The Classical Accounts of India c14.26

c14.26

XXXVII These pious rites having been duly performed they again put to sea, and after passing a desolate and rocky island, arrived at another island, where they anchored This was one of considerable size and inhabited, and 300 stadia distant from Harmozeia, the harbour which they had last left The desert island was called Organa, and that where they anchored Oarakta It produced vines, palm-trees, and corn Its length is 800 stadia Mazenes, the chief of this island, accompanied them all the way to Susa, having volunteered to act as pilot of the fleet The natives of the island professed to point out the tomb of the very first sovereign of the country, whose name they said was Erythres, after whom the sea in that part of the world was called the Erythraean Weighing thence their course lay along the island, and they anchored on its shores at a place whence another island was visible at a distance of about 40 stadia They learned that it was sacred to Poseidon, and inaccessible Next morning, as they were putting out to sea, the ebbtide caught them with such violence that three of the galleys were stranded on the beach, and the rest of the fleet escaped with difficulty from the surf into deep water. The stranded vessels were however floated off at the return of the tide, and the day after rejoined the fleet. They anchored at another island distant from the mainland somewhere about 300 stadia, after running a course of 400 stadia. Towards daybreak they resumed the voyage, passing a desert island which lay on their left, called Pylora, and anchored at Sisidone, a small town which could supply nothing but water and fish Here again the natives were fish-eaters, for the soil was utterly sterile. Having taken water on board, they weighed again, and having run 300 stadia, anchored at Tarsia, the extremity of a cape which projects far into the sea. The next place of anchorage was Kataia, a desert island, and very flat. It was said to be sacred to Hermes and Aphrodite. The length of this course was 300 stadia. To this island sheep and goats are annually sent by the people of the adjoining continent who consecrate them to Hermes and Aphrodite. These animals were to be seen running about in a wild state, the effect of time and the barren soil