is about 4 miles longsame Book he says: "Indos petentibus utilisby 2 broad, and rises 230 feet above the level of the simum est ab Oceli egredi.” Ptolemy mentions sea. The straits, according to Moresby, are 14} & Pseudokelis, which he places at the disgeographical miles wide at the entrance between tance of half a degree from the emporium of Bab-el-Mandab Cape (near which is Perim) and Okelis.. the opposite point or volcanic peak called Jibell (26) At a distance beyond Okêlis of 1,200
