104 Before Chrifl about 170. 



greatefl of the Arabian nations, and enjoy every kind of felicity. Their 

 herds of cattle are innumerable. Their country produces, in the mofl; 

 luxuriant abundance, myrh, frankincenfe, balfam, cinnamon, and cafia. 

 They have alfo an odoriferous fruit, called in their own language larym- 

 na, and a fragrant incenfe, by which the vigour of the body is reftored. 

 The whole country abounds with every thing delightful ; and the very 

 ocean is perfumed by the fragrance of their fpices and odours *. 



Near the main land there are fome iflands, where their veflels are fta- 

 tioned. Moft of them trade to the port, which Alexander eilabliflied at 

 the mouth of the Indus f ; and many alfo trade to Perfia, Carmania, 

 and all other parts of the adjoining continent. Their coafting trade is 

 partly conduded upon large rafts :};, by which they bring in the larymna 

 and other aromatic fruits from diflant parts of the country : and they 

 alfo ufe boats made of leather. 



No people in the world have acquired greater opulence by commerce 

 than the Sabaeans, and Gerrhaeans : for, being in pofTeflion of the car- 

 rying trade between the eaft and weft parts of the world (' Afia and 

 Europe') they command the commerce of both. They convey their 

 pretious merchandize by land carriage j] as far as Syria and Mefopota- 

 mia : they have filled the dominions of Ptolemy with gold ; and they 

 have provided the moft profitable employment, and a thoufand other 

 advantages, to the induftry of the Phoenicians. They have alfo eftablifh- 

 ed feveral colonies in other countries §. 



Thus enriched by their profperous commerce, they are profufe in 

 their expenfes for ornamental plate, and admirable fculptures, a variety 

 of cups and vafes of gold and filver, and fumptuous beds and tripods. 

 The columns of their houfes are covered with gold, or made entirely of 

 filver ; and even the doors and cielings are adorned with gold, filver, 

 ivory, gems, and pretious ftones. In fliort, whatever is to be feen of 

 rich or elegant furniture, difperfed in other countries, is here afl!embled 

 in the greateft abundance and variety in the magnificent houfes of the 

 Sabaeans, many of whom rival kings in their expenditure. 



It is happy for thefe opulent people, that they are far removed from 



• Agatharcliidcs probably vifittJ till:; delightful f See ^4rriarr, L. \\. Diodonis Siculus calls 

 country. He is quite in raptures in tiis dcfcrip- tlie port I'otaiia. 



tion of the luxuries produced in it. His deferip- | Strabo, [Z,. xvi, A. IM4] alfo notices the 



tion fecms to have fuggcfled to Mi'.ton the follow- carriage by rafts (' <r^iiiitii') among the iilands in 



ing beautiful fimilc. the Straits. 



' As when to them who fall || Strnbo, [/.. xvi,/i. 1 127] compares thegieat 



' Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are pall multitude of men and camels in a caravan, travcl- 



' Mozambic, olf at fca north-call winds blow ing fecurcly from llonc to (lone acrofs the dcfcrt, 



' Sabcan odours from the fplcy fliore to an army. 



' Of Araby the Blell : with fuch delay § A curious and iiUcrcfting inftatice of their co- 



* Well plcas'd they flack their courfe, and many Ionization, confirming the account of Agatharchi- 

 ' a league, des, will be given from the Periplus of the Eryth- 



•• ChearM with the grateful fmell, old Ocean rjean fea. See below at A. D. 73. 

 * fmiles.' 



