40 MINES OF 



CHAP. II. 



Indus, there are two islands named Chryse and 

 Argyre, so called, as I think, from the mines of 

 gold and silver which are found there ; for I can- 

 not believe what some have asserted, that the 

 soil on them consists wholly of those metals 1 ." 



We know both from Strabo and Pliny, that 

 a trade by caravans was carried on in remote 

 ages between Babylon and India, and though we 

 know not what commodities the former supplied 

 to the latter, yet we may safely presume that 

 gold, if not silver, formed a part of the articles 

 which the Indians gave in exchange. 

 Egypt and Neither any of the relations of ancient history, 



Nubia. * 



nor any of the more recent examinations of that 

 country, afford ground to believe that Egypt be- 

 low the cataracts contained mines of gold or silver, 

 although we know from the most authentic ac- 

 counts, that at an early period the Tyrians and 

 other Phoenicians, and at a later period the Per- 

 sians, after the conquest of that country by Cam- 

 byses, drew from thence large quantities of both 

 those metals. 



In the provincial division of his dominions by 

 Darius, it was denominated the sixth satrapy; 

 and we are informed that " seven hundred talents 

 were annually required from Egypt and the 

 Africans which border on Egypt, which are 

 comprehended in the Egyptian district." The 



1 Pliny, b. vi. cap. 21, 



