The Commerce and Navigation of the Erythræan Sea / Being a Translation of the Periplus Maris Erythræi, by an Anonymous Writer, and of Arrian's Account of the Voyage of Nearkhos, from the Mouth of the Indus to the Head of the Persian Gulf

by Unknown

36. Πυρὸς—Wheat. Exported in small quantity from Egypt to Kanê ([28]), some grown in the district around Mouza ([24]).

37. Σάκχαρι—Sugar: see under Μελι.

38. Σανδαράκη—Sandarakê (chandrasa of the bazars); a resin from the Thuja articulata or Callitris quadrivalvis, a small coniferous tree of North Africa; it is of a faint aromatic smell and is used as incense. Exported from Egypt to Barugaza ([49]); conveyed to Mouziris and Nelkunda ([56]).[12]

Sandarakê also is a red pigment—red sulphuret of arsenic, as orpiment is the yellow sulphuret. Cf. Plin. xxxv. 22, Hard. “Juba informs us that sandarace and ochre are found in an island of the Red Sea, Topazas, whence they are brought to us.”

39. Σαντάλινα and σασάμινα ξύλα—Logs of Sandal and Sasame (santalum album). Exported from Barugaza to the marts of Omana and Apologos ([30]). Σαντάλινα is a correction of the MS. reading τρόχιος proposed by Salmasius. Kosmas Indikopleustes calls sandalwood τζαδάνα. For σασαμινα of the MS. Stuckius proposed σησάμινα—a futile, emendation, since sesame is known only as a leguminous plant from which an oil is expressed, and not as a tree. But possibly Red Saunders wood (Pterocarpus Santalinus) may be meant.

40. Σησάμινον ἔλαιον. See Ελαιον.

41. Σινδόνες διαφορώταται αἱ Γαγγητικᾶι. The finest Bengal muslins exported from the Ganges ([63]); other muslins in Taprobanê ([61]); Μαργαριτιδες (?), made at Argalou and thence exported (59); muslins of all sorts and mallow-tinted (μολοχιναι) sent from Ozênê to Barugaza ([48]), exported thence to Arabia for the supply of the market at Adouli ([6]).

42. Σῖτος—Corn. Exported from Egypt to Adouli ([7]), Malaô ([8]); a little to Mouza ([24]), and to Kanê ([28]), and to Muziris and Nelkunda for ships’ stores ([56]); exported from Dimurikê and Ariakê into the Barbarine markets ([14]), into Moskha ([32]) and the island of Dioskoridês ([31]); exported also from Mouza to the ports of Azania for presents ([17]).

43. Σμύρνη—Myrrh (vide μυρον). Exported from Malaô, Moundou, Mossulon (8, 9, 10); from Aualitês a small quantity of the best quality ([7]); a choice sort that trickles in drops, called Abeirminaia (ἐκλεκτὴ καὶ στακτὴ ἁβειρμιναία), exported from Mouza ([24]). For Ἁβειρμιναία of the MS. Müller suggests to read γαβειρμιναία, inclining to think that two kinds of myrrh are indicated, the names of which have been erroneously combined into one, viz. the Gabiræan and Minæan, which are mentioned by Dioskoridês, Hippokratês, and Galen. There is a Wadi Gabir in Oman.