[237] Plin. xii. 83.
[238] Plin. ix. 119-121. Gibbon, ch. 3.
[239] Arrian, the merchant, must not be confounded with the famous Arrian of Nicomedia; nothing is, however, known about him.
[240] Pliny, vi. 82.
[241] Dr. Vincent’s “Periplus,” vol. ii. p. 170.
[242] Diodorus, iii. 46.
[243] “Periplus,” vol. ii. p. 317.
[244] Pliny, vi. 104, identified by Welsted with Hisn Ghorab, ii. p. 421.
CHAPTER V.
Ancient India—Expedition of Sesostris—Doubts of Dr. Robertson with regard to it—Hindustan, its early commerce, and the probability, from its great value, of its having attracted Sesostris—The conquests of Darius, and of Alexander—Trade with China—Its maritime intercourse—A comparison of the Chinese boats with those of the ancient Britons—The conquests of Alexander in India, B.C. 327-5—The gain to commerce by his conquests—The spread of knowledge—His march into India—Preparations for the voyage down the Indus—Departure of his fleet from Nicæa, B.C. 326—Description of the vessels employed—Progress of the fleet—Establishment of new cities on the banks of the Indus—Character of the vessels engaged on the voyage from the Indus to Susa—Time occupied—Future voyages—Death of Alexander, B.C. 323—Eastern India—Ceylon—Internal commerce of India—Manufactures of India—State of the trade of India from the sixth to the ninth century—Change in the course of trade—Persian trade with India—The Muhammedans, A.D. 622—The extent of their commerce with the East—The trade between Constantinople and India and China.