The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c16.77

c16.77

Continuing their voyage westward, the ships passed along the coast near the mouth of the river Tomēros,¹ which was inhabited by a race of savages, ignorant of the use of iron, and armed only with wooden spears charred at the point to harden them. These wild men were covered with shaggy hair all over the body, and had claw-like nails strong enough to rip up fish and to split the softer kinds of wood. Their clothing was made of the skins of wild beasts or those of the larger fishes. After a skirmish with the savages, the fleet delayed for five days to effect repairs, and on the sixth day reached the rocky headland named Malana (now Rās Mālin) the western boundary of the Oreitai, who were not savages, but were dressed and armed like the inhabitants of India, although differing from them in language and customs.²