Pliny
The Natural History
Translated with Copious Notes and Illustrations by the late
John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. and H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Late Scholar of Clare Hall, Cambridge
Published by Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden, London, 1855
The chapter numbers do not correspond with more recent translations of Pliny, therefore I have used only the book number and chapter title with each excerpt and have appended the current Loeb references in parentheses. All footnotes for these excerpts are from the nineteenth century translation.
Complete chapter from Natural History, Book VI – Chapter: Carmania.
(Refer to Book VI. 107 in Loeb edition..)
Nearchus states in his writings that the coast of Carmania extends a distance of twelve hundred and fifty miles. From its frontier to the river Sabis is one hundred miles. At this spot begins the cultivation of the vine; which with the tillage of the fields, extends as far as the river Ananis, a distance of twenty-five miles. This region is known by the name of Armuzia. The cities of Carmania are Zetis and Alexandria.*
*These sites are unknown.
Excerpt from Natural History, Book VI – Chapter: The Persian and the Arabian Gulfs
(Refer to Book VI. 109 - 111 in Loeb edition..)
In the angle of Carmania are the Chelonophagi, who cover their cabins with the shells of turtles, and live upon their flesh; these people inhabit the next promontory that is seen after leaving the river Arbis;(1) with the exception of the head, they are covered all over with long hair, and are clothed in the skins of fishes.
Beyond their district, in the direction of India, is said to be the desert island of Caicandrus, fifty miles out at sea; near to which a strait flowing between them, is Stoidis, celebrated for its valuable pearls. After passing the promontory(2) are the Armozei,(3) joining up to the Carmani; some writers, however, place between them the Arbii, extending along the shore a distance of four hundred and twenty-one miles. Here is a place called Portus Macedonum,(4) and the Altars of Alexander, situate on a promontory, besides the rivers Saganos, Daras and Salsa.
(1) Different probably from the Cophis which was also called Arabius or Arbia, and probably represented by the modern Purali.
(2) Of Harmozon, probably the modern Bombareek.
(3) Their district is supposed to denote the vicinity of the modern Ormuz, an island off this coast, which is now known as Moghostan.
(4) The “Port of the Macedonians.”
Excerpt from Natural History, Book VI – Chapter: The Tigris.
(Refer to Book VI. 138 - 139 in Loeb edition..)
Charax is a city situate at the furthest extremity of the Arabian Gulf, at which begins the more prominent portion of Arabia Felix: it is built on an artificial elevation, having the Tigris on the right, and the Eulaeus on the left, and lies on a piece of ground three miles in extent, just between the confluence of those streams. It was first founded by Alexander the Great, with colonists from the royal city of Druine, which was then destroyed, and such of his soldiers as were invalided and left behind. By his order it was to be called Alexandria, and a borough called Pella, from his native place, was to be peopled solely by Macedonians; the city, however, was destroyed by inundations of the rivers.
Excerpt from Natural History, Book VI – Chapter: Islands of the Aethiopian Sea.
(Refer to Book VI. 198 in Loeb edition..)
We learn from Ephorus, as well as Eudoxus and Timosthenes, tht there are great numbers of islands scattered all over this sea; Clitarchus says that king Alexander was informed of an island so rich that the inhabitants gave a talent of gold for a horse, and of another* upon which there was found a sacred mountain, shaded with a grove, the trees of which emitted odours of wondrous sweetness; this last was situate over against the Persian Gulf.
*Marcus says that these islands are those called the “Two Sisters.” Situate to the west of the Isle of Socotra, on the coast of Africa. They are called by Ptolemy, Cocionati.