278 GEOGRAPHY FROM AUGUSTUS TO TRAJAN. [CHAP.
forced into a narrow space, the rivers are driven backwards for
many stadia contrary to the natural direction of their current.
In consequence of this, sailors who are unacquainted with these
waters and visit Barygaza for the first time run great risk in
approaching and quitting the port. For, since the rush of the
tide does not slacken its force, the anchors cannot hold; and so
the vessels, which are carried away by its impetus, being driven
out of the straight course by the fury of the stream, run aground
on the sandbanks and are broken up, while the smaller ones are
even upset; others, again, which to avoid the tide-wave have
betaken themselves to the neighbouring canals, are swamped by
the first onset of the stream, unless they are shored up, since the
bore comes suddenly upon them. So great indeed is the violence
with which the sea comes in at the new moon, especially during
the nightly flow of the tide} that, while at the commencement of
its advance, when the sea is calm, a sound like the shouting of an
army far away reaches the ears of those who dwell about the
estuary, shortly afterwards the sea itself with a rushing noise
comes sweeping over the shallows1."
Beyond Barygaza, the furthest point which was reached by
traders was Nelcynda—a place the position of
Nelcynda. ,.,. . , ,. ,,.
which is not certainly determined, but it seems
to have lain in the neighbourhood of the Malabar coast. It
was extensively resorted to in connexion with the pepper trade.
With regard to the shape of India the author of the Periplus
seems to have held truer views than any preceding geographer, as
we have akeady seen to be the case concerning Africa \ for he
remarks that from Barygaza onwards the direction of the coast is
from north to. south, thus shewing that he was aware of the
existence of the peninsula of Hindostan. He also gives evidence
of being acquainted with the name of this region, which he says is
called Dachinabades because of its extension from north to south,
dachanos being the native word for the south wind8. This
etymology of the appellation «Deccan' is approximately right, for
1 Ptriplus, §§ 45, 46.
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