Sailing Around Erythraean Sea: Twenty One

In the previous section Twenty, towards the end we were at Socotra Island, which the Koinee Greek sailor called Kausmene meaning scorched island or Burnt Island. But in the present section, he is talking about a locality west of it, in Yemen. This itself shows that the ancient document is not a log, but instead a manual prepared for the merchants, most likely ship owners turned captains. Continue to read:

Beyond these places, in a bay at the foot of the left side of this gulf there is a place by the shore called Muza, a market town established by law, distant altogether from Berenice for those sailing southward, about twelve thousand stadia, and the whole place is crowded with Arab ship owners and seafaring men, and is busy with the affairs of commerce; for they carry on a trade with the far-side coast and with Barygaza sending their own ships there.

My Search:-

Muza: Scholars identify Muza with Mocha or Al Mukha in Yemen. It is at the foot of the Gaurdafui channel. Gaurdafui is on the apex of Horn. West of Gaurdafui the sea is called Gulf of Aden. Mocha is on the eastern coast of Red Sea. Just opposite to it on the western coast is the port city of Assab or Aseb of Eritrea. Mocha exported Myrrh, ivory, frankincense and gold. It imported wine, olive oil, and clothing. It was a centre for Arabian Peninsula's International trade. Mocha traded with India, Egypt, Nabatean Kingdom and East Africa. Excavations at Mocha uncovered ancient harbour remains, pottery and ceramics of various cultures, and and ancient coins. The presence of Muza merchants in North Paravur of Malabar coast had earned it the denomym Muzris. Al Mukha is in what Romans called Arabia Felix. It was more fertile than the remaining northern part. It was a land of cinnamon, myrrh and frankincense. Muza acquired monopoly in the trading of these spices and fragrants. It also imported them from eastern African regions and India.
 
End of the Section 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

( 16 )CHARLES DICKENS: DAVID COPPERFIELD: CHAPTER 16: I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE

Next morning, after breakfast, I entered on school life again.  I went, accompanied by Mr Wickfield to the scene of my future studies- a grave building in a courtyard, with a learned air about it that suited very well to the stray rooks and jackdaws who came down from the Cathedral tower to walk with a clerkly bearing on the grass plot - and was introduced to my new master, Doctor Strong. Doctor Strong looked almost as rusty, to my thinking, as the tall iron rails and gates outside the house; and almost as stiff and heavy as the great stone urn that flanked them, and were set up, on the top of red brick wall, at regular distances all round the court, like sublimated skittles for Time to play at.  Doctor Strong was in his library, with his clothes not particularly well brushed, and his hair not particularly combed, his knee-small unbraced, his long black gaiters unbuttoned, and his shoes  yawning like two caverns on the hearth-rug.  Turning upon me a lustreless eye, t...
Read more

Sailing Around Erethraean Sea: Three

Updated 29/11/2024 Below the Calf-Eaters there is a little market-town on the shore after sailing about four thousand stadia from Berenice, called Ptolemais of Hunts, from which the hunters started for the interior under the dynasty of Ptolemies. This market town has true land to rtoise in small quantities; it is white and smaller in the shells. And here also is found a little ivory, like that of Adulis. But the place has no harbour, and is reached by small boats. 1. Calf-Eaters: Cattle rearing nomadic tribes. 2. Stadia is the plural of stadion. Ten  stadia= one mile. 3. Ptolemais of Hunts: Ptolemies Theron is the exact Greek term,  located at the Bay of Anfile or Amphila Bay on the coast of Eritrea. Facing the bay is Hando island. It is, in fact, a double bay, an inner bay within, between promontories M'edr and Lelisa. End of the Section 
Read more

Travels Of Marco Polo: Thirty

Now, let me tell of the beasts which his Majesty keeps for hunting.  Among these are Leopards and lynxes or stag-wolves well fitted for that purpose.  He has also many lions larger than those of Babylon of a beautiful hair and colour, striped length ways black red and white, and trained to catch stags, wild oxen, hogs, wild goats and asses; it is delightful to see one of these chases, where the hunters go out, carrying the lion in a cage, and with him a small dog.  They have likewise abundance of eagles, with which they capture hares, foxes and even wolves; those which are trained to catch these last are very large, and of great weight, so that no wolf can escape them. ____________________________________ 1. The lion here described by the author is manifestly the tiger. It is probable that tiger was unknown in Europe when Marco left, he might have viewed it as a variety of lion. 2. Lion and tigers are wild animals and cannot be domesticated. Still human societies used to ...
Read more