Megasthenes on India

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> >I had been looking for Megasthenes' Indika for quite some time, and I just

>came across fragments of the same on the web at.. >

>http://www.mssc.edu/projectsouthasia/history/primarydocs/Foreign_Views/Greek

>Roman/Megasthenes-Indika.htm > >----> > FRAGMENT I > > OR AN EPITOME OF

MEGASTHENES. > > (Diod. II. 35-42.) > > (35.) India, which is in shape

quadrilateral, has its eastern as >well as its western side bounded by the

great sea, but on the northern side >it is divided by Mount Hemodos from that

part of Skythia which is inhabited >by those Skythians who are called the

Sakai, while the fourth or western >side is bounded by the river called the

Indus, which is perhaps the largest >of all rivers in the world after the Nile.

The extent of the whole country >from east to west is said to be 28,000 stadia,

and from north to south >32,000. Being thus of such vast extent, it seems

well-nigh to embrace the >whole of the northern tropic zone of the earth, and

in fact at the extreme >point of India the gnomon of the sundial may frequently

be observed to cast >no shadow, while the constellation of the Bear is by night

invisible, and in >the remotest parts even Arcturus disappears from view.

Consistently with >this, it is also stated that shadows there fall to the

southward. > > India has many huge mountains which abound in fruit-trees of

every >kind, and many vast plains of great fertility--more or less beautiful,

but >all alike intersected by a multitude of rivers. > > The greater part of

the soil, moreover, is under irrigation, and >consequently bears two crops in

the course of the year. It teems at the same >time with animals of all

sorts,--beasts of the field and fowls of the >air,--of all different degrees of

strength and size. It is prolific, >besides, in elephants, which are of

monstrous bulk, as its soil supplies >food in unsparing profusion, making these

animals far to exceed in strength >those that are bred in Libya. It results also

that, since they are caught in >great numbers by the Indians and trained for

war, they are of great moment >in turning the scale of victory. > > (36.) The

inhabitants, in like manner, having abundant means of >subsistence, exceed in

consequence the ordinary stature, and are >distinguished by their proud

bearing. They are also found to be well skilled >in the arts, as might be

expected of men who inhale a pure air and drink the >very finest water. And

while the soil bears on its surface all kinds of >fruits which are known to

cultivation, it has also under ground numerous >veins of all sorts of metals,

for it contains much gold and silver, and >copper and iron in no small

quantity, and even tin and other metals, which >are employed in making articles

of use and ornament, as well as the >implements and accoutrements of war. > > In

addition to cereals, there grows throughout India much millet, >which is kept

well watered by the profusion of river-streams, and much pulse >of different

sorts, and rice also, and what is called bosporum, as well as >many other

plants useful for food, of which most grow spontaneously. The >soil yields,

moreover, not a few other edible products fit for the >subsistence of animals,

about which it would be tedious to write. It is >accordingly affirmed that

famine has never visited India, and that there has >never been a general

scarcity in the supply of nourishing food. For, since >there is a double

rainfall in the course of each year,--one in the winter >season, when the

sowing of wheat takes place as in other countries, and the >second at the time

of the summer solstice, which is the proper season for >sowing rice and

bosporum, as well as sesamum and millet--the inhabitants of >India almost

always gather in two harvests annually; and even should one of >the sowings

prove more or less abortive they are always sure of the other >crop. The

fruits, moreover, of spontaneous growth, and the esculent roots >which grow in

marshy places and are of varied sweetness, afford abundant >sustenance for man.

The fact is, almost all the plains in the country have a >moisture which is

alike genial, whether it is derived from the rivers, or >from the rains of the

summer season, which are wont to fall every year at a >stated period with

surprising regularity; while the great heat which >prevails ripens the roots

which grow in the marshes, and especially those of >the tall reeds. > > But,

farther, there are usages observed by the Indians which >contribute to prevent

the occurrence of famine among them; for whereas among >other nations it is

usual, in the contests of war, to ravage the soil, and >thus to reduce it to an

uncultivated waste, among the Indians, on the >contrary, by whom husbandmen are

regarded as a class that is sacred and >inviolable, the tillers of the soil,

even when battle is raging in their >neighbourhood, are undisturbed by any

sense of danger, for the combatants on >either side in waging the conflict make

carnage of each other, but allow >those engaged in husbandry to remain quite

unmolested. Besides, they neither >ravage an enemy's land with fire, nor cut

down its trees. > > (37.) India, again, possesses many rivers both large and

navigable, >which, having their sources in the mountains which stretch along

the >northern frontier, traverse the level country, and not a few of these,

after >uniting with each other, fall into the river called the Ganges. Now this

>river, which at its source is 30 stadia broad, flows from north to south, >and

empties its waters into the ocean forming the eastern boundary of the

>Gangaridai, a nation which possesses a vast force of the largest-sized

>elephants. Owing to this, their country has never been conquered by any

>foreign king: for all other nations dread the overwhelming number and

>strength of these animals. [Thus Alexander the Macedonian, after conquering

>all Asia, did not make war upon the Gangaridai, as be did on all others; for

>when he had arrived with all his troops at the river Ganges, and had subdued

>all the other Indians, he abandoned as hopeless an invasion of the >Gangaridai

when he learned that they possessed four thousand elephants well >trained and

equipped for war.] Another river, about the same size as the >Ganges, called

the Indus, has its sources, like its rival, in the north, and >falling into the

ocean forms on its way the boundary of India; in its >passage through the vast

stretch of level country it receives not a few >tributary streams which are

navigable, the most notable of them being the >Hupanis, the Hudaspes, and the

Akesines. Besides these rivers there are a >great many others of every

description, which permeate the country, and >supply water for the nurture of

garden vegetables and crops of all sorts. >Now to account for the rivers being

so numerous, and the supply of water so >superabundant, the native philosophers

and proficients in natural science >advance the following reasons:--They say

that the countries, which surround >India--those of the Skythians and Baktrians

and also of the Aryans--are more >elevated than India, so that their waters,

agreeably to natural law, flow >down together from all sides to the plains

beneath, where they gradually >saturate the soil with moisture, and generate a

multitude of rivers. > > A peculiarity is found to exist in one of the rivers

of India,--that >called the Sillas, which flows from a fountain bearing the

same name. It >differs from all other rivers in this respect,--that nothing

cast into it >will float, but everything, strange to say, sinks down to the

bottom. > > (38.) It is said that India, being of enormous size when taken as a

>whole, is peopled by races both numerous and diverse, of which not even one

>was originally of foreign descent, but all were evidently indigenous; and

>moreover that India neither received a colony from abroad, nor sent out a

>colony to any other nation. The legends further inform us that in primitive

>times the inhabitants subsisted on such fruits as the earth yielded

>spontaneously, and were clothed with the skins of the beasts found in the

>country, as was the case with the Greeks; and that, in like manner as with

>them, the arts and other appliances which improve human life were gradually

>invented, Necessity herself teaching them to an animal at once docile and

>furnished not only with hands ready to second all his efforts, but also with

>reason and a keen intelligence. > > The men of greatest learning among the

Indians tell certain legends, >of which it may be proper to give a brief

summary. They relate that in the >most primitive times, when the people of the

country were still living in >villages, Dionusos made his appearance coming

from the regions lying to the >west and at the head of a considerable army. He

overran the whole of India, >as there was no great city capable of resisting

his arms. The heat, however, >having become excessive, and the soldiers of

Dionusos being afflicted with a >pestilence, the leader, who was remarkable for

his sagacity, carried his >troops away from the plains up to the hills. There

the army, recruited by >the cool breezes and the waters that flowed fresh from

the fountains, >recovered from sickness. The place among the mountains where

Dionusos >restored his troops to health was called Meros; from which

circumstance, no >doubt, the Greeks have transmitted to posterity the legend

concerning the >god, that Dionusos was bred in his father's thigh. Having after

this turned >his attention to the artificial propagation of useful plants, he

>communicated the secret to the Indians, and taught them the way to make >wine,

as well as other arts conducive to human well-being. He was, besides, >the

founder of large cities, which he formed by removing the villages to

>convenient sites, while he also showed the people how to worship the deity,

>and introduced laws and courts of justice. Having thus achieved altogether

>many great and noble works, he was regarded as a deity and gained immortal

>honours. It is related also of him that he led about with his army a great

>host of women and employed, in marshalling his troops for battle, drums and

>cymbals, as the trumpet had not in his days been invented; and that after

>reigning over the whole of India for two and fifty years he died of old age,

>while his sons, succeeding to the government, transmitted the sceptre in

>unbroken succession to their posterity. At last, after many generations had

>come and. gone, the sovereignty, it is said, was dissolved, and democratic

>governments were set up in the cities. > > (39.) Such, then, are the

traditions regarding Dionusos and his >descendants current among the Indians

who inhabit the hill-country. They >further assert that Herakles also was born

among them. They assign to him, >like the Greeks, the club and the lion's skin.

He far surpassed other men in >personal strength and prowess, and cleared sea

and land of evil beasts. >Marrying many wives he begot many sons, but one

daughter only. The sons >having reached man's estate, he divided all India into

equal portions for >his children, whom he made kings in different parts of his

dominions. He >provided similarly for his only daughter, whom be reared up and

made a >queen. He was the founder, also, of no small number of cities, the most

>renowned and greatest of which he called Palibothra. He built therein many

>sumptuous palaces, and settled within its walls a numerous population. The

>city he fortified with trenches of notable dimensions, which were filled >with

water introduced from the river. Herakles, accordingly, after his >removal from

among men, obtained immortal honour; and his descendants, >having reigned for

many generations and signalized themselves by great >achievements, neither made

any expedition beyond the confines of India, nor >sent out any colony abroad. At

last, however, after many years had gone, >most of the cities adopted the

democratic form of government, though some >retained the kingly until the

invasion of the country by Alexander. Of >several remarkable customs existing

among the Indians, there is one >prescribed by their ancient philosophers which

one may regard as truly >admirable: for the law ordains that no one among them

shall, under any >circumstances, be a slave, but that, enjoying freedom, they

shall respect >the equal right to it which all possess: for those, they

thought, who have >learned neither to domineer over nor to cringe to others

will attain the >life best adapted for all vicissitudes of lot: for it is but

fair and >reasonable to institute laws which bind all equally, but allow

property to >be unevenly distributed. > > (40.) The whole population of India

is divided into seven castes, of >which the first is formed by the collective

body of the Philosophers, which >in point of number is inferior to the other

classes, but in point of dignity >preeminent over all. For the philosophers,

being exempted from all public >duties, are neither the masters nor the

servants of others. They are, >however, engaged by private persons to offer the

sacrifices due in lifetime, >and to celebrate the obsequies of the dead: for

they are believed to be most >dear to the gods, and to be the most conversant

with matters pertaining to >Hades. In requital of such services they receive

valuable gifts and >privileges. To the people of India at large they also

render great benefits, >when, gathered together at the beginning of the year,

they forewarn the >assembled multitudes about droughts and. wet weather, and

also about >propitious winds, and diseases, and other topics capable of

profiting-the >hearers. Thus the people and the sovereign, learning beforehand

what is to >happen, always make adequate provision against a coming deficiency,

and >never fail to prepare beforehand what will help in a time of need. The

>philosopher who errs in his predictions incurs no other penalty than >obloquy,

and he then observes silence for the rest of his life. > > The second caste

consists of the Husbandmen, who appear to be far >more numerous than the

others. Being, moreover, exempted from fighting and >other public services,

they devote the whole of their time to tillage; nor >would an enemy coming upon

a husbandman at work on his land do him any harm, >for men of this class, being

regarded as public benefactors, are protected >from all injury. The land, thus

remaining ravaged, and producing heavy >crops, supplies the inhabitants with

all that is requisite to make life very >enjoyable. The husbandmen themselves,

with their wives and children, live in >the country, and entirely avoid going

into town. They pay a land-tribute to >the king, because all India is the

property of the crown, and no private >person is permitted to own land. Besides

the land-tribute, they pay into the >royal treasury a fourth part of the produce

of the soil. > > The third caste consists of the Neatherds and Shepherds and in

>general of all herdsmen who neither settle in towns nor in villages, but >live

in tents. By hunting and trapping they clear the country of noxious >birds and

wild beasts. As they apply themselves eagerly and assiduously to >this pursuit,

they free India from the pests with which it abounds,--all >sorts of wild

beasts, and birds which devour the seeds sown by the >husbandmen. > > (41.) The

fourth caste consists of the Artizans. Of these some are >armourers, while

others make the implements which husbandmen and others find >useful in their

different callings. This class is not only exempted from >paying taxes, but

even receives maintenance from the royal exchequer. > > The fifth caste is the

Military. It is well organized and equipped >for war, holds the second place in

point of numbers, and gives itself up to >idleness and amusement in the times of

peace. The entire force--men-at-arms, >war-horses, war-elephants, and all--are

maintained at the king's expense. > > The sixth caste consists of the

Overseers. It is their province to >inquire into and superintend all that goes

on in India, and make report to >the king, or, where there is not a king, to

the magistrates. > > The seventh caste consists of the Councillors and

Assessors,--of >those who deliberate on public affairs. It is the smallest

class, looking to >number, but the most respected, on account of the high

character and wisdom >of its members; for from their ranks the advisers of the

king are taken, and >the treasurers, of the state, and the arbiters who settle

disputes. The >generals of the army also, and the chief magistrates, usually

belong to this >class. > > Such, then, are about the parts into which the body

politic in India >is divided. No one is allowed to marry out of his own caste,

or to exercise >any calling or art except his own: for instance, a soldier

cannot become a >husbandman, or an artizan a philosopher. > > (42.) India

possesses a vast number of huge elephants, which far >surpass those found

elsewhere both in strength and size. This animal does >not cover the female in

a peculiar way, as some affirm, but like horses and >other quadrupeds. The

period of gestation is at shortest sixteen months, and >at furthest eighteen.

Like mares, they generally bring forth but one young >one at a time, and this

the dam suckles for six years. Most elephants live >to be as old as an

extremely old man, but the most aged live two hundred >years. > > Among the

Indians officers are appointed even for foreigners whose >duty is to see that

no foreigner is wronged. Should any of them lose his >health, they send

physicians to attend him, and take care of him otherwise, >and if he dies they

bury him, and deliver over such property as he leaves to >his relatives. The

judges also decide cases in which foreigners are >concerned, with the greatest

care, and come down sharply on those who take >unfair advantage of them. [What

we have now said regarding India and its >antiquities will suffice, for our

present purpose.] > >

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