66 
PLINT's NATUBAL HISTOfiT. 
[Book YI. 
CHAP. 27. CAEMANIA. 
Nearclms states in his writings that the coast of Carmania"'^ 
extends a distance of twelve hundred and fifty miles. From 
its frontier to the river Sabis^^ is one hundred miles. At this 
spot begins the cultivation of the vine ; which with the till- 
age of the fields, extends as far as the river Ananis/^ a dis- 
tance of twenty-five miles. This region is known by the name 
of Armuzia. The cities of Carmania are Zetis and Alexan- 
dria.^'^ 
CHAP. 28. THE PEESIAN AND THE AEABIAN GULFS. 
The sea then makes a two-fold indentation^^ in the land 
upon these coasts, under the name of Eubrum^* or Eed/* 
given to it by our countrymen ; while the Greeks have called 
it Erythrum, from king Erythras,^^ or, according to some 
writers, from its red colour, which they think is produced by 
the reflection of the sun's rays ; others again are of opinion 
that it arises from the sand and the complexion of the soil, 
others from some peculiarity in the nature of the water. 
(24.) Be this as it may, this body of water is divided into two 
gulfs. The one which lies to the east is called the Persian Gulf, 
and is two thousand five hundred miles in circumference, ac- 
cording to Eratosthenes. Opposite to it lies Arabia, the length 
of which is fifteen hundred miles. On the other side again, 
Arabia is bounded by the Arabian Gulf. The sea as it enters 
"^^ An extensive province of Asia, along the northern shores of the Per- 
sian Gulf, supposed to have comprehended the coast-line of the modern 
Laristan, Kirman, and Moghostan. 
Ptolemy mentions an inland town of Carmania of the same name. 
81 Supposed to be that known now as the Ibrahim Rud, which falls into 
the Persian Gulf. 
82 These sites are unknown. 
83 Forms two bays or gulfs in succession. 
8* He gives this name to the whole expanse of sea that lies between 
Arabia and Africa on the west, and India on the east, including the Red 
Sea and the Persian Gulf. 
85 Or Erythrus. In all probability entirely a mythical personage. The 
sea having been called in Greek spvOpala, or " red" — the legend most 
probably thence took its rise. No very satisfactory reason has yet been 
given for its being so called. The Hebrew name of it signifies the " Sedgy 
Sea." 
