60 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book VI. 



longer on fish. Next after these the writers have placed ex- 

 tensive deserts, and then Carmania, Persia, and Arabia. 



CHAP. 26. VOYAGES TO INDIA. 



But before we enter into any details respecting these 

 countries, it will be as well to mention what Onesicritus 44 

 has stated, who commanded the fleet of Alexander, and sailed 

 from India 45 into the heart of Persia, and what has been 

 more recently related by Juba ; after which 1 shall speak of the 

 route along these seas which has been discovered in later years, 

 and is followed at the present day. The journalof the voyage 

 of Onesicritus and Nearchus has neither the names of the 

 stations, nor yet the distances set down in it ; and. first of all, 

 it is not sufficiently explained where Xylenepolis was, and 

 near what river, a place founded by Alexander, and from 

 which, upon setting out, they took their departure. Still, how- 

 ever, the following places are mentioned by them, which are 

 worthy of our notice. The town of Arbis, founded by Ne- 

 archus on the occasion of this voyage ; the river Nabrus, 46 

 navigable for vessels, and opposite to it an island, at a distance 

 of seventy stadia ; Alexandria, built by Leonnatus 47 by order 

 of Alexander in the territories of this people ; Argenus, with 

 a very convenient harbour ; the river Tonberos, 43 a navigable 

 stream, around whose banks are the Pasirse ; then come the Ich- 

 thyophagi, who extend over so large a tract of coast that it 

 took thirty days 49 to sail past their territory ; and an island 

 known by the names of the " Island of the Sun" 60 and the " Bed 



44 See the Notes at the end of this Book. 



45 By descending the Indus, and going up the Persian Gulf. 



46 Near the mouth of the Indus, Hardouin says. 



47 One of Alexander's most distinguished officers, and a native of Pella. 

 He commanded the division of cavalry and light-armed troops which ac- 

 companied the fleet of Alexander down the Indus, along the right bank of 

 the river. The Alexandria here mentioned does not appear to have been 

 identified. It is not to be confounded with Alexandria in Arachosia, nor 

 yet with a place of the same name in Carmania, the modern Kerman. 



48 A river Tomerus is spoken of by Arrian as lying between the Indus 

 and the river Arabis or Arbis. 



49 They seem to have dwelt along the shores of the modern Mukran, 

 south of feeloochistan, and probably part of Kerman. 



50 Called Nosala by Arrian. Ansart suggests that it is the island now 

 known by the name of Sengadip. It lay probably off the promontory or 

 headland of the Sun, on the eastern coast of Arabia. 



