Sanscrit Writing and Language. 103 



length from east to west is double tliat from north to south, is very absurd ; but 

 lie shows an intimate acquaintance with the circumstances of the countries in 

 which he resided as a merchant, and there is no reason to doubt his testimony as 

 to facts that must have come under his own observation. In the second book of 

 his treatise he gives the following account of the African trade with India. 

 " There is a region producing frankincense in the extreme parts of Ethiopia, 

 being inland, but having the ocean farther on, whence those inhabiting Barbary 

 [he so calls the country between that previously spoken of and the ocean], as 

 being near, entering into the inland places and trafficking, bring from them most 

 of the spices, as well as frankincense, cassia, aromatic reed, and many other 

 things ; and the same persons again convey them by sea to Adule [the seaport of 

 Axum], and to the Homerite district [one immediately bordering on Abyssinia], 

 and to the inner India and Persia."* Here we have it asserted in express terms 

 that a traffic was carried on from the principal seaport-town of Abyssinia and 

 from the country which adjoins it, to the inner India; that is, to the Asiatic 

 India, which was so called to distinguish it from a part of Africa which formerly 

 had the same general denomination. It is not to be supposed that the Barbary 

 navigators went directly across the sea to India, but in the mode of voyaging that 

 was then in use they must have gone first to Adule, then along the coasts of 

 Arabia and Persia, and in the last instance along those of India. 



I subjoin another passage from the third book of the Christian Topography 

 of Cosmas, not only on account of the allusion it contains to his having himself 

 made this very voyage, but also because it shows the extent to which Christianity, 



* "Eari 81 r\ \iiy^a. r) Xi/Savwro^opoc £<e ta uKpa r^c 'AiOiOTria^, jutcroysioe fiiv outro, rbv 

 Se 'Qictavov EiriKiiva t^ovaa. oBev koI ol djv Bap/Sapiav oiKOVvreg, wq lyyiOev ovre^, 

 ivipxofMSVoi tTTi ra ixeaoyua Koi Trpay/xarEuojUEvoi KOfii'H.ovaiv iS, avToJv ra TrXsitrra TiSv 

 i}Cv<rfiar(iJv, At/3ai/ov, Kaaiav, KaXafiov, icat 'irepa TroXXa" Koi avrol naXiv Sia OaXaaattg 

 KOfilZovmv iv ry ^ASoiXy, koi tv T(^ 'Ofirtp'iTy, koX ev rp icrwrepq. ^IvSlcf, koi sv ry TlepalSt- — 

 Montfauc. Collec. nov. lib. ii, pp. 138-9. There is an ambiguity in this passage, in consequence of 

 riSuffjuara bearing the meaning of " seasonings for the taste," or that of « perfumes." If the word 

 have here the former, which is the more appropriate signification, the articles of trade which follow 

 it must be considered as additional ones ; but if it have the latter, then the frankincense, cassia, 

 and reed are subjoined merely as specimens of the ijSuirjuara. However this may be, it is plain 

 from the account of Cosmas, that in the sixth century India imported from Africa commodities, 

 which she now exports of her own growth. 



