54 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book VI. 



that the nearest point of the Indian coast is a promontory 

 known as Coliacum, 1 distant from the island four days' sail, and 

 that midway between them lies the island of the Sun. They 

 stated also that those seas are of a deep green tint ; besides 

 which, there are numerous trees growing at the bottom, so much 

 so, that the rudders of the vessels frequently break off portions 

 cf their foliage. 2 They were much astonished at the constel- 

 lations which are visible to us, the Greater Bear and the Plei- 

 ades, 3 as though they had now beheld a new expanse of the 

 heavens ; and they declared that in their country the moon 

 can only be seen above the horizon 4 from the eighth to its 

 sixteenth day. They also stated that Canopus, a large bright 

 star, gives light to them by night. But what surprised them 

 more than anything, was that the shadow of their bodies was 

 thrown towards our hemisphere 5 and not theirs, and that the 

 sun arose on the left hand and set on the right, and not in the 

 opposite direction. 6 They also informed us that the side of 

 their island which lies opposite to India is ten thousand stadia 

 in length, and runs in a south-easterly direction that beyond 

 the Emodian Mountains they look towards 7 the Serse, whose 



1 It is difficult to say whether by this name is meant the modern Cape 

 Comorin, or that known as Ramanan Cor, which is in reality the nearest 

 point to the coast of Ceylon. Perhaps the latter is meant ; in which case 

 it is not improbable that the Island of the Sun will be represented by the 

 islet called Rameserum in the maps, or else the one adjoining called 

 Manaar. It must not be confounded with the Island of the Sun, men- 

 tioned in c. 26. See p. 60. 



* It is not improbable that he alludes to coral reefs. 



3 This assertion Gosselin would either reject as a fabulous falsehood, or 

 as having originated in some misconception on the part of the Romans ; 

 for, as he remarks, it is quite impossible that the Pleiades should be a 

 constellation unknown at that time to the people of Ceylon ; but, on the 

 other hand, it would be equally true that the Greater Bear was concealed 

 from them. 



4 This was also a fable, or else originated in misapprehension of their 

 language on the part of the Romans. 



5 Gosselin remarks that their story may have been that for about 

 seven months in the year the shadows fell to the north, and during the 

 remaining five to the south, which would not have been inconsistent with 

 the truth. 



6 This also is classed by Gosselin under the head either of fabulous 

 stories or misapprehensions. 



7 " Seras ab ipsis aspici." It is difficult to say whether this does not 

 mean that they were in sight of the coast of the Serae. Under any cir- 

 cumstances, the Serae here spoken of must not be taken for the Seres or 



