'1 Remarks on the Sequel to the [Jan. 



is given of the navigation and commerce along the coasts of India, is 

 the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea. This treatise is ascribed by some 

 geographers to Arrian of Nieomedia, the author of the Periplus of the 

 Euxine Sea, but there is reason to believe that it was written not by 

 him but by an Egyptian Greek of the same name, who, it is generally 

 supposed, flourished early in the second century of the Christian era. 

 Arrian of Alexandria, who appears to have been both a mariner and a 

 merchant, delineates in this narrative or journal, the course of naviga 

 tion along the coasts of Eastern Africa, Arabia, Persia, and India. He 

 mentions their principal seaports or marts, and specifies the articles of 

 merchandize found in them — distinguishing them by commercial names, 

 composed in some instances, of Greek terms, in others, of words 

 derived from the language of the country. How far Arrian extended 

 his voyage along the western coast of India, we are not informed. It 

 is supposed, however, that he did not proceed beyond Nelkunda, the 

 modern Nelisuram on the Malabar coast : and the account, therefore, 

 which he gives of the countries situated to the south and east of this, 

 is generally considered as the result, not of personal observation, but of 

 information, obtained from native traders, whom he met in the ports of 

 Western India. Rennell was of opinion that, in the time of the Ptolemies, 

 the Egyptians sailed, not only beyond Cape Comorin, but even up the 

 Ganges to Palibothra. It is probable, however, from what Strabo 

 states, that foreigners seldom extended their voyages so far as the 

 capital of India. He incidentally alludes, indeed, to sailing up the 

 Ganges, or against the stream, to Palibothra ; but he does not state, 

 whether this was done by Egyptian or by native navigators, while in 

 another place he distinctly informs us that few of the Egyptian mer- 

 chants, who sailed from the Red Sea to India, ever proceeded to the 

 Ganges ; and adds that the persons, who made this voyage, were 

 illiterate and incompetent to comprehend matters or questions relating 

 to Geography.* He describes the Ganges as entering the sea by a single 

 mouth or outletf — an error which must be ascribed to the imperfect 

 knowledge that the Egyptian traders had of the Gangetic Delta, and 

 which Strabo could not have committed, if these navigators had been in 

 the habit of ascending this river as high as Palibothra. It would seem 

 from the Periplus, that the trade between Malabar and Coromandel was 

 * Strabo, 686. t Ibid, p. 690. 



