ANUGANGAM, &C. 65 



Ctesias, in general true, and correct, with a few 

 wild and extravagant notions as usual with him. 

 There is a river in India, ahout one furlong broad, 

 or two stadia, called Hifpardio. Pliny, who liad 

 seen Ctksias's works, long befoie Photius, says it 

 was called Hyjwbanis, and flowed from the north 

 into the Eastern sea. Cor gulph of Bengal, called, by 

 the Pauran'ics, the eastern, as that, between JJ'nca 

 and India, is named the JFestcrn sea). The moun- 

 tains abound with trees, hanging over the numerous 

 streams, which flow through tliem. Once a year, 

 during thirty days, tears flow plentifully from them, 

 which falling into the waters beneath, coagulate into 

 Amber. These trees the Hindus call Sipa-chora. In 

 the countr}', about the sources of this river, there is 

 a flower of a purple colour, which gives a dye, not 

 inferior to the Grecian, but even much brighter. 

 There is also an insect, living upon these Amber- 

 bearing trees, the fruit of which they eat; and, with 

 these insects bruised, the}' dye stiifls, for close ves- 

 tures, and long gowns, of a purple colour, superior 

 to the Persian. These mountaineers, having col- 

 lected the Amber, and the prepared materials of the 

 purple dye, carry the whole on board of boats, with 

 the dried fruit of the tree, which is good to eat; 

 and then convey their goods, by water, to different 

 parts of India. A great quantity they carry to the 

 Emperor (the king of Magadlia,) to the amount of 

 about one thousand talents. In return tliey take 

 bread, meal, and coarse cloth. They sell also, their 

 swords, bows, and arrows. Every fifth year the king 

 (of Magadlia) sends them, as a present, a vast quan- 

 tity of bows, arrows, swords, and shields. 



This Amber of Ctesias is obviously the Indian 

 Lacca, whicli has many properties of the Ainber or 

 Electrum. Till very lately, authors differed, as to 

 the production of this curious drug. Some imagined, 

 that it was the indurated juice of some trees. Others, 



Vol. IX. F 



