66 pllnt's natueal history. [Book VI. 



CHAP. 27. CARMANIA. 



Nearclms states in his writings that the coast of Carmania'' 

 extends a distance of twelve hundred and fifty miles. From 

 its frontier to the river Sabis^'^ is one hundred miles. At this 

 spot begins the cultivation of the vine ; which with the till- 

 age of the fields, extends as far as the river Ananis," a dis- 

 tance of twenty-five miles. This region is known by the name 

 of Armuzia. The cities of Carmania are Zetis and Alexan- 

 dria.^^ 



CHAP. 28. THE PEESIAN AND THE ARABIAN GULFS. 



The sea then makes a two-fold indentation^^ in the land 

 upon these coasts, under the name of Rubrum^ or ^' Eed," 

 given to it by our countrymen ; while the Greeks have called 

 it Ery thrum, from king Erythras,®^ or, according to some 

 writers, from its red colour, which they think is produced by 

 the reflection of the sun's rays ; others again are of opinion 

 that it arises from the sand and the complexion of the soil, 

 others from some peculiarity in the nature of the water. 

 (24.) Be this as it may, this body of water is divided into two 

 gulfs. The one which lies to the east is called the Persian Gulf, 

 and is two thousand five hundred miles in circumference, ac- 

 cording to Eratosthenes. Opposite to it lies Arabia, the length 

 of which is fifteen hundred miles. On the other side again, 

 Arabia is bounded by the Arabian Gulf. The sea as it enters 



'9 An extensive province of Asia, along the northern shores of the Per- 

 sian Gulf, supposed to have comprehended the coast-line of the modern 

 Laristan, Kirman, and Moghostan. 



^ Ptolemy mentions an inland town of Carmania of the same name. 



^^ Supposed to be that known now as the Ibrahim Rud, which falls into 

 the Persian Gulf. 



^2 These sites are unknown. 



^3 Forms two bays or gulfs in succession. 



^^ He gives this name to the whole expanse of sea that lies between 

 Arabia and Africa on the west, and India on the east, including the Eed 

 Sea and the Persian Gulf. 



^^ Or Erythrus. In all probability entirely a mythical personage. The 

 sea having been called in Greek (pvQpala, or " red" — tlie legend most 

 probably thence took its rise. No very satisfactory reason has yet been 

 given for its being so called. The Hebrew name of it signifies the " Sedgy 

 t>ea." 



