Geography

​Aristobulus, having compared the similarity of this country to both Egypt and Ethiopia, and again its contrariety—because the filling of the Nile is from the southern rains, whereas that of the Indian rivers is from the northern ones—inquires why the intermediate places are not rained upon; for neither the Thebais as far as Syene and the parts near Meroe, nor the parts of India from Patalene as far as the Hydaspes, experience rain. On the other hand, the country above these regions, in which there are both rains and snowstorms, is cultivated, he said, in a manner very similar to the other country outside India; for it is watered by the rains and the snows. It is reasonable, from what this writer has said, that the land is also subject to earthquakes, being loosened by the great moisture and receiving rifts, so that even the beds of the rivers are changed. At all events, he says that when he was sent on a certain mission, he saw a country of more than a thousand cities, together with villages, which had been deserted because the Indus, having abandoned its own proper bed and turned into another on the left which was much deeper, and having as it were rushed headlong into it, so that the country left behind on the right was no longer watered by the overflows, since it was higher not only than the new bed but also than the overflows.

​With respect to the filling of the rivers and the fact that the land breezes do not blow, what is said by Onesicritus also agrees; for he says that the coast is swampy, especially at the mouths of the rivers, because of the silt, the tides, and the prevalence of the sea winds. Megasthenes, on his part, points out the fertility of India by the fact that it produces crops twice a year and bears fruit twice, just as Eratosthenes also said, stating that one sowing is in winter and the other in summer, and the rains likewise; for he says that no year is found rainless in respect to both seasons, so that from this there is plenty, since the land is never barren. He says also that many tree-fruits are produced, and the roots of plants, especially of the large reeds, which are sweet both by nature and by concoction, since the water, both that which falls from Zeus and that of the rivers, is warmed by the suns. In a certain way he wishes to say that what among other peoples is called the ripening of both fruits and juices, is among them a concoction, and accomplishes as much toward good flavor as that done by fire; wherefore also he says that the branches of the trees are flexible, from which wheels are made; and from the same cause wool grows on some plants. From this, Nearchus says, fine-threaded muslins are woven, and the Macedonians use them instead of stuffing, and also for the stuffing of saddles. Similar also are the Seric garments, made of byssus combed from certain barks. He has also said concerning the reeds that they produce honey, although there are no bees; for indeed there is a fruit-bearing tree, and from its fruit honey is composed, and those who eat of the fruit raw become intoxicated.