CHAPTER I.CHAP. II.CEYLON AS KNOWN TO THE GREEKS AND ROMANS.
- First heard of by the companions of Alexander the Great
[549]
- Various ancient names of Ceylon (note) [549]
- Early doubts whether it was an island or a continent [550]
- Mentioned by Aristotle [550]
- Alleged mention of Ceylon in the Samaritan Pentateuch
(note) [551]
- Onesicritus's account [552]
- Megasthenes' description [552]
- Ælian's account borrowed from Megasthenes (note)
[552]
- Ceylon known to the Phoenicians and to the Egyptians
(note) [552]
- Hippalus discovers the monsoons [553]
- Effect of this discovery on Indian trade [554]
- Pliny's account of Ceylon [555]
- Story of Jambulus by Diodoros Siculus (note) [556]
- Embassy from Ceylon to Claudius [556]
- Narrative of Rachias, and its explanation (note)
[557]
- Lake Megisba, a tank [557]
- Early intercourse with China [558]
- The Veddahs described by Pliny [558]
- Interval between Pliny and Ptolemy [558]
- Ptolemy's account of Ceylon [559]
- Explanation of his errors [559]
- Ptolemy discriminates bays from estuaries (note)
[559]
- Identification of Ptolemy's names [560]
- His map [560]
- His sources of information [561]
- Agathemerus, Marcianus of Heraclea [562]
- Cosmas Indicopleustes [562]
- Palladius—St. Ambrosius (note) [562]
- State of Ceylon when Cosmas wrote [563]
- Its commerce at that period [563]
- In the hands of Arabs and Persians [564]
- Ceylon as described by Cosmas [565]
- Story of his informant Sopater [566]
- Translation of Cosmas [567]
- The gems and other productions of Ceylon—"a gaou"
(note) [567]
- Meaning of the term "Hyacinth" (note) [568]
- The great ruby of Ceylon, its history traced (note)
[568]
- Cosmas corroborated by the Peripius [570]
- Horses imported from Persia [570]
- Export of elephants [570]
- Note on Sanchoniathon [571]