[138] It has been supposed that the Babylonian vessels passed along the Persian Gulf, from Bussorah to Crokala near Kurachi, and that they there met the vessels of Gerrha and Tylos, and proceeded onwards along the western coast of Hindustan to Ceylon; but there seems little probability that any ships strictly Babylonian found their way to India. Probably between Ceylon and Babylon there was more than one transhipment of Indian and other produce.
[139] This Edict is a great curiosity. It was first copied by Sherard in 1709 at Eski-Hissar (Stratonicæa), and this copy is preserved in the Harleian MSS. at the British Museum, No. 7509. Leake, “Asia Minor,” pp. 229-239. It has been recently (1866) re-edited by Mr. W. H. Waddington with great care.
[140] Herod. i. 194. Compare, also, description of boats at Rhapta (Arrian’s Peripl. c. 16); and the name derived from the way the boats were made by being sewn together.
[141] See Journ. of Roy. Asiat. Soc. xix. 154.
[142] Menander ap. Joseph. Ant. Jud. ix. 14.
[143] Dion. lxxiv. Herod. i 80. Fellows’ “Asia Minor,” p. 281.
[144] Herod. i. 91.
[145] Heeren’s “Asiatic Nations,” vol. i. p. 70.
[146] The fisheries of the Black Sea were also particularly famous in ancient times, the brackish waters of the Sea of Azov providing excellent breeding grounds. Plin. ix. 15. Ælian. De Animal, xv. 5. Athen. vii. p. 303. Polyb. iv. c. 5.
[147] Herod. iv. 24.