Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/38

 14 ACCOUNT OF INDIA BY STRABO ' It is admitted by those who maintain the resem- blance of India to Egypt and Ethiopia, that the plains which are not overflowed do not produce anything for want of water. Nearchos says that the old question respecting the rise of the Nile is answered by the case of the Indian rivers, namely, that it is the effect of summer rains. When Alexander saw crocodiles in the Hydaspes (Bias) and Egyptian beans in the Akesines (Chinab), he thought that he had discovered the sources of the Nile and was about to equip a fleet with the intention of sailing by this river to Egypt; but he found out shortly afterwards that his design could not be accomplished. " for between were vast rivers, fearful waters, and r first of all, the ocean," 1 into which all the Indian rivers discharge themselves; then come Ariane, the Persian and Arabian Gulfs, all Arabia and Troglodytike. . . . We shall speak of the noteworthy rivers that flow into the Indus, and of the countries which they trav- erse; with regard to the rest, our ignorance is greater than our knowledge. Alexander, who discovered the greatest portion of this country, first of all decided that it was more ex- pedient to pursue and destroy those who had treacher- ously killed Darius, and were meditating the revolt of Baktriane. He approached India therefore through Ariane, which he left on the right hand, and crossed the Paropamisos to the northern parts, and to Bak- triane. Having conquered all the country subject to 1 Homer, Odyssey, 2, 157.