574 MEDIAEVAL IIISTOEY. [PART V. 



There an immense region extends to the south, and the ^Ethi- 

 opians dwell in numerous populous and well-circumstanced 

 cities, and navigate the sea. Their ships are not suited for 

 war, and have no sails. And having sailed thirty-six days to 

 the southward, the Tyrians arrived at the island of Eachius 



(Ch. 9.) " The roadstead was in front of a level strand, bor- 

 dered with lofty trees, and coming on to blow at night, they 

 were in the utmost danger till sunrise : but running then to 

 the south, they came in sight of a safe harbour l ; and saw many 

 populous towns inland. On landing, they were surrounded by 

 the villagers, and the governor of the place entertained them 

 hospitably for seven days ; pending the return of a messenger 

 whom he had despatched to the principal king, to ask his in- 

 structions relative to the Tyrians who had anchored in the 

 harbour. The messenger having returned on the seventh day, 

 the governor sent for the Tyrians the following morning, and 

 informed them that they must go with him to the king, who 

 was then residing at Eochapatta, a large and prosperous city in 

 the centre of the island. In front marched several spearmen, 

 sent by the king as a guard of honour to the strangers ; who 

 with the clash of their spears scared away the elephants 

 which were numerous and dangerous because it was their 

 rutting time. The Tyrians marched in the centre, and Cedarus, 

 Cotilus, and Jaminus were carried in palanquins. The vil- 

 lagers as they passed along offered them presents, and the 

 governor brought up the rear, where he rode on an elephant, 

 surrounded by his body guard. In this order of march, they 

 on the third day came to a ford ; in the passage over which, one 

 of the travellers was devoured by crocodiles which swarm in 

 the rivers. Having proceeded thus for several days, they at 

 length descried the city of Kochapatta, environed by lofty 

 mountains. And when it was known that they had arrived 

 (for the rumour of their approach had preceded them) the in- 

 habitants rushed from the city in a body to see the Tyrians ; 

 some riding on elephants, some on asses, some in palan- 

 quins, but the greater part on foot. And the commander 

 having conducted them into a spacious and splendid palace, 

 caused the gates to be closed, that the crowd might not make 

 their way in; and led the Tyrians to the King Eachius, who 

 was seated on a beautiful couch. Presents were then inter- 



Galle? 



