Greek Texts & Translations

highly valued, because all the district around is burnt up and is without water or shade. But there the fertility of the palm is prodigious. A man and a woman are appointed by hereditary right to the guardianship of the grove. They wear skins, and live on dates. They sleep in huts built on trees, the place being infested with multitudes of wild beasts.

Next is the island of Phocae (Seals), ^note which has its name from those animals, which abound there. Near it is a promontory, ^note which extends towards Petra, of the Arabians called Nabataei, and to the country of Palestine, to this [island] the Minaei, ^note Gerrhaei, and all the neighbouring nations repair with loads of aromatics.

Next is another tract of sea-coast, formerly called the coast of the Maranitae, ^note some of whom were husbandmen, others Scenitae; but at present it is occupied by Garindaei, who destroyed the former possessors by treachery. They attacked those who were assembled to celebrate some quinquennial festival, and put them to death; they then attacked and exterminated the rest of the tribe. ^note

Next is the Aelanitic ^note Gulf and Nabataea, a country well peopled, and abounding in cattle. The islands which lie near, and opposite, are inhabited by people who formerly lived without molesting others, but latterly carried on a piratical warfare in rafts ^note against vessels on their way from Egypt. But they suffered reprisals, when an armament was sent out against them, which devastated their country.