1851.] Essay on the Ancient Geography of India. 479 



Ptolemy has increased the number of these islands to four : but the 

 three, which he calls Asthoea, Liba, and Carmina are one only, now- 

 called Ashtola. These two islands, with a third called Codane, for 

 Colane, by Ptolemy, and Toralliba by Pliny, or in Hindi the island of 

 Liba, were the place of abode of queen Laba, the goddess Libido, or 

 Lubedo. Of this third island, Nearchus takes no notice ; though he 

 must have seen it often, as he remained at Alexander's harbour, four 

 and twenty days. It was, I believe at this last, that the ship manned 

 with people from Egypt, though probably not of a true Egyptian 

 origin, gave him the slip. They were probably tired of this navi- 

 gation, and having a good ship, well manned, availed themselves of 

 the superstitious notions of the country, concerning this island ; and 

 made their escape. What induces me to suppose, that this happened 

 at this island, is that this transaction, as well as the search of Nearchus, 

 required a few days ; and it does not appear, that he made any stay at 

 any of the places near Ashtola. 



It is then highly probable, that Nearchus willing to preserve the 

 connexion of the narrative of his naval expedition, rejected uncommon 

 occurrences, to the end of one of the three natural divisions of his 

 journal ; the shores of India, the coast of the Ichthyophagi, and that 

 of Carmania and Persia. Having conducted his fleet all along the 

 coast of the Ichthyophagi, and just before he enters the gulf of Persia, 

 he relates the adventure of the whales, near Cuiza ; and that of the 

 island, the abode of a Nereid. Philostratus, in conformity with 

 Ptolemy, places it near Badara : but Marcian carries it a little farther 

 near Alambateir. Neither time, nor a change of religion have obli- 

 terated these superstitious notions : for Capt. Blair, as cited by Dr. 

 Vincent, writes "We were warned by the natives at Passence, that it 

 would be dangerous, to approach the island of Ashtola, as it was 

 enchanted, and that a ship had been turned into a rock. . . . and we saw 

 the rock alluded to, which at a distance has the appearance of a ship 

 under sail."* The same story is related of a rock near Hiiiglaj, as I 

 observed before. Nosala, or in Sanskrit N&sala, signifies the place of 

 ruin and destruction : for in Cosas we read, Niisa ruin is mrityu, death ; 

 dwansa, dashing against stones ; adar'sana, disappearance ; paldyana, 

 from pala, rout, flight ; and pala is the root of palla, far off ; and 

 * Voyage of Nearchus, Vol. 1st, p. 299, edition of 1807. 



3 Q, 



