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V 
undertaking, the merchant vessels belonging to the Egyptians and 
Arabians had sailed from Berenice in the Red-Sea, along the 
Arabian shore to the promontory of Syagrus, now Cape Rasalgate; 
and held their course along the coast of Persia, to the different 
ports in India where they traded. 
Dr. Robertson, describing the trade of the ancients with India, 
and particularly the voyage of 1 1 ip pal us to Musiris, observes, that 
“ as this was one of the greatest efforts of navigation in those days, 
and opened the best communication by sea between the East and 
West that was known for fourteen hundred years, it merits a par- 
ticular description. Fortunately Pliny has enabled us to give it 
with a degree of accuracy, which can seldom be attained in tracing 
the naval or commercial operations of the ancients. Pliny observes, 
from Alexandria to Juliopolis is two miles: there the cargo des- 
tined for India is embarked on the Nile, and is carried to Coptos, 
which is distant three hundred and three miles, and the voyage is 
usually accomplished in twelve days. From Coptos goods are 
conveyed to Berenice, on the Arabian gulf, halting at different 
stations, regulated according to the conveniency of watering. The 
distance between these cities is two hundred and fifty-eight miles. 
On account of the heat, the caravan travels only during the night, 
and the journey is finished on the twelfth day. From Berenice, 
ships take their departure about midsummer, and in thirty days 
reach Ocelis (Gella), at the mouth of the Arabian gulf, or Cane 
(Cape Fartaque), on the coast of Arabia Felix. Thence they sail in 
forty days to Musiris, the first emporium in India. They begin their 
voyage homewards early in the Egyptian month Thibi, which 
answers to our December; they sail with a north-east wind, and 
2 u 
