BOOK VL xxi. 56-58 



is complete agreement as to the races^ — the range of 

 moiintains called the Himalayas. Here begins the 

 Indian race, bordering not only on the Eastern Sea 

 but 011 the southern also, which we have designated 

 the Indian Ocean. The part facing east stretches § 33. 

 in a straight hnc until it comes to a bend, and at the 

 point where the Indian Ocean begins its total length 

 is 1875 miles ; while from that point onward the 

 southerly bend of the coast according to Eratosthcnes 

 covers 2475 miles, finally reaching the river Indus, 

 which is the western boundary of India. A great 

 many authors however give the entire length of 

 the coast as being forty days' and nights' sail and 

 the measurement of the country from north to south 

 as 2850 miles. Agrippa says tliat it is 3300 miles 

 long and 2300 miles broad. Posidonius gives its 

 measurement from north-east to south-east, making 

 tlie whole of it face the west side of Gaul, of 

 which he gives the measurement from noi*th-west 

 to south-west ; and accordingly he shows by an 

 unquestionable Une of argurnent that India has the 

 advantage of being exposed to the current of tlie 

 west wind, which makes it healthy. In that coun- 

 try the aspect of the heavens and the rising of the 

 stars are difFerent, and there ai*e two summers and 

 two harvests yearly, separated by a winter accom- 

 panied by etesian winds, while at our midwinter it 

 enjoys soft breezes and the sea is navigable. Its 

 races and cities are beyond counting, if one wished 

 to enumerate all of them. For it has been brought to 

 knowledge not only by the armed forces of Alexander 

 the Great and tiie lcings who succeeded him, Seleucus 

 and Antiochus, and their admiral of the fleet Pat- 

 rocles having sailed round even into the Hyrcanian 



381 



