1851.] Essay on the Ancient Geography of India. 25 1 



go directly to the opposite side of the outer mouth of the Hdb ; and 

 the distance is reckoned about three cos, or six miles. Should the 

 wind prove unfavourable, they take a circuit through the bay, availing 

 themselves of the remaining part of the tide of flood, and with the 

 tide of ebb they come down to the usual landing place. This compass 

 is about seven cos or thirteen miles. 



Sdnemeydni in an island, or peninsula, or rather both, if I may be 

 allowed the expression, is situated on the Northern side of it, toward 

 the bay to the Eastward, and at some distance from the outer mouth 

 of the Hdb. It is a small wretched place, chiefly inhabited by Musal- 

 mans. The trees, and groves, which Nearchus saw there, no longer 

 exist : tolerably good water is obtained from wells, which however 

 must be digged afresh frequently. Its ancient, and extensive fisheries 

 are now much neglected : and from them it is asserted, that its name 

 Sdnemeydni, or the golden fisheries, is derived from their immense 

 returns. 



In that case, its name should be spelt Sdn-mahydni ; for mahi in that 

 country, and in Persian also, is fish ; sona is the vulgar pronunciation 

 of the Sanskrit Swarna gold. It is called also Sdnydnpuri, the golden 

 town,* and Sanawain by El Edrissi.f The latter is for Sdnydni, or 

 Sdnyain, which are derivative forms in the vulgar dialects. El Edrissi 

 says, that in Kirman, there are also Sanauain and Mascdn, which last 

 is near Kircaian towards the source of the Hdb. In the Portuguese 

 map of that country, in the travels of Z. H. Linschot, the bay at the 

 mouth of the Il-Mend or Hdb with the peninsula, and an arm of the 

 river toward the west, are remarkably well delineated, and the penin- 

 sula is called with propriety an island. Its name Zarnaque seems to 

 be from Swarnaca, the golden island. 



The real name of Sdn-mahydni is Pher, or Phor-mohdnd, or the 

 mouth of the river Phdr or Pher, another name for the Hdb, from a 

 town of that name on its banks. It is called Fermoun by Ebn-Haucal, 

 and Berment in some old Portuguese maps, as in that of the Persian 

 empire, in (Melius' s Atlas. On the opposite side of the Hdb, in the 

 above map, is a place called Beccar. Its true name is Macara, and a 

 little further west, is Mette, for Mdtd, or Hihgldj'devi. 



* See Asiat. Researches, Vol. V. p. 43. 

 f See El Edrissi, pp. 51 and 59. 



2 K 



