454 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



this trcafnrc was, however, impracticable, as he had no 

 provifion, nor was there any in the way of his march. His 

 army, therefore, wafted daily by death and difperfion ; and 

 he had the mortification to be obliged to retreat into Egypt, 

 after part of his troops had been reduced to the neceffity of 

 eating each other *; 



Darius, king of Perfia, attempted to open this trade in 

 a much more worthy and liberal manner, as he fent (hips 

 down the river Indus into the ocean, whence they entered 

 the Red Sea. It is probable, in this voyage, he acquired all 

 the knowledge neceffary for eftablilhing this trade in Per- 

 fia; for he muft have palled through the Perfian Gulf, and 

 along the whole eaftern coalt of Arabia ; he muft have 

 feen the marts of perfumes and fpices that were at the 

 mouth of the Red Sea, and the manner of bartering for 

 gold and filver, as he was neceffarily in thofe trading 

 places which were upon the very fame coaft from which 

 thQ bullion was brought. I do not know, then, why M. de 

 Montefquieu f has treated this expedition of Darius fo con- 

 temptuoully, as it appears to have been executed without 

 great trouble or cxpence, and terminated without lofs or 

 hardfhip ; the ftrongeft proof that it was at firft wifely plan- 

 ed. The prince. himfelf was famous for his love of learn- 

 ing, which we find by his anxiety to be admitted among the 

 Ma^i, and the fenfe he had of that honour, in caufing it to 

 be engraved upon his tomb. 



The 



Lucan iib. x. ver. 280. f vide Montefq. liv. si. chap 8- 



