BOOK VI.] History of Nature. 137 



by the computation of Eratosthenes. Overagainst this Gulf 

 is Arabia, which is in Length 1200 Miles. On the other 

 side there is another called the Arabian Gulf, which runneth 

 into the Ocean, called Azanius. The Mouth of the Persian 

 Gulf is Five Miles wide, though some have made it but 

 Four. From this to its deepest recess, by a straight Course, 

 is known to be 1125 Miles; and it is fashioned like a Man's 

 Head. Onesicritus and Nearchus have written, that from 

 the River Indus to the Persian Gulf, and from thence to 

 Babylon by the Marshes of the Euphrates, is 2500 Miles. 

 In an angle of Carmania the Chelonophagi inhabit, who feed 

 on the Flesh of Tortoises, and cover their Cottages with their 

 Shells. They inhabit from the River Arbis to the very Cape, 

 they are Hairy over all their Body except their Heads, and 

 wear no other Garment but Fish-skins. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

 The Island Cascandrus : and the Kingdoms of the Parthians. 



BEYOND this Tract of the Chelonophagi, toward India, 

 there lieth, Fifty Miles within the Sea, the Island Cascan- 

 drus, by report all desert ; and near it, with an Arm of the 

 Sea between, another Island called Stois ; having a lucrative 

 Trade in Pearls. Beyond the Cape of Carmania, you enter 

 upon the Armozei. Some say, that the Albii are between 

 both ; and that their Coasts contain in the whole 402 Miles. 

 There are the Port of the Macedonians, and the Altars of 

 Alexander on the very Promontory itself. The Rivers Saga- 

 nos, and then Daras, and Salsos : beyond which is the Cape 

 Thernistheas, and the Island Aphrodisias, which is inhabited. 

 Then beginneth Persis, which extendeth to the River Oroatis, 

 that divideth it from Elymais. Overagainst Persis, these 

 Islands, Philos, Cassandra, and Aratia, with an exceeding 

 high Mountain in it : and this Island is consecrated to Nep- 

 tune. Persis itself, westward, hath the Coasts lying out in 

 Length 450 Miles. The People are Rich, even to Luxury; 

 and long since they are become subject to the Parthians, and 

 have lost their own Name. We will briefly now speak of 



