NJ Remarks on the Sequel to the [Jan. 



and it is probable, that from this word is derived Chiinay, which was 

 the name given by the older geographers to a lake, whence the Brahma- 

 putra was supposed to issue. 



Serica is described by Ptolemy, as bounded on the east and north by 

 unknown countries, on the west by Scythia extra Imaum, and on the 

 south by India extra Gangem and the country of the Sinse. The words 

 which describe the relative position of the latter nation, are in the La- 

 tin text; " Quodque supra Sinas, Serum jacet regio et metropolis."* 

 This evidently refers to Upper Assam, which may, therefore, be con- 

 sidered as the country, in which, Sera, the metropolis of the Sinas (2r?/ms 

 ttjs T<av Zivav /xT/rpoTroAews) was situated. A river called Serus is represent- 

 ed by Ptolemy, as rising in a situation apparently corresponding with 

 that of the mountains in which the Irawaddee has its origin, and as run- 

 ning to the south, through India extra Gangem. The latitude, which is 

 assigned to Sera, is ten degrees north of that of Sadiya in Upper Assam 

 — the former being mentioned as 38° N. L. and the latter being 28° N. 

 L. — an error which is, no doubt, to be attributed to the very vague and 

 imperfect knowledge which the ancients had of this country. 



The journey from the Stone Tower to the frontier of Serica occupied 

 a space of seven months. It is described as attended with many diffi- 

 culties and hardships, and it seems to have been from the account of 

 the bleak inhospitable regions of Bootan and Thibet, the excessive cold 

 of the climate, and the severe storms which the travellers encountered : 

 " via autem quae est a turra lapidea ad Seras vehementissimis obnoxia 

 est tempestatibus/'f that Ptolemy was induced to assign to Sera the 

 northern latitude which is mentioned above. Marinus derived his infor- 

 mation regarding the route to Serica from Maes of Macedon, called 

 Titianus, who sent agents from the Stone Tower to trade with the people 

 of that country. He describes the route, which the caravan travelled 

 from Byzantium to the Stone Tower, as crossing Mesopotamia from the 

 Euphrates to the Tigris, as proceeding through Assyria and Media to 

 Ecbatana, to Hecatompylos, and to Margiana, and thence through Aria, 

 or Herat, to Bactria or Balk. It next crossed a range of mountains 

 called Montes Comedorum, whence it proceeded through the country of 

 the Sacse, and then arrived at the Stone Tower.! Different sites have 

 been assigned to the latter place, but it is probable, notwithstanding the 



* Ptol. Lib. I. Chap. XVII. f Ibid. Chap. XI. % Ibid. Chap. XII. 



