Book 15
1.45
Few crocodiles, he says, are found in the Indus, and these are harmless, but most of the other animals, except the hippopotamus, are the same as those found in the Nile; but Onesicritus says that this animal also is found there.
1.45
According to Aristobulus, none of the sea fish ascend the Nile from the sea, except the shad,θοͅίσσα. the grey mullet,κεστοͅεύς. and dolphin, on account of the crocodiles; but great numbers ascend the Indus. Small craw-fishκαοͅίδες. go up as far as the mountains,In the text, μέχοͅι ὄοͅους, to a mountain. Coraÿ changes the last word to the name of a people, οὔοͅων, but Strabo does not appear to have been acquainted with them; Groskurd, to ὀρῶν. The translation adopts this correction, with the addition of the article, which, as Kramer observes, is wanting if we fallow Groskurd. and the larger as far as the confluence of the Indus and the Acesines.
1.45
So much then on the subject of the wild animals of India. We shall return to Megasthenes, and resume our account where we digressed.
1.46
After the hunters and the shepherds, follows the fourth caste, which consists, he says, of those who work at trades, retail wares, and who are employed in bodily labour. Some of these pay taxes, and perform certain stated services. But the armour-makers and ship-builders receive wages and provisions from the king, for whom only they work. The general-in-chief furnishes the soldiers with arms, and the admiral lets out ships for hire to those who undertake voyages and traffic as merchants.
1.47
The fifth caste consists of fighting men, who pass the time not employed in the field in idleness and drinking, and are maintained at the charge of the king. They are ready whenever they are wanted to march on an expedition, for they bring nothing of their own with them, except their bodies.
