DISCOVERIES OF THE ANCIENTS. 13 
avoided it by making his escape to Samos. The 
only particular given of the voyage is, that the 
inhabitants of the coast were men of small sta- 
ture, who, whenever they perceived the Per- 
sians landing, fled to the mountains, abandoning 
their cattle and habitations to the mercy of the., 
strangers. 
These attempts to circumnavigate Africa were 
made with ample means, and under the direction 
of the most powerful monarchs of the age. The 
next was by a single, unaided, and even persecuted 
individual. Eudoxus, * a native of Cyzicus, be- 
ing sent with the presents of his country to the 
Corinthian games, touched on his way at Alexan- 
dria. Here his geographical science, and un- 
bounded zeal for discovery, recommended him to 
the notice of Evergetes, who then reigned in 
Egypt. A plan seems at first to have been form- 
ed for exploring the Nile in the higher parts of its 
course. While this was under discussion, how- 
ever, there was brought to Alexandria a native of 
India, who had been shipwrecked near the foot of 
the Arabian gulf. This personage undertook to 
become a guide in shewing the naval route to India. 
Such an expedition entirely suited the genius and 
views of Eudoxus ; and he was accordingly ap- 
pointed to the chief command. He returned la- 
* Strabo, II. 67, 68. 
