(Ch. 9.) “The roadstead was in front of a level strand, bordered with lofty trees, and coming on to blow at night, they were in the utmost danger till sunrise:  but running then to the south, they came in sight of a safe harbour[1]; and saw many populous towns inland.  On landing, they were surrounded by the villagers, and the governor of the place entertained them hospitably for seven days; pending the return of a messenger whom he had despatched to the principal king, to ask his instructions relative to the Tyrians who had anchored in the harbour.  The messenger having returned on the seventh day, the governor sent for the Tyrians the following morning, and informed them that they must go with him to the king, who was then residing at Rochapatta, a large and prosperous city in the centre of the island.  In front marched several spearmen, sent by the king as a guard of honour to the strangers; who with the clash of their spears scared away the elephants which were numerous and dangerous because it was their rutting time.  The Tyrians marched in the centre, and Cedarus, Cotilus, and Jaminus were carried in palanquins.  The villagers as they passed along offered them presents, and the governor brought up the rear, where he rode on an elephant, surrounded by his body guard.  In this order of march, they on the third day came to a ford; in the passage over which, one of the travellers was devoured by crocodiles which swarm in the rivers.  Having proceeded thus for several days, they at length descried the city of Rochapatta, environed by lofty mountains.  And when it was known that they had arrived (for the rumour of their approach had preceded them) the inhabitants rushed from the city in a body to see the Tyrians; some riding on elephants, some on asses, some in palanquins, but the greater part on foot.  And the commander having conducted them into a spacious and splendid palace, caused the gates to be closed, that the crowd might not make their way in; and led the Tyrians to the King Rachius, who was seated on a beautiful couch.  Presents were then interchanged.

“To the Tyrians, who brought horses and purple robes, and seats of cedar, the King gave in return, pearls, gold, 2000 elephants’ teeth, and much unequalled cinnamon ([Greek:  kinnamo pollo te kai diapheronti]); and he entertained them as guests for thirty days.” (Ch. xi.) “Some of the Tyrians perished in the island, one indeed by sickness, but the others smitten by the gods.  One man, picking up some pellets of sheep’s dung, drew lines on the sand, and challenged another who happened to be looking on, to play a game with them.  The challenger held the sheep’s dung, but the other, who could not find any dung of camels (for there are no camels in that island), took cow-dung, of which there was a great quantity, and rolling up little balls of it, placed them on the lines.  But a priest who was present warned them to desist, because cow-dung is sacred among them, but they only laughed.