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forwards them to those of the outside, that is, to Male, in which pepper grows; to Calliana, where brass is found, and sesamin wood, and various kinds of cloth (for it, too, is a great market-town); and to Sindu, where the castor musk is found, and spikenard; and to Persia, to the country of the Homerites, and Adulis; and in return it receives other things from all these places, which it transmits to the inner regions, with its own products likewise. Now Sindu is the beginning of India; for the river Indus, which empties into the Per- sian Gulf, separates Persia from India. These are the best-known market-towns of India : Sindu, Orrhotha, Calliana, Sibor, and Male which has five ports to which pepper is brought; Parti, Mangarouth, Salopatana, Nalopatana, Pudapatana. And then, at a distance of about five days and nights from the mainland, out in the ocean, is Sielediba, that is, Taprobane. Then again, on the mainland, is a market-town, Marallo, shipping conch-shells; and there is Kaber, shipping alabandenum, and then the country from which cloves are shipped; and then Tzinista, which sends silk cloth; within which there is no other land, for the ocean encircles it on the east.
“And so this island Sielediba, placed in the midst of India, which produces the hyacinthus, receives goods from all markets and ships to all, being itself a very great market. And there came thither on matters of trade one from our own parts, named Sopater, who died about 35 years ago. And his business took him to the island of Taprobane, where it happened that a vessel arrived at the same time from Persia, and there landed together those from Adulis, among whom was Sopater, and those from Persia, among whom was an ambassador of the Persians. And so, as the custom was, the captains and tax-collectors receiving them, brought them before the king. And being admitted into the presence of the king, after they had offered the proper homage, he bade them be seated. And then he asked them: “How goes it with your countries, and how with your trade and commerce?” “Excellently well,” they said. Replying, the king asked, “Who, of your kings, is the greatest and most power- ful?” Without delay the Persian answered: “Ours is the most powerful, the greatest and the richest; he is the king of kings; and he has power to do whatever he wills.” But Sopater was silent. Then said the king, “You, Roman, have you nothing to say?” And Sopater replied, “What have I to say, when this man says such things? If you wish to learn the truth, you have both kings here; examine them, and you will see which one is the most magnificent and the most powerful. But the king was amazed at this speech, and said, “How have I both kings here?’ ’ And he answered, “You
