THE
COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION
OF THE
ERYTHRÆAN SEA;
BEING A TRANSLATION
OF THE
PERIPLUS MARIS ERYTHRÆI,
BY AN ANONYMOUS WRITER,
AND OF
ARRIAN’S ACCOUNT OF THE VOYAGE OF NEARKHOS,
FROM THE MOUTH OF THE INDUS TO THE HEAD OF THE
PERSIAN GULF.
WITH INTRODUCTIONS, COMMENTARY, NOTES,
AND INDEX.
BY
J. W. McCRINDLE, M.A. Edin.,
PRINCIPAL OF THE GOVERNMENT COLLEGE, PATNA;MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH;FELLOW OF THE CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY.
(Reprinted, with additions, from the Indian Antiquary.)
Calcutta:
THACKER, SPINK & Co.
Bombay:
ED. SOC. PRESS.
London:
TRÜBNER & Co.
1879.
BOMBAY:
PRINTED AT THE EDUCATION SOCIETY’S PRESS, BYCULLA.
Table of Contents
PREFACE.
PERIPLUS OF THE ERYTHRÆAN SEA.
Introduction.
ANONYMI [ARRIANI UT FERTUR] PERIPLUS MARIS ERYTHRÆI.
THE VOYAGE OF NEARKHOS.
Introduction.
Translation.
INDEX.
PREFACE.
In the Preface to my former work, “AncientIndia as described by Megasthenês and Arrian,”I informed the reader that it was my intentionto publish from time to time translations of theGreek and Latin works which relate to ancientIndia, until the series should be exhausted, andthe present volume is the second instalmenttowards the fulfilment of that undertaking.It contains a translation of the Periplûs (i. e.Circumnavigation) of the Erythræan Sea,together with a translation of the second partof the Indika of Arrian describing the celebratedvoyage made by Nearkhos from themouth of the Indus to the head of the PersianGulf. Arrian’s narrative, copied from theJournal of the voyage written by Nearkhoshimself, forms an admirable supplement to thePeriplûs, as it contains a minute description ofa part of the Erythræan Coast which is merelyglanced at by the author of that work. Thetranslations have been prepared from the mostapproved texts. The notes, in a few instancesonly, bear upon points of textual criticism,their main object being to present in a conciseform for popular reading the most recent resultsof learned enquiry directed to verify, correct,[Pg iv]or otherwise illustrate the contents of thenarratives.
The warm and unanimous approbation bestowedupon the first volume of this series, bothby the Press in this country and at home, hasgiven me great encouragement to proceed withthe unde