148 
Targum, as referring to Sinde and Hinde ; and Ophir 
being explained, as the place whence gold, and Havilah 
as that whence pearls were brought. 
From these several products, especially ivory, apes, pea- 
cocks, and pearls, it is evident that only southern countries, 
whether Africa or India, could have been the object of 
these voyages. But cinnamon and cassia, nard, calamus, 
and onycha, having been shown to be peculiar Indian 
products, known to ancient commerce ; there can, I 
conceive, be no doubt that the west coast of India, and 
probably also the island of Ceylon, were reached even in 
those early times. This is the more probable, as the voyages 
were commenced in the Red Sea, and occupied three years, 
or returned every third year. 
The above details may appear to have little reference to 
Hindoo Medicine, or Materia Medica ; but Hindoo Chro- 
nology has been justly doubted, and in consequence of 
claiming too much, their antiquity as an early educated and 
highly civilized nation has been entirely denied. It was 
incumbent therefore to show, on undoubted and extrinsic 
grounds, that they were well known to, and highly esti- 
mated by, ancient contemporary nations; that the valued 
natural products of their country were not more the objects 
of constant research than were the highly-prized specimens 
of their manufacturing skill. 
Considering, therefore, these points as proved, we may 
be the less disinclined to consider their claims to literary 
and scientific originality ; without at all giving credit to 
their own most extravagant dates, which may probably be 
most correctly considered, as only multiplications of astro- 
nomical periods. Since the testimony of those favourable to 
their claims, though best acquainted with their literature ; 
might be received with doubt, as being opinions formed 
under the influence of a favourable bias : it will be 
