Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/166

 152 STRABO BOOK II. and having reaped the harvest, complete the expedition he had intended from the beginning. 5. " Thus far," says Posidonius, " I have followed the history of Eudoxus. What happened afterwards is probably known to the people of Gades and Iberia ;" " but," says he, " all these things only demonstrate more clearly the fact, that the in- habited earth is entirely surrounded by the ocean." " By no continent fettered in, But boundless in its flow, and free from soil." Posidonius is certainly a most strange writer ; he considers that the voyage of the Magus, 1 related by Heraclides, wants sufficient evidence, and also the account given by Herodotus of those sent out [to explore] by Darius. But this Bergcean 2 nonsense, either the coinage of his own brain, or of some other story-teller, in whom he trusts, he pretends to be worthy of our belief. But in the first place, what is there credible in this tale of the Indian missing his way ? The Arabian Gulf, which resembles a river, is narrow, and in length is from 5000 to 10,000 stadia up to its mouth, where it is narrowest of all. It is not likely that the Indians in their voyage out would have en- tered this Gulf by mistake. The extreme narrowness of the mouth must have warned them of their error. And if they en- tered it voluntarily, then there was no excuse for introducing the pretext of mistake and uncertain winds. And how did they suffer all of themselves but one to perish through hunger ? And how was it that this surviver was able to manage the ship, which could not have been a small one either, fitted as it was for traversing such vast seas ? What must have been his apti- tude in learning the language of the country, and thus being able to persuade the king of his competence, as leader of the expedition ? And how came it that Euergetes was in want of such guides, so many being already acquainted with this 'sea ? How was it that he who was sent by the inhabitants of Cy- zicus to carry libations and sacrifices, should forsake his city and sail for India ? How was it that so great an affair was 1 Round Africa. 2 A term by which incredible narrations were designated. It owes its origin to Antiphanes, a writer born at Berge, a city of Thrace, and famous for trumping up false and auld- world stories. 'Btpyai&tv, was a pro- verbial and polite term for lying.