Ancient India as Described by Ptolemy

Ancient India as Described by Ptolemy (1885)
by Ptolemy, translated by John Watson McCrindle

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Ptolemy3469808Ancient India as Described by Ptolemy1885John Watson McCrindle

ANCIENT INDIA

AS DESCRIBED BY

PTOLEMY;

BEING

A TRANSLATION OF THE CHAPTERS WHICH DESCRIBE INDIA
AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN ASIA IN THE TREATISE ON
CEOGRAPHY WRITTEN BY KLAUDIOS PTOLEMAIOS,
THE CELEBRATED ASTRONOMER,

WITH

INTRODUCTION, COMMENTARY, MAP OF
INDIA ACCORDING TO PTOLEMY, AND
A VERY COPIOUS INDEX,

BY

J. W. MOCRINDLE, M.A., M.R.A.S.,

FORMERLY PRINCIPAL OF THE GOVERNMT COLLEGE, PATNA,
AND PBLLOW OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA;
VEMBER OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF EDINBURGH.

Reprinted from the "Indian Antiquary," 1884.

Calcutta: ⁠Bombay:

THACKER, SPINK & Co. ⁠B.E.S. PRESS.

London:

TRÜBNER & Co.

1885.

1

BOMBAY : PRINTED AT THE EDUCATION SOCIETY'S PRESS. PREFACE. Ptolemy's *^ Treatise on Greography," likeliis famous work on astronomy to which it formed the seqael, was destined to govern the world's opinion on the subject of which it treated, from, the time of its publication until the dawn of the modern era, a period of about 1,300 years^ This treatise must have been composed in the interests of chartography rather than of geo» graphy, for the author's aim is not so much to describe the earth's surface as to lay down the principles on which maps should be con- structed, and to determine the latitude and longitude of places with a view to their being mapped in their proper positions. The principles he here laid down have proved of permanent validity, and are still practically applied in the art of map-construction, but his determinations of the position of places, owing to the paucity and imperfection of the astro- nomical observations on which, in combination with the existing measurements of terrestrial distances his conclusions were based, are all, with very few exceptions, incorrect. The work lost, of course, much of its old authority as soon as the discoveries of modern times had brought its grave and manifold errors to light. It did tV PREFACE. not, however, on this account cease to be of high interest and value as an antiquarian re- cord, if we may judge from the multiplicity of the learned disquisitions which have from time to time been published in elucidation of many points of Ptolemaic Geography. There is perhaps no part of the contents which has received more attention from scholars than the chapters relating to India, where the tables abound to a surprising extent with names which are found nowhere else in classi- cal literature, and which were doubtless ob- tained directly from Indian sources, rather than from reports of travellers or traders who had visited the country. On glancing over these names one cannot fail to remark how very few of them have any but the most distant resem- blance to the indigenous names which they must have been intended to represent. Philo- logists, however, have made persistent efforts to penetrate the disguise which conceals the original forms of the names so much dis- torted by Ptolemy, and have succeeded in establishing a great number of satisfactory identifications, as well as in hitting upon others which have a balance of probability in their favour — a similar service has been rendered by the archseological investigations which have now for many years been systematically prose- cuted under the auspices of the Indian Government. PREFACE. V THe present work has for its main object to show concisely wliat has been accomplished np to this time in this department of enquiry. It has been compiled from multifarious sources which are not easily accessible, as for instance from foreign publications not yet translated into our own language, and from the Journals and Transactions of various societies at home and abroad which concern themselves with Oriental literature. I venture therefore to hope that my com- pendium, which it has taken much time and laborious research to prepare, may meet with recognition and acceptance as a useful contri- bution to general literature, while proving also serviceable to scholars as a work of re- ference. I proceed now to indicate the method which I have followed in the treatment of my subject, and to specify the authorities on which I have principally relied. I have then, in an intro- ductory chapter, attempted to give a succinct account of the general nature of Ptolemy's geographical system, and this is followed by a translation of several chapters of his First Book which serve to exhibit his general mode of procedure in dealing with questions of Geo- graphy, and at the same time convey his views of the configuration of the coasts of India, both on this side the Ganges and beyond. In translating the text I have taken it in detachVi PREFACE. ments of convenient length, to each of which I have subjoined a commentary, the main object of which is — Ist, to show, as far as has been ascertained, how each place, named by Ptolemy in his Indian Tables has been identi- fied ; 2nd, to trace the origin or etymology of each name, so far as it is possible to do so ; and ' 3rd, to notice very concisely the most promi- nent facts in the ancient history of the places of importance mentioned. I have, as a rule? quoted the sources from which my information has been derived, but may here state that I have generally adopted the views of M. Vivien de Saint-Martin and those of Colonel Yule, whose map of ancient India in Smith's well- known historical Atlas of Ancient Geography is allowed on all hands to be the best that has yet been produced. These authors have examined the greater part of the Ptolemaic Greography of India, and their conclusions are for the most part coincident. The w^orks of Saint- Martin, which I have consulted, are these : mude sur la Geographie Grecque et Latine de Vlnde, et eii jparticulier sur Vlnde de Ftolemee^ dans ses rapports avec la Geographie Sanshrite j Memoire Analytique sur la Carte de VAsie Centrale et de Vlnde ; et ^tiide sur la Geographie et les popula- tions primitives du Nord-Ouest de Vlnde. d'apres les hymnes vediq_ues. Colonel Yule has expressed his views chiefly in the notes upon the map referred to, but also occasionally in the notes PREFACE. vii to kis edition of Marco Polo and in other works from his pen. Frequent reference will be found in my notes to that work of vast erudi- tion, Prof. Lassen's Indisclie Alter tlimmlcunde. Unfortunately the section which he has devoted to a full examination of Ptolemy's India is the least satisfactory portion of his work. His system of identification is based on a wrong principle, and many of the conclusions to which it has led are such as cannot be accepted. His work is notwithstanding, as Yule says, " a precious mine of material for the study of the amcient grography of India." For elucida- tions of the Ptolemaic geography of particular portions of India I have consulted with great advantage such works as the folloAving ,— Wilson's ArianaJntiqtm, General Cunningham's Geography of Ancient India, Vol. I. (all yet published), and his Eeports on the Archcwlogical Survey of India ; Bishop Caldwell's Introduc- tion to his Bravidian Grammar, valuable for identification of places in the south of the Peninsula; the Bombay Gazetteer, edited by . Mr. J. M. Campbell, who has carefully investi- gated the antiquities of that Presidency • the volumes of Asiatic Researches-, the Journals of the Boyal Asiatic Society and of the kindred Societies in India ; the Journals of the Boyal Geographical Society ; the articles on India and places m India in Smith's Dictionary of Cla^si^ cal Geography, ^viiien almost all by Mr Viii PreMCBi Vaux ; articles in the Indian Antiquary ; Ben* fej*s Indien in the Encyclopddie of Ersch and Gruber; the Abbe Halma's Traits de Geo*^ graphie de Claude PtoUmee, Paris, 1828 ; the Chapters on Marinus and Ptolemy's System of Geography in Bunbury's History of Ancient Geography j Prianlx's Indian Travels of ApoU lonius of Tyana^ &c. ; Stephanos of Byzantium On Cities ; Sir Emerson Tennent's Ceylon ; Sir H. Rawlinson*s articles on Central Asia which have appeared in various publications^ and other works which need not here be specified » There has recently been issued from the press of Firmin-Didot, Paris, the first volume of a new and most elaborate edition of Ptolemy's Geography, prepared by C. Miiller, the learned editor of the Geographi Graeoi Minor es^ but the work unfortunately has not advanced so far as to include the chapters which contain the geography of India* I would here take the opportunity of ex- pressing my obligations to Dr. Burgess, the late editor of the Indian Antiquary ^ for his careful revision of the proofs, and for sundry valuable suggestions. Having thought it advisable to extend the scope of the work beyond the limits originally contemplated, I have included in it those chapters of the geography in which China, Central Asia, and all the provinces adjacent to India are described. The reader is thus PBBFACE^ IX presented with the Ptolemaic Geography of the whole of Asia, with the exception only of those countries which from propinquity and frequency of intercourse were well known to the nations of the West. In a short Appendix will be found some additional notes. The present volume forms the fourth of the Series of Annotated Translations of the Works of the Classical Writers which relate to India. Another volume, containing Strabo's Indian Geography and the Accounts given by Arrian and Gurtius of the Makedonian Invasion of India, will complete the series. 3, Abbotsford Pabk, Edinburgh, Juncy 1885.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Introduction

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

Description of India within the Ganges

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

33

„

of India beyond the Ganges (including Indo-China)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

189

„

of the Sinai (Southern China)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

244

„

of the Island of Taprobane (Ceylon)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

247

„

of Hyrkania

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

260

„

of Margiane

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

262

„

of Baktriane

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

267

„

of Sogdiana

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

274

„

of the Sakai

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

283

„

of Skythia within Imaos

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

285

„

of Skythia beyond Imaos

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

292

„

of serike (Northern China)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

297

„

of Areia

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

305

„

of the Paropanisadai

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

310

„

of Drangiane

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

313

„

of Arakh6sia

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

315

„

of Gedrosia

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

319

PAGE

Appendix of Additional Notes

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

331

1. On the Latitude of Byzantium and that of Tash-Knrghan (p. 14) ... 331 2. On Kouronla (pp. 22, 63-4) 331 3. On the Argaric Gulf and Argeirou (pp. 22, 59 and 60) 331 4. On Thelkheir (pp. 63 and 64) 332 5. On Orthoura (pp. 64 and 184) ... 332 6. On Arkatos (p. 64) 332 7. On the River Adamas (p.. 71) 333 8. On Mount Sardonyx (p. 77) 334 9. On Talara (p. 90) 334 10. On Pounnata (p. 180) 334 11. On Arembour (pp. 180, 182) ...... 334 12. On Abour (p. 184) 334 13. OnArgyra(p. 196) 334 14. On the Golden Khersonese (p. 197). 335 15. On the Loadstone rocks (p. 242). . 335 16. On the sandy deserts of Baktria (p. 270) 335 17. On the River Ochos (p. 273) 335 18. On the Avestic names of rivers, &c., in Afghanistan 336

19. On the Griffins or Gryphons (p.295). 338

PTOLEMY'S GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA AND SOUTHERN ASIA.

Introduction.

Ptolemy and his System of Geography.

Klaudios Ptolemaios, or as he is commonly called, Ptolemy, was distinguished alike as a Mathematician, a Musician, an Astronomer and a Geographer, and was altogether one of the most accomplished men of science that antiquity produced. His works were considered as of paramount authority from the time of their publication until the discoveries of modern times had begun to show their imperfections and errors. It is surprising that with all his fame, which had even in his own lifetime become pre-eminent, that the particulars of his personal history should be shrouded in all but total darkness. Nothing in fact is known for certain regarding him further than that he flourished in Alexandria about the middle of the 2nd century of our æra, in the reign of Antoninus Pius, whom he appears to have survived.

His work on Geography formed a sequel to his great work on Astronomy, commonly called the Almagest. From its title Γεωγραφικὴ Ὺφἠγησις, an Outline of Geography, we might be led to infer that it was a general treatise on the subject, like the comprehensive work of Strabo, but in reality it treats almost exclusively of Mathematical, or what may be called Cosmical, Geography. Ptolemy's object in composing it was not like that of the ordinary Geographer to describe places, but to correct and reform the map of the world in accordance with the increased knowledge which had been acquired of distant countries and with the improved state of science. He therefore limits his argument to an exposition of the geometrical principles on which Geography should be based, and to a determination of the position of places on the surface of the earth by their latitudes and longitudes. What he considered to be the proper method of determining geographical positions he states very clearly in the following passage: "The proper course," he says, "in drawing up a map of the world is to lay down as the basis of it those points that were determined by the most correct (astronomical) observations, and to fit into it those derived from other sources, so that their positions may suit as well as possible with the principal points thus laid down in the first instance."^[1]

Unfortunately, as Bimbury remarks, it was impossible for him to carry out in practice—even approximately—the scheme that he had so well laid down in theory. The astronomical observations to which he could refer were but few—and they were withal either so defective or so inaccurate that he could not use them with fidence. At the same time his information concerning many parts of the earth, whether owing to their remoteness or the conflicting accounts of travellers regarding them, was imperfect in the extreme. The extent, however, of his geo^aphical knowledge was far' greater than that possessed by any of his predecessors, and he had access to sources of information which enabled him to correct many of the errors into which they had, fallen.

He was induced to undertake the composition of his Geography through his being dissatisfied more or less with all the existing systems. There was however one work — that of his immediate • precursor, Marinos of Tyre — ^which approximated somewhat closely to his ideal, and which he therefore made the basis of his own treatise. Marines, he tell us, had collected his materials with the most praiseworthy diligence, and had moreover sifted them both with care and judgment. He points out, however, that his system required correction both as to the method of delineating the sphere on a plane surface, and as to the computation of distances, which he generally exaggerated. He censures him likewise for having assigned to the known world too great a length from west to east, and too great a breadth from north to south.

Of Ptolemy's own system, the more prominent characteristics may now be noted : He assumed the earth to be a sphere, and adopting the estimate of Poseidonios fixed its circumference at 180,000 stadia, thus making the length of a degree at the equator to be only 500 stadia, instead of 60O, which is its real length.^[2] To this fundamental miscalculation may be referred not a few of the most serious errors to be found in his work. With regard to the question of the length and the breadth of the inhabited part of the earth, a question of first importance in those days, he estimated its length as measured along the parallel of Rhodes^[3] which divided the then known world into two nearly equal portions at 72,000 stadia, and its breadth at 40,000. The meridian in the west from which he calculated his longitudes was that which passed through the Islands of the Blest (Μακάρων Νῆσοι) probably the Canary Islands,^[4] and his most eastern meridian was that which passed through the Metropolis of the Sinai, which he calls Sinai or Thinai, and places in 180° 40′ E. Long. and 3° S. Lat. The distance of this meridian from that of Alexandria he estimated at 119½ degrees, and the distance of the first meridian from the same at 60½ degrees, making together 180 degrees, or exactly one-half of the circumference of the earth. His estimate of the breadth he obtained by fixing the southern limit of the inhabited parts in the parallel of 16¼ degrees of South Latitude, which passes through a point as far south of the Equator as Meroë is north of it. And by fixing the northern limit in the parallel of 63 degrees North Latitude, which passes through Thoulê (probably the Shetland Islands), a space of nearly 80 degrees was thus included between the two parallels, and this was equivalent in Ptolemy’s mode of reckoning to 40,000 stadia.

Having made these determinations he had next to consider in what mode the surface of the earth with its meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude should be represented on a sphere and on a plane surface—of the two modes of delineation that on the sphere is the much easier to make, as it involves no method of projection, but a map drawn on a plane is far more convenient for use, as it presents simultaneously to the eye a far greater extent of surface. Marinos had drawn his map of the world on a plane, but his method Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/21 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/22 raries, or from records of voyages and travels. This supposition is however untenable, for we find that while the statements as to the length of the longest days at the selected places are always correct for the latitudes assigned them, they are often glaringly wrong for their real positions. Ptolemy, it is evident, first mapped out in the best way he could the places, and then calculated for the more impoi-tant of these places the astronomical phenomena incident to them as so situated. I conclude by presenting the reader with a translation of some chapters of the Introductory Book,* where Ptolemy in reviewing the estimate made by Marinos of the length of the known world from west to east, has frequent occasion to mention India and the Provinces beyond the Ganges, which together constitute what is now called Indo- China.

Book L, Cap. 11.

§ 1 . What has now been stated will suffice to show us what extent in breadth it would be fair to assign to the inhabited world. Its length is given by Marinos at 15 hours, this being the distance comprised between his two extreme meridians — but in our opinion ho has unduly extended the distance towards the east. In fact, if the estimate be properly reduced in this direction the entire length must be fixed at less than 12 hours, the Islands of the Blest being taken as the limit towards Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/24 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/25 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/26 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/27 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/28 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/29 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/30 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/31 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/32 the Hellespont.^[5] The route after this rami in an eastward direction to B a k t r a whence it turns towards the north in ascending the mountains of the Komddoit and then in passing through these mountains it pursues a southern course as far as the ravine that opens into the plain country. § 8. For the northern parts of the mountain region and those furthest to the west where the ascent begins, are placed by him under the parallel of Byzantium, and those in the south and the east under the parallel of the Hellespont. For this reason, he says, that this route makes a detour of equal length in opposite directions, that in advancing to the east it bends towards the south, and thereafter probably runs up towards the north for 50 schoent, till it reaches the Stone Tower. § 9. For to quote his own Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/34 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/35 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/36 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/37 distance right across may, therefore, be estimated at about 2,030 stadia, since we have to deduct a third because of the navigation having followed the curvature of the Gulf, and have also to make allowances for irregularities in the length of the courses run. § 3. If now we further reduce this amount by a third, because the sailing, though subject to interruption, was taken as continuous, there remain 1,850 stadia, determining the position of Kouroula as situated north-east from Kory. § 4. If now this distance be referred to a line running parallel to the equator and towards the East, and we reduce its length by half in accordance with the intercepted angle, we shall have as the distance between the meridian of Kouroula and that of K6ry, 675 stadia, or 1^ degree, since the parallels of these places do not differ materially from the great circle.^[6]

§ 6. But to proceed : the course of the voyage from Kouroura lies, he says, to the southeast as far as Paloura, the distance being 9,450 stadia. Here, if we deduct as before one-third for the irregularities in the length of the courses, we shall have the distance on account of the navigation having been continuous to Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/39 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/40 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/41 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/42 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/43 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/44 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/45 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/46 data, upon which such a map must mainly be founded upon anything like sound "critical principles. But it must be confessed that the result is far from encouraging. So small a proportion of Ptolemy's names can find a place at all, and so many of those even that appear on the map are admitted by its author to rest upon very dubious authority; that we remain almost wholly in the dark as to the greater part of his voluminous catalogues; and are equally unable to identify the localities which he meant to designate, and to pronounce an opinion upon the real value of his materials."

Book VII.

Contents.

Déscription of the furthest parts of Greater Asia, according to the existing provinces and Satrapies.

1. [Tenth Map]

⁠of India within the River Ganges.

2. [Eleventh Map]

⁠of India beyond the Ganges.

⁠of the Sinai.

3. [Twelfth Map]

⁠of the Island of Taprobané and the islands surrounding it.

4. Outline Sketch of the Map of the Inhabited World.

⁠Delineation of the Armillary Sphere with the Inhabited World.

⁠Sketch of the World in Projection.

[5. There arc 400 Provinces and 30 Maps.]

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

Cap. I.

Description of India within the Ganges.

§ 1. India within the river Gangesis bounded on the west by the Paropanisadai and Arakhôsia and Gedrôsia along their eastern sides already indicated; on the north by Mount Imaös along the Sogdiaioi and the Sakai lying above it; on the east by the river Ganges; and on the south and again on the west by a portion of the Indian Ocean. The circuit of the coast of this ocean is thus described:-

2. In Syrastrênê, on the Gulf called Kanthi, a roadstead and harbour..109° 30' 20°

The most western mouth of the River Indus called Sagapa ..110° 20' 19° 50'

The next mouth called Sinthôn .....110° 40' 19° 50'

The 3rd mouth called Khrysoun (the Golden) ....111° 20' 19° 50'

The 4th called Kariphron ..111° 40' 19° 50'

The 5th called Sapara ......112° 30' 19° 50'

The 6th called Sabalaessa ...113° 20° 15'

The 7th called Lônibarê 113° 30' 20° 15'

3. Bardaxêma, a town ...113° 40' 19 40'

Syrastra, a village ....114° 19° 30'

Monoglôsson, a mart ......114° 10' 18° 40

Mouth of the M a n a d a : — Ptolemy enumerates four rivers which enter the Gulf between Kanna- gara and the western mouth of the Ganges, the Manada, the Tyndis, the Dosaron and the Adamas. These would seem to be identical respectively with the four great rivers belonging to this part of the coast which succeed each other in the following order: — The MahS^nadi, the Brahmani, the Vaitarani and the Suvarnarekha, and this is the mode of identification which Lassen has adopted. With regard to the Manada there can be no doubt that it is the Mahdnadi, the great river of Orissa at the bifurcation of which Katak the capital is situated. The name is a Sanskrit compound, meaning * great river.' Yule differs from Lassen with regard to the other identifications, making the Tyndis one of the branches of the Mahdnadi, the Dosaron, — the Brahmani, the Adamas, — the Vaitarani, and the Kambyson (which is Ptolemy's western mouth of the Ganges) — the Suvarnarekha.

The Dosaron is the river of the region in- habited by the Dasamas, a people mentioned in the Vishnu Purdna as belonging to the south-east of Madhya-desa in juxta-position to the Sabaras, or Suars. The word is supposed to be from damn * ten,' and fina * a fort,' and so to mean 'the tenforts.'

Adamas is a Greek word meaning diamond. The true Adamas, Yule observes, was in all probability the Sank branch of the Brahmani, from which diamonds were got in the days of Mogul splendour.

in Buddhist legend under the second name. The navigable Prinas or Pinnas is perhaps Puny&, now Piinptin, one of the same cluster. Sonus instead of being a duplicate of Erannoboas, may be a branch of the Gaya river, still called Sona. Andomatis flowing from the Madiandini, i.e., '* Meridionales" is perhaps the Andhela, one of the names of the Chandan river of BhagalpAr. Kainas, navigable, is not likely to be the Ken of Bundelkhand, the old form of which is Karziavati, but more probably the Kay&na or Koh&na of GorakhpAr. It is now a tributary of the lower Gh&gr&, but the lower course of that river has shifted much, and the map suggests that both the Rapti (Solomatis of Lassen) and Kayana may have entered the Ganges directly." For the identification of the other rivers in the list see my article in the Indian Antiquary, vol. V, p. 331.

Kôry:—It has already been noticed that Kôry was both the name of the Island of Râmêśvaram and of the promontory in which it terminated.

Cap. 2.

Position of India beyond the Ganges.

1. India beyond the Ganges is bounded on the west by the river Ganges; on the north by the parts of Skythia and Sêrikê already described; on the east by the Sinai along the Meridian, which extends from the furthest limits of Sêrikê to the Great Gulf, and also by this gulf itself, on the south by the Indian Ocean and part of the Green Sea which stretches from the island of Menouthias in a line parallel to the equator, as far as the regions which lie opposite to the Great Gulf.

Selampoura : — This suggests Selenrpur, a place situated at some distance north of the Devat or lower S'arayA. The identity of the names is our only warrant for taking them as applying to one and the same town ; but as the two places which follow belong to the same part of the country, the identification is in some measura supported. Selempur is situated on a tributary of the SarayA, the little Gandak.

Oxeia, 249, 258 '

Oxeian Lake 275, 281, 325 Oieian, Mts. ... 274, 276

Oxeiana 276

Oxeianoi 276

Oxus, R. 88, 260, 267-8,

276-9, 286

Oxydr&ngkai- 276

Ozene 38,152, 154-5

Ozoabia 158

Ozoana.... 168. 171

Ozola(or Axola)...... 316

Pagrasa 202

Pakidare 38

Palaiogonoi 252-3

Palaipatmai 45

Palai-Simonndou ...252-3

Palk's Passage 60

Palanda 226

Palandos, R. ...198, 208-9

PaU 45

Paliana 299

Palibothra (Patna) 19, 30, 99. 132, 167, 168-9

PaUbothri 98

Paloura23, 63, 67-70, 180

Pamir Plateau 278n

46 G

PAGE jr auasa ••. ... ... ••...• xov/ - l

Panassa 164, 166-7

Panch&la 131, 133

Pandasa 226.235

Pandionoi 51. 18?

Pandion's Land 59

Pandouoi 121

Pandu'sFort 133

Paniardoi 287

Panj&b, Rivers of ... 88 Panj&b rivers, conflu- ence of ....91,94

Pajijkora.. 87

Panjpiir 143

PaSjshir 312

Panjshir.R 112

Pantipolis 180

Parabali 151

Paradene 320

Parakanake 308

Paralia ...64, 63, 64, 184

Parasbni, R 85

Parautoi 306, 312

Pardabathra 142

Pardwa or Priya-

deva 150

Paripdtra or Pariya-

tra 76

Parri&s&,R 166

Pamoi 263, 266

Paropanisadai,34, 310- 13,

328 Paropanisos, Mt. ... 268 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/379 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/380 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/381 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/382 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/383 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/384 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/385 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/386 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/387 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/388 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/389 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/390 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/392 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/393 Page:Ancient India as described by Ptolemy - John Watson McCrindle.djvu/394 and connection of the contents of the narrative. To those stndents who have neither the learned work of Dr. Vincent, nor the Geographi Graeci Minores of C. Miiller, within reach, this handy volume will prove very serviceable. — The Academy. The careful and scholarly translations of ancient texts relating to India, which Mr. McCrindle is prepajnng in serial order, promises to be of great value. The method which he follows is in accordance with the best traditions of English scholarship As to the historical importance of these texts there can be only one opinion. History in Sanskrit literatui'e is conspicuous by its absence, so that external authorities are at once the only ones available, and at least redeem by theii' unbiassed chai-aeter their relatively deficient opportunities of information. Those who are best acquainted with the difficulties of English rule in India, are best aware that the problems of Indian administi*ation are, in fact, problems of Indian history. ... It is thus of vital importance that every possible hint and clue as to the course of the legal, social, and economical history of the country should be made available. It is the special value of Mr. McCrindle's work that it will form a solid, positive basis for the earliest period of authentic Indian history, &c. — The Civil and Military Gazette, Lahore. The fragments of the Indiha of Megasthenes, collected by Dr. Schwanbeck, with the first part of the Indika of Anian, the Periphts Maris Erythraei, and Arrian's account of the voyage of Nearkhos have been translated, in two most useful volumes, by Mr. J. W. McCrindle, M.A. The Indika of Ktesias with the fifteenth book of Strabo is also promised, and the sections referring to India in Ptolemy's Geography would complete a collection of the highest value to Indian history.— Note under the article India, in the new edition of the Encyclopcediok .Britannica. We are glad to learn that the papers by Mr. J. W. McCrindle (on Ptolemy's Geography of India) which have recently been appearing in the Indian Antiquary are to be published separately. The amount of patient and scholarly work which they indicate is of the kind that we are rather accustomed to look for from a German savant, and can hardly be properly appreciated by one who does not know by expe- rience the difficulties of such investigations. — The Scottish Geographical Magazine.

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse

↑ Book I. cap. 4. The translation is Bunbury's.
↑ The Olympic stadium, which was in general use throughout Greece, contained 600 Greek feet, which were equal to 625 Roman feet, or 606¾ English feet. The Roman mile contained 8 stadia, or about half a stadium less than an English mile. A stadium of 600 Greek feet was very nearly the 600th part of a degree, and 10 stadia are therefore just about equal to a Nautical or Geographical mile. According to Eratosthenes, a degree at the Equator was equal to 700 stadia, but according to Poseidônios it was equal to only 500. The truth lay between, but Ptolemy unfortunately followed Poseidônios in his error.
↑ "The equinoctial line was of course perfectly fixed and definite in Ptolemy's mind, as an astronomical line; but he had no means of assigning its position on the Map of the World, except with reference to other parallels, such as the tropic at Syene, or the parallels of Alexandria and Rhodes, which had been determined by direct observation."—Bunbury, Hist. of Anc. Geog., vol. II, p. 560, n. 2.
↑ The Island of Ferro—the westernmost of the Group of the Canaries, which was long taken as the prime meridian, and is still so taken in Germany—is really situated 18° 20′ west of Greenwich, while Capo St. Vincent (called anciently the Sacred Cape) is just about 9°, so that the real difference between the two amounted to 9° 20′ instead of only 2½°. Two corrections must therefore be applied to Ptolemy's longitudes—one-sixth must be deducted because of his under-estimate of the length of a degree along the Equator, and 6° 50′ must be added bocause Ferro was so much further west than ho supposed. Subject to those corrections his longitudes would be fairly accurate, provided his calculations of distances were otherwise free from error.
↑ The aotnal latitudes of the places here mentioned may be compared with those of Ptolemy : —
Beal Lat. Ptolemy's Lat.
Byzantium 41° 43° 5'
HeUespont 40°41° 15'
Smyrna 88° 28' 88° 35'
Issus 37° 36° 85'
Ehodes 30° 24' 36° 25'
Hierapolis 86° 28' 36° 15'
Ekbatana 34°60' 37°45'
Kaspian Gates 35°30' 37°
Hekatompylos 35° 40' 37° 50'
Antiokheia (Merv) 37° 35' 40° 20'
Baktra (Balkh) 36° 40' 41°
Stone Tower (TAshkand) 42° 58' 43°
Sera Metropolis (Ho-nan) 38° 35' 83° 68'
↑ By the intercepted angle is meant the angle contained by two straight lines drawn from Kdry, one running north-east to Kouroula and the other parallel to the Equator. In Ptolemy's map Kouroula is so placed that its distance in a straight line from Kory is about double the distance between the meridians of those two places.

[1] Book I. cap. 4. The translation is Bunbury's.

[2] The Olympic stadium, which was in general use throughout Greece, contained 600 Greek feet, which were equal to 625 Roman feet, or 606¾ English feet. The Roman mile contained 8 stadia, or about half a stadium less than an English mile. A stadium of 600 Greek feet was very nearly the 600th part of a degree, and 10 stadia are therefore just about equal to a Nautical or Geographical mile. According to Eratosthenes, a degree at the Equator was equal to 700 stadia, but according to Poseidônios it was equal to only 500. The truth lay between, but Ptolemy unfortunately followed Poseidônios in his error.

[3] "The equinoctial line was of course perfectly fixed and definite in Ptolemy's mind, as an astronomical line; but he had no means of assigning its position on the Map of the World, except with reference to other parallels, such as the tropic at Syene, or the parallels of Alexandria and Rhodes, which had been determined by direct observation."—Bunbury, Hist. of Anc. Geog., vol. II, p. 560, n. 2.

[p19-4] The Island of Ferro—the westernmost of the Group of the Canaries, which was long taken as the prime meridian, and is still so taken in Germany—is really situated 18° 20′ west of Greenwich, while Capo St. Vincent (called anciently the Sacred Cape) is just about 9°, so that the real difference between the two amounted to 9° 20′ instead of only 2½°. Two corrections must therefore be applied to Ptolemy's longitudes—one-sixth must be deducted because of his under-estimate of the length of a degree along the Equator, and 6° 50′ must be added bocause Ferro was so much further west than ho supposed. Subject to those corrections his longitudes would be fairly accurate, provided his calculations of distances were otherwise free from error.

[5] The aotnal latitudes of the places here mentioned may be compared with those of Ptolemy : —
Beal Lat. Ptolemy's Lat.
Byzantium 41° 43° 5'
HeUespont 40°41° 15'
Smyrna 88° 28' 88° 35'
Issus 37° 36° 85'
Ehodes 30° 24' 36° 25'
Hierapolis 86° 28' 36° 15'
Ekbatana 34°60' 37°45'
Kaspian Gates 35°30' 37°
Hekatompylos 35° 40' 37° 50'
Antiokheia (Merv) 37° 35' 40° 20'
Baktra (Balkh) 36° 40' 41°
Stone Tower (TAshkand) 42° 58' 43°
Sera Metropolis (Ho-nan) 38° 35' 83° 68'

[6] By the intercepted angle is meant the angle contained by two straight lines drawn from Kdry, one running north-east to Kouroula and the other parallel to the Equator. In Ptolemy's map Kouroula is so placed that its distance in a straight line from Kory is about double the distance between the meridians of those two places.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]