Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/163

 CHAP. in. 4. INTRODUCTION. 149 that Heraclides of Pontus, in a certain dialogue, introduces one of the Magi presenting himself to Gelon, 1 and declaring that he had performed this voyage ; but he remarks that this wants proof. He also narrates how a certain Eudoxus of Cyzicus, 2 sent with sacrifices and oblations to the Corean games, 3 travelled into Egypt in the reign of Euergetes II. ; 4 and being a learned man, and much interested in the pecu- liarities of different countries, he made interest with the king and his ministers on the subject, but especially for exploring the Nile. It chanced that a certain Indian was brought to the king by the [coastj-guard of the Arabian Gulf. They reported that they had found him in a ship, alone, and half dead: but that they neither knew who he was, nor where he came from, as he spoke a language they could not understand. He was placed in the hands of preceptors appointed to teach him the Greek language. On acquiring which, he related how he had started from the coasts of India, but lost his course, and reached Egypt alone, all his companions having perished with hunger ; but that if he were restored to his country he would point out to those sent with him by the king, the route by sea to India. Eudoxus was of the number thus sent. He set sail with a good supply of presents, and brought back with him in exchange aromatics and precious stones, some of which the Indians collect from amongst the pebbles of the rivers, others they dig out of the earth, where they have been formed by the moisture, as crystals are formed with us. 5 [He fancied that he had made his fortune], however, he was greatly deceived, for Euergetes took possession of the whole treasure. On the death of that prince, his widow, Cleopatra, 6 assumed the reins of government, and Eudoxus was again despatched with a richer cargo than before. On 1 Gelon, tyrant of Syracuse, flourished towards the end of the fifth century before Christ. 2 The ruins of this city still preserve the name of Cyzik. It was situated on the peninsula of Artaki, on the south of the Sea of Marmora. 3 Games in honour of Proserpine, or Cora. 4 Ptolemy VII., king of Egypt, also styled Euergetes II.; he is more commonly known by the surname of Physcon. His reign commenced B. c. 170. 5 The ancients believed that crystals consisted of water which had been frozen by excessive cold, and remained congealed for centuries. Vide Pliny, lib. xxxvii. c. 9. 6 Cleopatra, besides being the wife, was also the niece of Ptolemy,