1 96 Mr. Carter on the Delta of the Persia n Gulf, 



it was, that in ancient times a space of several miles existed 

 between the mouths of the two rivers, because it led us to in- 

 fer that all this space had been since filled up by the growth 

 of the delta. In my last paper I pointed out a serious over- 

 sight; for Pliny immediately goes on to say, " but long since 

 the Orcheni and neighbouring people had dammed up the 

 Euphrates to water the fields, so that by the Pasitigris only it 

 is now carried to the sea *." I should not here notice the 

 important loss to the theory of this passage, but that the reply 

 does not, and a similar instance occurs. 



I had there made a pointed reference to the following state- 

 ment of Pliny f: " Nearchus and Onesicritus relate, that the 

 length of the voyage along the Euphrates, from the Persian 

 sea to Babylon, is 412 miles;" (then follows the distance from 

 Seleucia;) then, "Juba says, from Babylon to Charax is 175 

 miles.... Some say that beyond Babylon it keeps in one channel 

 for 87 miles, till parted at the irrigating canals. ...From such va- 

 rying relations it is difficult to learn the true measure.. ..Where 

 it ceases to keep its channel on the confines of Charax," &c. 

 So that we have for the distance in miles to Babylon 412, 

 with Juba's 50 to Charax also 225, and a third in this 87 only 

 to about Charax. The length of the stadium is not the point 

 here. Indeed, having examined several distances in Strabo 

 and Pliny, I believe 16 to a mile, notwithstanding their rule 

 (infra) will sometimes correspond fully as well as any other. 

 The point is, that the distance was utterly uncertain, Pliny 

 knew not, could not know, what to determine, and conse- 

 quently whatever he has related of an increase in the distance 

 of Charax from the sea, and thus of some large accessions to 

 the land, must rest on the slippery basis of this " diversitas 

 auctorum ". 



The reply, however, having in the preceding paragraph 

 introduced Dean Vincent to say that Nearchus not having 

 personally made the estimate, it could not be relied on, de- 

 taches it from the rest, and thus presents it: "We fortunately 

 possess an authority independently of Arrian J, who establishes 



* Pliny, Hist. Nat. , 1. vi. c. 27. And it is the more remarkable, for Pliny 

 actually mentions this junction of the Euphrates and Tigris no less than 

 three times in the same sixth book, and notices there also, specially, the con- 

 fluence of the Tigris and Euleus. 



t Euphrate navigari Babylonem e Persico mari 412 mill. pass, tradunt 

 Nearchus et Onesicritus.. ..Juba a Babylone Characem 175 mill. pass.... 

 Fluere aliqui ultra Babylonem continuo alveo priusquam distrahitur ad ri- 

 gua87 mill...Inconstantiam mensurae diversitas auctorum facit...Ubi desinit 

 alvco munire ad confininm Characis, &c. — Pliny > Hist. Nat., 1. vi. c. 26. 



X Pliny had learned this from some quarter, but why is lie to be consi- 

 dered an authority independently of Arrian for the .'$300 stadia? He ex- 



