Europe, Ptolemy established the seat of government there, and for the security of vessels navigating in the night, he caused a lofty light-house to be erected on the island of Pharos, which was executed with such art and magnificence, by the famous architect Sostratus, as to excite the admiration of all who visited it. Secure in the undisturbed possession of Egypt, he afterwards made himself master of Cœlo-Syria and Phenicia: entered Judea; took Jerusalem; and sent about a hundred thousand captives into Egypt; numbers of whom he settled at Alexandria, and granted them their freedom. Ptolemy Lagus, now called Soter, dying in the year 285 B. C. at the age of ninety-two, was succeeded by his son Ptolemy Philadelphus, who particularly applied himself to complete the plan projected by Alexander, and afterwards prosecuted by his father. It appears that he once intended to form a canal, which is said to have been begun by Nechos,* and was to extend from the place named Ar * Called in the Scriptures, Pharao Necho. sinoe,* to the Pelusiac branch of the Nile; a work which he afterwards abandoned; but, in order to lessen the dangers and delays with which the navigation of the Arabic Gulf is fraught, especially towards the bottom of it, where Arsinoe stood, he caused a city to be built, named Myos Hormus, on the western coast of the gulf, above Arsinoe. Another city was afterwards raised on the same coast, still nearer to the mouth of the gulf, named Berenice: some have attributed the founding of this city also to Philadelphus, but there is reason to believe that it was built by his son Ptolemy Evergetes, and that the name Berenice was given to it to commemorate the virtues of his queen, and the extreme love he bore to her. Berenice became the principal port; whence the merchandize brought from the east, was transported across the desert of Thebais to Coptos, a city about 258 Roman miles from * A city built by Ptolemy Lagus, near the spot where Suez now stands. Berenice, and about three from the Nile, to which it was conveyed by a canal, and thence down the stream towards Alexandria. The desert of Thebais being almost destitute of water, cisterns were constructed at certain distances on the road, for receiving what fell from the heavens, as well as what might be conveyed from neighbouring springs. The ships destined for India, after leaving the ports in the Arabian gulf above mentioned, sailed along the shore to the promontory of Syargus, now cape Rasalgate, and from thence proceeded in the same track which Nearchus had pursued on coming from India. The commerce with India under the descendants of Ptolemy Lagus, seems to have been confined to the maritime places which Alexander had visited there, but chiefly to Pattala, now Tatta, at the head of the lower Delta of the Indus. On the death of Cleopatra, daughter of Ptolemy Auletes, Augustus took possession of Egypt as a conquered country; but instead of declaring it a province of the Roman empire, he retained it under his own immediate authority. So jealous was he of interference in regard to it, that a decree was issued, forbidding any one to go thither without his special permission; and the same system must have been as scrupulously observed under his successor, for we find the going to Egypt without leave, one of the articles of accusation brought by Tiberius against Germanicus, to the senate.* Under the Romans the commerce with India was increased, and carried to countries south of the Indus. At Barugaza† situated on the gulf Baragenesus and river Narbudda, the traders found a more abundant and convenient mart than at Pattala. From the interior parts of the country, but especially from the cities of Plithana, supposed to be the place now called by the Hindus, Pultanah; and from * A. D. 19, and in the fifth year of Tiberius.-Taciti Annales, lib. ii. c. 59, 60. + The present Baroach, Tagara,* named by Rennell, Deoghir, various sorts of goods were transported by land-carriage to Barugaza. The voyage to India as hitherto practised, not only occasioned great loss of time, and * Doctor Vincent, on the authority of Mr. Wilford, supposes Tagara to have been situated where the famous temples and excavations of Ellora are seen, in the vicinity of Dowlatabad, in the northern part of the Deckan. He mentions engravings on plates of copper found on the island of Salsette, near Bombay, in which the city of Tagara is mentioned. These plates were procured by General Carnac, and sent by him to Sir William Jones, while president of the Asiatic Society, at Calcutta. Mr. Carnac informs the president, that none of the Guzerat Brahmins who had been consulted, could explain the inscriptions. They were, however, translated by a learned Pundit, at Calcutta, named Ramalochan, who certainly knew nothing of the Periplus of Arrian, but the name of the city as written by Ramalochan was found, on pronouncing it, to correspond with the Greek name Tagara. In mentioning the prince who made the grant, it is said: " Aricesari Devarajah, &c. &c. descended from the stock of Jimŭlavahana, king of the race of Silar, sovereign of the city of Tagara, ruler of the whole region of Cancana, &c.” For the grant see Asiat. Res. London edit. vol. i. p. 357; and for Remarks on the city of Tagara, p. 361, of the same volume. |