The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c26.91

v1.c26.91

⁹ Nearchus, Frag. 8 = Strabo xv, C. 694. The phrase μελισσῶν μὴ οὐσῶν might be interpreted as above. If M'Crindle's version 'although there are no bees' is what the Greek writer meant, he made a curious mistake. Bees and honey are well known in early Indian literature. But M'Crindle's version, strictly speaking, would require οὐκ οὐσῶν.