Chapter I: Preface

In the Preface to my former work, “Ancient India as described by Megasthenês and Arrian,” I informed the reader that it was my intention to publish from time to time translations of the Greek and Latin works which relate to ancient India, until the series should be exhausted, and the present volume is the second instalment towards 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 part of the _Indika_ of Arrian describing the celebrated voyage made by Nearkhos from the mouth of the Indus to the head of the Persian Gulf. Arrian’s narrative, copied from the Journal of the voyage written by Nearkhos himself, forms an admirable supplement to the Periplûs, as it contains a minute description of a part of the Erythræan Coast which is merely glanced at by the author of that work. The translations have been prepared from the most approved texts. The notes, in a few instances only, bear upon points of textual criticism, their main object being to present in a concise form for popular reading the most recent results of learned enquiry directed to verify, correct, or otherwise illustrate the contents of the narratives.

The warm and unanimous approbation bestowed upon the first volume of this series, both by the Press in this country and at home, has given me great encouragement to proceed with the undertaking, and a third volume is now in preparation, to contain the _Indika_ of Ktêsias and the account of India given by Strabo in the 15th Book of his Geography.

_Patna College, June 1879._

ANONYMI [ARRIANI UT FERTUR]

PERIPLUS MARIS ERYTHRÆI.

TRANSLATED FROM THE TEXT

As given in the _Geographi Græci Minores_, edited by
C. Muller: Paris, 1855.

WITH INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY.

PERIPLUS OF THE ERYTHRÆAN SEA.