The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c8.20

v1.c8.20

The early sources of information . . . . . 391 Scylax of Caryanda; Hecataeus of Miletus; Herodotus; Ctesias of Cnidus. . . . . 393 Nearchus; Onesicritus; Clitarchus . . . . . 398–9 Megasthenes; Daïmachus; Patrocles . . . . . 399–400 Geography and physical phenomena . . . . . 400 The mineral, vegetable, and animal world . . . . . 403 Ethnology and mythology . . . . . 407 Social divisions according to Megasthenes . . . . . 409 His description of Pāṭaliputra . . . . . 411 Manners and customs; laws . . . . . 412 Marriage; suttee; disposal of the dead; slavery . . . . 414 The king; royal festivals; government officials . . . . 416 Industries . . . . . 418 Brāhmans; ascetics; philosophers . . . . . 419