Classics Retold

After this region under the very north, the sea ending in a land called Tinae from which silk floss, yarn and clothes are shipped by land via Bactria to Barygaza and via the Ganges River back to Damarica by way of the River Ganges. But the land of Thinae is not easy of access; few men come from there, and seldom. The country lies under Ursa minor, and is said to boarder on the farthest parts of Pontus and the Caspian sea, next to which lies lake Maeotis; all of which empty into ocean. 1. Thinae: Tinae river in Scythia i.e. Pontic Caspian steppe. It extends accross Eastern Europe to Central Asia. It stretches from northern shores of Blacksea to the northern area around Caspian sea, and covers Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan etc. The homeland of speakers of proto Indo European languages. 2. Pontus and Caspian sea= Pontic Caspian sea. 3. Tanae River: The Don River. It drains into Blacksea. 4. Maeotis Lake: Swamps at the mouth of River Don End of the Section 

The previous point was Masalia or modern day Machilipatnam on the Eastern coast of Indian subcontinent. We had a glimpse of Chilika Lake and of the barbarous tribes in the region. After this, the course turns toward the east again, and sailing with the ocean to the right and the shore remaining beyond to the left, Ganges comes into view, and near it the very last land toward the east, Chryse. There is the river near it called Ganges, and it rises and falls the same way as the Nile. On its bank is a market-town, which has the same name as the river, Ganges. Through this place are brought malabathrum and Gangetic spikenard, and pearls, and muslins of the finest sorts, which are called Gangetic. It is said that there are gold mines near these places, and there is a gold coin, called caltis. And just opposite this river there is an island in this ocean, the last part of the inhabited world toward the east, under the rising sun itself; it is called Chrys and it has the best tortoise shell o...

In the last Section we had a view of Srilanka, and then the eastern coast of Africa. Now we see him returning to the eastern coast of Indian subcontinent: About these places is the region of Masalia stretching a great way along the coast before the inland country; a great quantity of muslins is made there. Beyond this region, sailing toward the east and crossing the adjacent bay, there is the region of Dosarene , yielding the ivory known as Dosarenic. Beyond this, the course trending toward the north, there are many barbarous tribes, among whom are Cirrhadae , a race of men with flattened nose, very savage; another tribe Bargysi ; and horse faces and long faces, who are said to be cannibals. 1. Masalia: Masulipatam in Andhra Pradesh. It lies east of Guntur, and south of Eluru. The port town was in existence since 3rd century BCE. We were at Sompeta, Andhra Pradesh in Section Sixty. Masulipatnam, or Machilipatnam is south of Sompeta by about five hundred and eighty kilometres. The port...

In the previous Section the focus was Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Now, see the next turn: About the following region, the course trending towards the east, lying out at sea towards the west is the island Palaesimundu, called by the ancients Taprobane. The northern part is a day's journey distant, and the southern part trends gradually towards the west, and almost touches the opposite shore of Azania. It produces pearls, transparent stones, muslins and tortoise shell. 1.Palaesimundu, also known as Taprobane is Srilanka. 2. Azania Eastern coast of Africa from Sudan to Tanzania (both inclusive) End of the Section 

The previous Section was little confusing owing to transliteration of the document and the use of English term, Coast Country instead of Koine Greek term. Direction of the voyage from Comarin must have been North instead of South. Let us examine the new Section: Among the market-towns of these countries, and the harbours where the ships put in from Damirica and from the north, the most important are, in order as they lie, first Camara, then Poduca, then Sopatma, in which there are ships of the country coasting along the shore as far as Damirica; and other very large vessels made of single logs bound together, called Sangara: but those which make the voyage to Chrys and to the Ganges are called colandia, and are very large. There are imported into these places everything made in Damirica, and the greatest part of what is brought at any time from Egypt comes here, together with most kinds of all the things that are brought from Damirica and of those that are carried through Paralia. ...

From Comari toward the south this region extends to Colchi, where the pearl-fisheries are; (they are worked by condemned criminals); and it belongs to Pandian kingdom. Beyond Colchi there follows another district called Coast country, which lies on a bay and has a region inland called Agaru. At this place, and nowhere else are bought the pearls gathered on the coast thereabouts and from there are exported muslins, those called Agaritic. My Search:- 1. This Section is little confusing because it starts with the words, "From Comarin toward the south". Onward voyage from Comari is naturally to North because Comari is on the southern tip of Indian subcontinent. If we follow the words literally he may assume Kolachel as the next point of visit. The real point of visit was Korkai, on the northern bank of Tamarabarani River. It was a port of Early Pandyan kingdom. It is now about six kilometres inland from the shore because of coastal land formation and retracing of sea. It was a ce...

In the previous Section, the anonymous author has been giving an account of Southwest Monsoon wind, and how the navigator Hippalus made use of the wind in his voyage to Indian coasts. Let us look at his onward voyage: Beyond Bacare there is the Dark Red Mountain and another district stretching along the coast toward the south, called Paralia . The first place is called Balita ; it has a fine harbour and a village by shore. Beyond this there is another place called Comari and a harbour; here come those men who wish to consecrate themselves for the rest of their life, and bath and swell in celibacy; and women also do the same; for it is told that Godess once dwelt here and bathed. My Search:- 1. Paralia: Varkala, now a major coastal municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. Not much is known about its classical history. Varakkala may be a corruption of Varakkal. Split into two we get two roots - Vara meaning land (Kara) and kal meaning by. Thus Varakkal means land by sea,...

In the previous Section the writer of the travel manual was in Purakkad (Bacare), and we had his observations about the import and export activities around ports of Damarica. According to him the land of Damar starts from Nora (modern day Thikkodi). Let us look at Section fifty seven: This whole voyage as above described, from Cana and Eudaemon Arabia, they used to make in small vessels, sailing close around the shores and of the gulfs; and Hippalus was the pilot who by observing the location of the ports and the conditions of the sea, first discovered how to lay his course straight accross the ocean. For at the same time when with us the Etesian winds are blowing, on the shores of India the wind sets in from the ocean, and this southwest wind is called Hippalus, from the name of him who first discovered the passage across. From that time to the present day ships start, some direct from Cana, and some from the Cape of Spices; and those bound for Damarica throw the ship's head cons...

Previous section gave us a glimpse of Purakkad (Baraca). See what the Koine Greek writer describes further: They send large ships to these market-towns towns on account of the great quantity and bulk of pepper and malabathrum.  There are imported here, a great quantity of coin; topaz, thin clothing, not much; figured linens, antimony, coral, crude glass, copper, tin, lead; wine, not much, but as much as at Barygaza; realgar and orpiment; and wheat enough for the sailors, for this is not dealt in by the merchants there. There is exported pepper which is  produced in quantity in only one region near these markets, a district called Cottonara. Besides this there are exported great quantities of fine pearls, ivory, silk cloth, spikenard from the Ganges, malabathrum from the places interior, transparent stones of all kinds, diamonds and sapphires, and tortoise shell; that from Chryse islands, and the taken among the island along the coast of Damarica. They make the voyage to this p...

In the last Section we had a picture of Nora, Tyndis, Muzris and Nelcynda: the ports of Malabar coast. But we did not have a glimpse of the export or import activities in these ports. Moving forward let us hope that the anonymous sailor would give some account of imports and exports into and out of Malabar ports. Now the new Section begins: There is another place at the mouth  of this river, the village of Bacare; to which ships drop down on the outward voyage from Nelcynda, and anchor in the roadstead to take on their cargoes; because the river is full of shoals and the channels are not clear. The king of both these market-towns live in the interior. And as a sign to those approaching these places from the sea there are serpents coming forth to meet you, black in colour, but shorter, like snakes in the head, and with blood red eyes. My Search:- Bacare: Purakkad Is around sixteen kilometres south of Alappuzha (Nelcynda). Take a look at Modern day Purakkad. South of it, upto and inc...

After his account of Lakshadweep islands of Agati, Kavarti, Chetlat and Amini, the unknown sailor proceeds to relate other places. He does not give his direction. He shifts from one direction to another; from Bharuch he goes upto Amu Darya in the North and coming back to Bharuch, he goes upto Paithan and Ter in Southeast direction, again from Bharuch upto Chetlat island in southwest. Thus, his accounts have no chronological order. Thus, interpretation that the document is a Captain's log is no more valid. Let us see how he proceeds. Tyndis is of the Kingdom of Cerobotra; it is a village in plain sight by sea. Muziris, of the same kingdom, abounds in ships sent there with cargoes from Arabia, and by the Greeks; it is located on a river, distant from Tyndis by river and sea five hundred stadia and up the river from the shore twenty stadia. Nelcynda is distant from Muziris by the river and sea by five hundred stadia and up the river from shore twenty stadia, and is of another kingdom ...

The last point was Kalyan as explained in the previous Section. Now, let us proceed to next Section: Beyond Calliena there are other market-towns of this region Symella, Mandagora, Pala patma, Meligara, Byzantium, Togarum, and Aurannohoas. Then there are the islands called Sesecrienae and that of Aegidii and that of Caenitae, opposite the place called Chersonesus (and in these places there are pirates) and after this the White island. Then come Naura and Tyndis, the first markets of Damarica, and then Muziris and Nelcynda, which are now of leading importance. My Search:- 1. Semylla: Cemully. Modern day  Chaul. It is east of Revdanda, a costal village. Both Chaul and Revdanda were important trade centres. Every beach where boats could anchor was called a port in ancient times. Revdanda means edge or boarder. Chaul is located on the northern bank of Kundalika River. The word chaul is derived from Marathi/Konkani language meaning estuary. Korlai fort is nearby. 2. Mandagora: Modern da...

In the last Section we had an account of Paithan and Ter, both in Maharashtra, the former on the banks of River Godavari and the latter on the banks of River Terana. Now let us go to the new section:   The market towns of this region are, in order, after Barygaza: Suppara, and the city of Calliena, which in the time of the elder Saraganus became a lawful market-town; but when it came into the possession of Sandares the market is much obstructed, and Greek ships landing there may chance to be taken to Barygaza under guard. My Search:- 1. Suppara: Modern day Nallasopara, north of Mumbai, situated on a promontory between Vaisa creek on south and Vaitharna River on the north. It is 240 kilometres south of Surat. Between Nalasopara and Surat other cities from south to north are: Boisar, Tarapur, Dahanu, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari etc. Nalasopara was a seat of  Buddhism. 2. Calliena: Kalyan, Maharashtra. It is situated northeast of Mumbai, on the southern bank of Ulhas River. A mid way p...

In the last Section, the Koine Greek author had mentioned generally about Deccan, the southern peninsula of Indian subcontinent. Among the market-towns of Dachinabades there are two of special importance, Pathana, distant about twenty days' journey south from Barygaza; beyond which, about ten days journey east, there is another very great city, Tagara. There are brought down to Barygaza from these places by wagons and through great tracts without roads, from Pathana, carnelian in great quantity, and from Tagara much common cloth, all kinds of muslins and mallow cloth, and other merchandise brought there locally from the regions along the sea Coasts. And the whole course to the end of Damarica  is seven thousand stadia; but the distance greater to the coast country. My Search:- 1. Dakshinabades: Daccan Platue or southern parts of Indian subcontinent. 2. Pathana: Paithan, A town situated fifty six kilometres south of Aurangabad, on the banks of Godavari River. It was the capital of ...

The unknown navigator had been at Bharuch for the last two or three Sections; let us see his further voyage: Beyond Barygaza the adjoining coast extends in a straight line from north to south, and so this region is called Dachinabades, for dachanos in the language of natives; it means "south."  The inland country back from the coast toward the east comprises many desert regions and great mountains; and all kinds of wild beasts - leopards, tigers, and elephants, and enormous serpents, hyenas, and baboons of many sorts, and many populous nations, as far as the Ganges. My search:  Dachinabades: Deccan Plateau. One of the oldest geological formations. Ancient kingdoms: Satavahana, Chalukya, Rashtrakutas, Vijayanagara. But this excludes the eastern coast. The platue is bounded by Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and Vindhya range. Desert regions are, Ramanathapuram, Ananthapur Chittoor and Rayalaseema region. Deccan Plateau is also known as Peninsular Platue. It is an elevated platue...

In the last Section, the unknown sailor had been at Bharuch, but giving an account of the inland area like Scythia, and also of Kashmir, Kabul, Jhelum and the inland town  Ozne (Ujjaini). In this Section, he is giving an account of items imported into and exported out of Bharuch. There are imported into this market-town, wine, Italian preferred, also Laodicean and Arabian; copper, tin, and lead, coral and topaz; thin clothing and inferior sorts of all kinds; bright coloured girdles  a cubit wide; storax, sweet clover, flint glass, realgar, antimony, gold and silver coins, on which there is a profit when exchanged for money of the country; and ointment, but not very costly and not much. And for the king there are brought into these places very costly vessels of silver, singing boys, beautiful maidens for the harem, fine wines, thin clothing of finest weaves, and the choicest ointment. There are exported from these places spikenard, costus, bdellium, ivory, agate, and carnelian,...

The unknown sailor is still in Bharuch, and has been giving an account of different peoples coming from different areas, like Shehdad of Kermam Province of Iran, Kandhar, Afghanistan, Gandhara, Jhelum, the banks of River Amu Darya, and also of kings like Apollodotus and Menander. Look at the next Section: Inland from this place and to the east, is the city called Ozne , formerly a royal capital; from this place are brought down all things needed for the welfare of the country about Barygaza, and many things of our trade: agate and carnelian, Indian muslin and mallow cloth, and much ordinary cloth. Through this same region and upper country is brought the spikenard that comes through Poclais ; that is Caspapyrene and Paropanisene and Cabolitic and that brought through the adjoining country of Scythia; also costus and bdellium. My Search Results:- 1. Ozne: Most probably Ujjaini. Ozne is its Koine Greek adaptation and Ujjain is its British version. It had been there since sixth century ...

The previous Section had been an account of the tides on the mouth of the River Narmada and the distress that tidal waves bring upon the ships caught in it. Let us look at the next The country inland from Barygaza is inhabited by numerous tribes, such the Arattii, the Arachosii , the Gandaraei , and the people of Poclais , in which is Bucephalus  of Alexandria. Above these is a very war like nation of Bactrians , who are under their king. And Alexander setting out from these parts, penetrated to Ganges, leaving aside Damirica and southern parts of India; and to the present day ancient drachma are current in Barygaza, coming from this country, bearing inscriptions in Greek letters, and the devices of those who reigned after Alexander, Apollodotus and Menander . My Search:- 1. Arattii: Means the inhabitants of Aratta. Yusef Majidzadeh, an Iranian archeologist has proposed that Shehdad of Kermam Province of Iran as the possible locality of Aratta, based on archeological excavations ...

The unknown sailor had been giving an account of the rise and fall of tides along the the River Narmada, which drains into the Gulf of Khambat. He continues the distress of ships which were trapped in the inrush of tides during flood. Let us begin: For this reason, entrance and departure of vessels are very dangerous to those who are inexperienced or who come to this market town for the first time. The rush of waters at the incoming tide is irresistible, and the anchors cannot hold against it; so that large ships are caught up by the force of it, turned broadside on through the speed of the current, and so driven on the shoals and get wrecked; and smaller boats are overturned; and those that have been turned aside among the channels by receding waters at the ebb, are left on their sides, and if not held on an even keel by props up, the flood tide comes upon them suddenly and under the first head of of the current they are filled with water. There is so great force in the rush of the se...

In the last Section, we saw how the native fishermen enter the mouth of  River Narmada, which  drains into Gulf of Khambat, and sail upto Bharuch. In this para we will sea how the tides of the river by Bharuch work: Now the whole country of India has very many rivers, and very great ebb and flow of the tides, increasing at the new moon, and at the full moon for three days, and falling off during the intervening days of the moon. But about Barygaza it is much greater, so that the bottom is suddenly seen, and now parts of the dry land are seen and now it is dry where ships were sailing just before; and the rivers, under the inrush of flood tide, when the whole force of the sea is directed against them, are driven upwards more strongly against their natural current, for many stadia. My Search:- Comparatively a small paragraph where no new ports are introduced. The unknown sailor had been along the River Narmada. End of the Section 

In Section forty three the unknown sailor was along the River Narmada which drains into the Gulf of Khambat. At the left bank of the estuary, where the River Narmada drains, is Luvara, a village;  moving along the River towards east, there is a shoal which according to the unknown sailor is Heron, a shoal with rocks, followed by Dhanturiya/Aliya Bet island, before getting to Bharuch.  Let us see the next stage of the Voyage of the unknown navigator who wrote Periplus Maris Erythraea: Because of this, native fishermen in the King's service, stationed at the very entrance, in well-manned large boats called trappaga  and cotymba , go up the coast as far as Syrastrene, from where they pilot vessels to Barygaza. And they steer them straight from the mouth of the river between the shoals with their crews; and they tow them to fixed stations, going up with the beginning of flood, and lying through the ebb at anchorages and basins. These basins are deeper places in the river as f...

In the previous Section, the unknown sailor was at the foot of Gulf of Khambat, near Diu island (Bavones). On the northern bank of the estuary where the Narmada drains into Gulf of Khambat, is the village Luvara; and on the southern bank is the village Aliyabet. Luvara is 52 kilometres west of Bharuch. Aliyabet is 30 kilometres west of Bharuch. North of this estuary there is another one, where the River Viswamitri falls into Gulf of Khambat. On the northern bank is the villages Nada, Asarsa, Kapuria and Islampur.  The estuary where the River Narmada drains into the  Gulf of  Khambat, he mistook as another Gulf. He writes, "This Gulf is very narrow to Barygaza.." ln fact Barygaza is on the northern bank of River Narmada; and the mouth of the river is at Dahej on the same bank 45 kilometres west. Let us see his onward voyage: For on the right at the very mouth of the gulf there lies a shoal , along and narrow, and full of rocks, called Herone , facing the village of Commoni...

In the previous Section, the unknown sailor gave us an account of Papica, which seems to be the promontory on the southern side of River Narmada. In ancient times the promontory was full of grass, which was called 'aal' and which belonged to Porteresia corctata species. It was used as a fodder for cattle by jat Maldhari communities. They must have been called "Papica" meaning people belonging to meadow, . "Papu" is an archaic word of Dravidian root meaning feather, grass etc. "Papica" must have been a Koine Greek adaptation of the archaic word. Return to Section forty two: Beyond this there is another gulf exposed to the sea waves, running up toward the north, at the mouth of which there is an island called Bavones : at its innermost part there is a great river called Mais. Those sailing   to   Barygaza, pass   across this gulf, which is three hundred stadia width, leaving behind to their left the island just visible from their tops toward the ea...

In the last Section, the navigator was sailing off Eirinon (The Rann of Kutch). According to him The Rann of Kutch was not navigable because of shallow waters and sandbanks. South of Rann of Kutch is the promontory that encloses Rann of Kutch. The promontory is now called Kachch. North to South of Kachch the following localities are seen: Lakhpat, Naliya, Mandvi, Mundra and Gandhidham. Lakpat is a town on the mouth of Kori Creek, a tidal creek and is a part of Indus River delta. Mandvi and Mundra are also towns. Bhuj, the headquarters of Kachch is also seen north of Mundra. They are on the northern coast of Gulf of Kutch. Rann of Kutch was under sea and a part of Gulf of Kutch. Coastal land formation had started at the time of koine Greek sailor's time and the Rann of Kutch is now one of the largest salt deserts in the world. Moving forward, there is the Kathiawad peninsula, which he calls Syrastrene; and we call it Saurashtra,  and south of it is Gulf of Khambat. w Now, to what he...

Updated 08/11/2024 The unknown sailor had been giving a detailed account of import and export activities at Barbaricum  (modern day Bhambore in Sindh, Pakistan). It is situated east of Karachi. Let us see the next point of his visit: Beyond the river Sindhus there is another gulf, not navigable, running in toward north; it is called Eirinon ; its parts are called separately the small gulf and the great, in both parts the water is shallow, with shifting sandbanks occuring continually and a great way from shore. So that very often when the shore is not even in sight, ships run aground, and if they attempt to hold their course they are wrecked. A promontory stands out from this gulf, curving around from Eirinon toward the East, then South, then West, and enclosing the gulf called Baraca , which contains seven islands. Those who come to the entrance of this bay escape it by putting about a little and standing further out to sea; but those who are drawn inside into the gulf of Baraca ar...

The last point of explanation was Barbaricum (modern day Bhambore) and Minnagara. Minnagara means Shining city. So it may the vicinity of Dhabeji Fort. Eastern arm of the river Sindhu reach upto fort. It might be the seat of the chieftain. In this section also the activities at Barbaricum is detailed. The ships lie at anchor at Barbaricum, but all their cargoes are carried upto metropolis by the river to the King. There are imported into this market a great deal of thin clothing, and a little spurious; figured linens, topaz, coral, storax, frankincense, vessels of glass, silver and gold plate and a little wine. On the other hand there are exported costus, bdellium, lycium, nard, turquoise, lapis lazuli, seric skins, cotton cloth, silk yarn, and indigo. And sailors set out tither with the Indian Etesian winds, about the month of July, that is Epiphi: It is more dangerous then, but through these winds, the voyage is more direct, and sooner completed. My Search:-  Bhambore is between ...

In the last Section, we had a glimpse of the Parsidae ( modern day Fars) on the eastern coast of Persian Gulf; of Chabahar Bay and port in Balochistan. Thirty Eight below: Beyond this region, the continent making a wide curve from the east accross the depths of the bays, there follows the coast district of Scythia , which lies above towards the north; the whole marshy; from which flows down the river Sindhus [Indus River], the greatest of all the rivers that flow into the Erythraean Sea, bringing down an enormous volume of water; so that a long way out at sea, before reaching this country, the water of ocean is fresh from it. Now as a sign of approach to this country to those coming from the sea, there are serpents coming forth from the depths to meet you; and a sign of the places just mentioned and in Persia are those called graea. This river has seven mouths, very shallow and marshy, so that they are not navigable, except the one in the middle; at which by the shore, is the market-to...

In the last Section, it seems, the unknown sailor had been taking his return voyage, and at Sohar (ancient name Ommana), Oman; he had been taking a look at the export from Ommana to Arabia and Barygaza and the import therefrom to Ommana. Now, return to the original as translated by Wilfred H. Scoff: Beyond the Ommanatic region there is a country also of the Parsidae , of another kingdom, and the bay of Gedrosia (Casson: Gulf of Terabdoi), from the middle of which a cape juts out into the bay. Here there is a river affording entrance for ships, with a little market-town at the mouth called Oraea , and back from the place an inland city, distant a seven days' journey from the sea, in which also is the King's court; it is called  Rhambacia  [ Casson notes the name was inadvertently admitted in the manuscript]. This country yields much wheat, wine, rice and dates; but along the coast there is nothing but bdellium . My Search:- 1. Bay of Gedrosia: Hellenized name of the part of co...

In the last Section the unknown sailor was at Basrah port, Iraq. He had visited Jebel Jais mountain, Ras al Khaimah, Bandar Abbas, a port on the shore of Persian Gulf; there he had a glimpse of Geno Mountain, which is a part of Zagros mountain range; Basrah port on the banks of Euphrates, before it joins Persian Gulf. Continue reading : Sailing through the mouth of Gulf, after six days' course there is another market-town of Persia called Ommana . To both these market towns large vessels are regularly sent from Barygaza, loaded with copper and sandalwood and timbers of teakwood and logs of blackwood and ebony. To Ommana frankincense is also brought from Cana, and from Ommana to Arabia in boats sewed together after the fashion of the place; these are known as madarata . From each of these market-towns, there are exported to Barygaza, and also to Arabia, many pearls, but inferior to those of India; purple clothing after the fashion of the place, wine and a great quantity of dates, go...

In the previous Section we had a description of Calaei islands at the mouth of Persian Gulf, it is identified as Queshm islands in the Hormos strait. At the upper end of this Calaei islands is a range of mountains called Calon , and there follows not far beyond, the mouth of the Persian Gulf, where there is much divining for pearl mussel. To the left of the straits are great mountains called Asabon , and to the right, there rises in full view another round and high mountain called Semiramis ; between them the passage across the strait is about six hundred stadia; beyond which that very great and broad sea, the Persian Gulf reaches far into the interior. At the upper end of this Gulf there is a market-town designated by law called Apologus , situated near Charax Spasini and the River Euphrates.  My Search:- 1. The Calon Mountains: Some scholars scholars identify this as Al Hajar Mountains southwest of Barka, also called Borca. Another batch of scholars propose Jebel Jais, northeast...

The previous Section gave us a glimpse of Asir mountains running parallel to the coastal plains of Saudi Arabia, and Oman. The mountain also streches beyond the boarder of Saudi and enters into Oman. Just where the mountains stop, off the sea there is a cluster of seven islands named Zenobian islands in ancient times. Modern day name of it is Kamran Islands, which is the largest island in the Red Sea. Sailing along the coast, which trends northward towards the entrance of Persian sea there are many islands known as Calaei, after about two thousand stadia extending along the shore. The inhabitants are a treacherous lot, very little civilised. My Search:- 1. Calaei islands: Hormoz and Lark Island at the entrance of Persian Gulf, both situated in the strait of Hormoz, and they do not have an ancient history. Queshm, an arrow shaped island in the strait of Hormoz, because of the presence of Hormoz on its northeast and of Lark Island in the southeast and Hengam island lying south of Shib De...

In the last Section, there was description on the port named Moscha. But its location was not identified yet. The word is Greek. Another port named Mocha, is in Yemen on the eastern coast of Red Sea. Both the words are of same root. Difference of opinion among the scholars never ends as to the identity of ancient places. Mocha is same as Muza. Muza merchants and their agents were widely present in Western and Eastern coasts of Indian subcontinent. Muza people were called Muzaris by other merchant communities. This ethnomym had been marked as toponym of many localities. But the author's mention of Sachalitic  frankincense indicates that the port is in the vicinity of Khuriya Muriya islands. Continue to read Section Thirty Three: Beyond the harbour of Moscha for about fifteen hundred stadia, (or one hundred fifty miles or two hundred and forty kilometres) as far as Asich , is a mountain range that runs along the shore at the end of which, in a row, lie seven islands, called Zenobian ...

The unknown sailor who is now on Bahrein (Ancient name Syagrus) is giving an account of ships returning from Damirica and Barygaza: Immediately beyond Syagrus, the bay of Ommana  cuts deep into the coastline the width of it being six hundred stadia; and beyond this there are mountains, high and rocky and steep, inhabited by cave-dwellers, for five hundred stadia more and beyond this is a port for receiving the Sachalitic frankincense; the harbour is called Moscha , and ships from Cana call there regularly; and ships returning from Damirica and Barygaza, if the season is late, winter there, and trade with the king's officers exchanging their cloth and wheat and sesame oil for frankincense which lies in heep all over the Sachalitic country, open and unguarded, as if the place were under the protection of the gods; for neither openly nor by stealth can it be loaded on board ship without king's permission; if a single grain were loaded without this, the ship could not clear from t...

In the last Section, Bahrain islands in the Persian Gulf was under focus. The inhabitants of the island were migrants from Greece, Arabia and India; the early merchants and their offsprings. The mixing and intermingling of different communities had  brought peace into the island. Continue to read: It happens that just as Azania is subject to Charibael and the Chief of Mapharitis , this island is subject to the King of Frankincense Country . Trade is also carried on there  by some people of Muza and by those who chance to call thereby on the voyage from Damirica and Barygaza ; they bring in rice and wheat and and Indian cloth and a few female slaves; and they take for their exchange cargoes, a great quantity of tortoise shell. Now the island is farmed out under the king and garrisoned. My Search:- 1. Azania: The ancient name of Eastern coast of Africa beyond Egypt. 2. Charibael: Sabaean chief of tribes of Southern parts of Arabia. This was a title shared by several chiefs ...

Last point was Sachalites ( Khuriya Muriya islands), forty kilometres off the southern coast of Oman. They were also called Zenobii islands. It had an India connection. In 1854, Sultan of Muscat presented the islands to Queen Victoria as a gift, and the Queen in turn granted the authority to look after it to Bombay Residency. The Red Sea & India Telegraph Company was formed in 1858, with the intention to use one of the islands as a base for a telegraph connection between Aden and Karachi. The project was abandoned in 1861 as a section of the cables failed. The British story of Khuriya Muriya islands did not end there. But for the present we may look at the story of our Koine Greek sailor: On this bay there is a great promontory facing the east, called Syagrus, on which is a fort for the defence of the country, and a harbour and a store house for the frankincense that is collected, and opposite this cape, well out at sea there is an island lying between it and the Cape   of ...

In the previous Section we had a general description of goods imported into ports of Yemen and also of the goods exported out of it. Continue to read: Beyond Cana the land receding greatly, there follows a very deep bay stretching a great way accross, which is called Sachalites ; and the Frankincense Country, mountainous and forbidding, wrapped in thick clouds and fog, and yeilding frankincense from trees. These incense bearing trees are not of great height or thickness; they bear the frankincense sticking in drops on the bark, just as trees among us in Egypt weep their gum. The Frankincense is gathered by King's slaves and those who are sent to this service for punishment. For these places are very unhealthy and pestilential even to those sailing along the coast, but almost always fatal to those working there, who also perish often from want of food. My Search:- 1. Sachalites: ancient name of Khuriya Muriya Islands, a group of five islands in the Arabian sea, forty kilometres off ...

In the previous Section the unknown sailor gives us a picture of the markets of Yemen and its trading partners. It was a period of integration of tribes into larger societies, and this integration was not uniform. So the hunter-gatherers and pastrol tribes were dispersed in pockets in the periphery of port cities, and beyond. Merchants have played the leading role in this integration and we see the gradual  rise of chieftains and chiefdom. Continue to read: There are imported into this place (ports of Yemen) from Egypt a little wheat and wine as at Muza (Mocha); clothing in the Arabian style plain and common and most of it spurious; and copper and tin and coral and storax and other things such as go to Muza; and for the king usually wrought gold and silver plate, also horses, images [Greek andriantes: male statuary], thin clothing of fine quality. And there are exported from this place, native produce, frankincense and aloes, and rest of the things that enter into the trade of the ...

In the previous Section we were at Eudaemon Arabia, the modern name of which is Aden situated on the southern coast of Yemen. Continue to read: After Eudaemon Arabia there is a continuous length of coast, and a bay extending two thousand stadia or more, along which there are Nomads and Fish-Eaters living in villages; just beyond the cape projecting from this bay there is another market-town by the shore Cana [Kane] of the Kingdom of Eleazus, the Frankincense country; and facing it there are two desert islands, one called the Island of Birds and the other Dome Island, one hundred and twenty stadia from Cana. Inland from this place lies the metropolis Sabbatha in which the king lives. All the frankincense produced in the country is brought by by camels to that place to be stored, and to Cana on rafts held up by inflated skins after the manner of the country, and in boats. And this place has a trade also with far-side ports, with Barygaza and Scythia and Omanna and the neighbouring coast ...

The previous chapter narrated Ocelis ( Al Shihr) an ancient anchorage on the southern coast of Yemen. It was neither a market-town nor a port. But it was a watering place and first landing for those sailing into the Gulf. Continue to read: Beyond the Ocelis (Al-Shihr) the sea widening again toward the east and soon giving a view of the open ocean, after about twelve hundred stadia there is Eudaemon Arabia, a village by the shore, also of the Kingdom of Charibael, and having convenient anchorages, and watering places, sweeter and better than those at Ocelis; it lies at the entrance of bay and land receds from it. It was called Eudaemon [=prosperous ] because in the early days of the city when the voyage was not yet made from India to Egypt, and when they did not dare to sail from Egypt to ports accross the ocean, but all together came at this place, it received the cargoes from both countries, just as Alexandria now receives the things brought both from abroad and from Egypt. But not lo...