Chap. 28.] ACCOUNT 01" COUNTBIES, ETC. 67 



this gulf is called the Azanian'* Sea. The Persian Gulf, at the 

 entrance, is only flve^ miles wide ; some writers make it four. 

 From the entrance to the very bottom of the gulf, ia a straight 

 line, has been ascertained to be nearly eleven hundred and 

 twenty-five miles : in outline it strongly resembles °* the human 

 head. Onesicritus and Nearchus have stated in their works 

 that from the river Indus to the Persian Gulf, and from thence 

 to Babylon, situate in the marshes of the Euphrates, is a dis- 

 tance of seventeen hundred miles. 



In the angle of Carmania are the Chelonophagi,^ who cover 

 their cabins with the shells of turtles, and live upon their 

 flesh ; these people inhabit the next promontory that is seen 

 after leaving the river Arbis f with the exception of the head, 

 they are covered all over with long hair, and are clothed in 

 the skins of fishes. 



(25.) Beyond their district, in the direction of India, is said 

 to be the desert island of Caicandrus, fifty miles out at sea ; near 

 to which, with a strait flowing between them, is Stoidis, cele- 

 brated for its valuable pearls. After passing the promontory" 

 are the Armozei,'* joining up to the Carmani ; some writers, 

 however, place between them the Arbii," extending along the 

 shore a distance of four hundred and twenty-one mUes. ' Here 

 is a place called Portus Macedonum,^ and the Altars of Alex- 

 ander, situate on a promontory, besides the rivers Saganos, 

 Daras, and Salsa. Beyond the last river we come to the pro- 

 montory of Themisteas, and the island of Aphrodisias, which 

 is peopled. Here Persis begins, at the river Gratis, '* which 



ss From Azania in Ethiopia, mentioned again in c. 34 of tlie present 

 Book. 



^ The maps appear to make it considerably more. 



8* The only feature of resemblance appears to be its comparatire nar- 

 rowness at the neck. 



s' Or " turtle-eaters." 



-*' Different probably from the Cophis mentioned in c. 25, which was 

 also called Arabius or 'Arbis, and probably represented by the modem 

 I'urali. 



" Of Harmozon, probably the modern Bombareek. 



'2 Their district is supposed to denote the vicinity of the modem Ormuz, 

 an island off this coast, which is now known as Mogbostan. 



93 Taking their name prtybably from the river Arbis, previously men- 

 tioned. 



M The " Port of the Macedonians." 



»5 Now the Tab, falling into the Persian Gulf. 



