XX ADDITIONAL NOTES.
vol. 6, p. 402), he shared Aristotle's view that the Ocean did not
lie far beyond the Punjab.
Pp. 141-143. The voyage of Nearchus
Nearchus habitually over-estimated the distances traversed by
him: in some cases he almost doubled them. For a similar error,
compare Pytheas' false estimate of the circuit of Britain (editor's
note to p. 157,1. i). Previous to the invention of the log, seafarers
were always prone to exaggerate their daily sailings. Fortunately
for the success of his journey, Columbus miscalculated his rate of
progress, and was thus encouraged to hold on.
P. 146,1. 19. The Red Sea canal
The originator of this waterway was a Pharaoh of the Twelfth
Dynasty (soon after 2000 B.C.). It was repaired in turn by Necho,
by Darius, by Ptolemy Philadelphus, by Augustus and by Trajan.
But it was never long before the sand-drift again choked it;
consequently it was of little commercial value.
P. 147,1. 4. Ptolemaic colonies in Somaliland
In addition to the colonies named in the text, the Ptolemies
established a number of stations on the Somali coast, on either
side of C. Guardafui, as bases for elephant-hunts. From these
depots Jhe hunting parties penetrated far enough into the hinter-
land to obtain accurate information about the source of the Blue
Nile and the cause of the Nile floods.
Pp. 147, 148. Megasthenes
The surviving portions of Megasthenes' report on India have
been carefully studied by Miss B. C. Timmer, Megasthenes en de
indische Maatschappij. Her conclusions are that he misinterpreted
the Hindu religion and caste system, but gave an accurate account
of Chandragupta's court and administration. Excavations at his
capital (mod. Patna) have confirmed Megasthenes' description
of it.
Pp. 152-164* The voyage of Pytheas
The literature on Pytheas, already voluminous when the first
edition of this book appeared, has since grown much larger. The
most useful works on the subject are: K. Mullenhoff, Deutsche