The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t46.5

c6.s3.t46.5

In Pliny’s account of the different nations to the eastward of the Lower Indus I find the following passage, which would seem to apply to Eder and the surrounding districts.¹ “Next the *Nareæ*, who are bounded by *Capitalia*, the loftiest mountain of India, on the other side of which the people dig up much gold and silver. Beyond them are the *Oraturæ* (or *Oratæ*), whose king has only ten elephants, but a large force of infantry, (and) the *Varetatæ* (or *Suaratatæ*), whose king has no elephants, but a strong force of horse and foot. (Then) the *Odombæræ* etc. The last nation has already been identified with the people of Kachh, and the high mountain of *Capitalia* can only be the holy *Arbuda*, or Mount Abu, which rises to more than 5000 feet above the sea. The *Naræ* must therefore be the people of *Sarüi*, or the "country of reeds," as *nar* and *sar* are synonymous terms for a "reed." The country of Sarüi is still famous for its reed arrows.