The Classical Accounts of India c13.65

c13.65

44. For this reason native fishermen appointed by Government are stationed with well-manned long boats called *trappaga* and *cotymba* at the entrance of the river, whence they go out as far as Syrastrene to meet ships and pilot them up to Barygaza. At the head of the gulf the pilot, immediately on taking charge of a ship, with the help of his own boat's crew, shifts her head to keep her clear of the shoals, and tows her from one fixed station to another moving with the beginning of the tide, and dropping anchor at certain roadsteads and basins when it ebbs. These basins occur at points where the river is deeper than usual, all the way up to Barygaza, which is 300 stadia distant from the mouth of the river if you sail up the stream to reach it.