Γεωγραφικά 15.2.9

15.2.9

̔η δὲ τάξις τῶν ἐθνῶν τοιαύτη· παρὰ μὲν τὸν Ἰνδὸν οἱ Παροπαμισάδαι, ὧν ὑπέρκειται ὁ Παροπαμισὸς ὄρος, εἶτʼ Ἀραχωτοὶ πρὸς νότον, εἶτʼ ἐφεξῆς πρὸς νότον Γεδρωσηνοὶ σὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις τοῖς τὴν παραλίαν ἔχουσιν· ἅπασι δὲ παρὰ τὰ πλάτη τῶν χωρίων παράκειται ὁ Ἰνδός. * τούτων δʼ ἐκ μέρους τῶν παρὰ τὸν Ἰνδὸν ἔχουσί τινα Ἰνδοὶ πρότερον ὄντα Περσῶν, ἃ ἀφείλετο μὲν ὁ Ἀλέξανδρος τῶν Ἀριανῶν καὶ κατοικίας ἰδίας συνεστήσατο, ἔδωκε δὲ Σέλευκος ὁ Νικάτωρ Σανδροκόττῳ, συνθέμενος ἐπιγαμίαν καὶ ἀντιλαβὼν ἐλέφαντας πεντακοσίους. τοῖς Παροπαμισάδαις δὲ παράκεινται πρὸς τὴν ἑσπέραν Ἄριοι, τοῖς δὲ Ἀραχωτοῖς Δράγγαι καὶ τοῖς Γεδρωσίοις· οἱ δʼ Ἄριοι τοῖς Δράγγαις ἅμα καὶ πρὸς ἄρκτον παράκεινται καὶ πρὸς ἑσπέραν, ἐγκυκλούμενοι μικρά πως· ἡ δὲ Βακτριανὴ τῇ τε Ἀρίᾳ πρὸς ἄρκτον παράκειται καὶ τοῖς Παροπαμισάδαις, διʼ ὧνπερ Ἀλέξανδρος ὑπερέβαλε τὸν Καύκασον ἐλαύνων τὴν ἐπὶ Βάκτρων· πρὸς ἑσπέραν δὲ ἐφεξῆς εἰσι τοῖς Ἀρίοις Παρθυαῖοι καὶ τὰ περὶ τὰς Κασπίους πύλας· πρὸς νότον δὲ τούτοις ἡ ἔρημος τῆς Καρμανίας, εἶθʼ ἡ λοιπὴ Καρμανία καὶ Γεδρωσία.

The order in which these nations are disposed is as follows. Along the Indus are the Paropamisadae, above whom lies the mountain Paropamisus; then towards the south are the Arachoti; then next to these towards the south, the Gedroseni, together with other tribes who occupy the sea-coast; the Indus runs parallel along the breadth of these tracts. The Indians occupy [in part] some of the countries situated along the Indus, which formerly belonged to the Persians: Alexander deprived the Ariani of them, and established there settlements of his own. But Seleucus Nicator gave them to Sandrocottus in consequence of a marriage contract, and received in return five hundred elephants.
The Arii are situated on the west, by the side of the Paropamisadae, and the Drangae by the Arachoti and Gedrosii. The Arii are situated by the side of the Drangae both on the north and west, and nearly encompass them. Bactriana adjoins Aria on the north, and the Paropamisadae, through whose territory Alexander passed when he crossed the Caucasus on his way to Bactra. Towards the west, next to the Arii, are the Parthians, and the parts about the Caspian Gates. Towards the south of Parthia is the desert of Carmania; then follows the remainder of Carmania and Gedrosia.