large bones in their sides form beams for the houses, and the smaller ones rafters, the jawbones the doorposts. For many of them reach the length of 25 fathoms [152 feet].

THE SNARK ISLAND, AND THE MERMAID.

When they were sailing along the coast of the land of the Ichthyophagi, they heard a tale about a certain island, which lies 100 stades (11 miles) from the mainland there, and is uninhabited. The natives say it is called Nosala, and that it is sacred to the Sun, and that no man wishes to touch at it. For whoever lands there through ignorance, disappears. Nearchus says that one of their light galleys having a crew of Egyptians disappeared not far from this island; and that the pilots stoutly affirmed in regard to this occurrence, that no doubt, having put in at the island through want of knowledge, they had disappeared. But Nearchus sent a ship with thirty oars all round the island, ordering the sailors not to land on it, but sailing along so as to graze the shore to shout out to the men, calling out the captain's name and that of any other man known to them. But when no one obeyed him, he says he himself sailed to the island, and compelled the sailors against their will to put in. He landed himself, and proved that the tale about the island was an empty myth.

He heard another tale told about this island, to the effect that one of the Nereids dwelt in it; but her name was not mentioned. She had communication with every man who approached the island, and having changed him into a fish, cast him into the sea. But the Sun was angry with the Nereid, and ordered her to depart from the island. She agreed to depart, but besought that her disease should be healed. The Sun hearkened to her request, and pitying the men whom she had turned into fishes, he turned them back again into men; and from these, they said, the race of the Ichthyophagi sprang, which continued down to the time of Alexander. I, for my part, do not praise Nearchus for spending his time and ability in proving these things false, though they were not very difficult of disproof. I know, however, that it is a very difficult task for one who reads the ancient tales to prove that they are false.

VOYAGE ALONG THE COAST OF CARMANIA.

They came to anchor near a deserted shore, and observed a long promontory stretching far out into the sea. The promontory seemed about a day's voyage off. Those who were acquainted with those parts said that this promontory, which stretched out, was in Arabia, and was called Maceta; and that cinnamon and such like things were carried thence to the Assyrians. From this shore, where the fleet was riding at anchor, and from the promontory which they saw stretching out into the sea opposite them, the gulf runs up into the interior, which is probably the Red Sea (Arabian Sea). So I think, and so did Nearchus.

When they saw this promontory, Onesicritus gave orders to direct their course to it, in order that they might not suffer hardships driving their ships up the gulf. But Nearchus answered that Onesicritus was childish if he did not know for what purpose Alexander had dispatched the expedition. For he did not send out the ships because he could not convey all his army by land in safety, but because he wished to explore the coast by a coasting voyage to see what harbors and islands were there, and if any gulf ran into the land to sail round it; to find out what cities were on the seacoast, and see if any of the country was fertile, and if any was deserted. Therefore they ought not to render their whole work nugatory, now they were already near the end of their labors, especially as they no longer were in want of necessaries on the voyage. He said he was afraid, because the promontory stretched towards the south, that they should meet with a country there uninhabited, waterless, and fiery hot. These arguments prevailed, and Nearchus seems clearly to me to have saved his army by this advice; for the report is current that that promontory and all the land adjacent is uninhabited and entirely destitute of water.

ARRIVAL AT HARMOZEIA.

Loosening from the shore they sailed, keeping close to the land, and after voyaging 700 stades (82 miles) they anchored on another shore, named Neoptana. And again they put to sea at break of day, and sailing 100 stades (11 miles) they anchored in the river Anamis. The place was called Har

mozeia [near Gombroon], and was pleasant and fertile in everything; except that olive trees did not grow there. Here they disembarked and rested with delight from all their labors, recalling all the hardships they had endured on the sea and near the land of the Ichthyophagi, the desolateness of the country, and the savageness of the people. They also recapitulated their own distresses.

Some of them went up far into the country away from the sea, scattering themselves about away from the camp, one in search of one thing, another of another. Here they saw a man wearing a Grecian cloak, and equipped in other respects like a Greek. He also spoke the Greek language. The men who first saw this person said that they wept; it seemed so unexpected a thing for them, after so many misfortunes, to see a Greek and to hear a Greek voice. They asked him whence he came and who he was. He said he had wandered away from Alexander's camp, and that the king himself and his army were not far off. They conducted this man to Nearchus, shouting and clapping their hands. He told Nearchus everything, and that the king and the camp were distant from the sea a journey of five days. He said he would introduce the governor of this land to Nearchus, and did so. Nearchus imparted to the governor his intention of going up the country to the king.

NEARCHUS REJOINS ALEXANDER.

The governor having learnt that Alexander was very anxious about this expedition, thought that he would receive a great reward if he were the first to announce to him the safety of Nearchus and his army, and he knew that Nearchus would arrive in the king's presence in a very short time. So he drove the shortest way, and told Alexander that Nearchus would soon be with him from the ships. At that time, although the king did not believe the story, yet he rejoiced at the news, as was natural. But when one day after another passed by, the report no longer seemed credible to him, when he considered the time since he received the news. Several persons were sent one after the other to fetch Nearchus. Some, after going a little distance on the journey and meeting no one, returned without him; others, having gone farther, but having missed Nearchus and his men, did not return. Then Alexander ordered that

man to be arrested, as a reporter of empty rumors, and one who had made his troubles more grievous than before on account of his foolish joy. It was evident from his face and his decision that he was cast into great grief. Meanwhile, some of those who had been dispatched in search of Nearchus with horses and carriages, fell in with him and Archias, and five or six with them, on the road; for he was coming up with so few attendants. When they met them they recognized neither him nor Archias; so much altered did they look. They had long hair, they were dirty and covered with brine; their bodies were shriveled, and they were pale from want of sleep and other hardships.

[Alexander was overjoyed to find both fleet and army safe, and wished to send the fleet up to Susa under another command; but Nearchus protested against having accomplished all the hard part of the voyage and letting another do the easy part and get the glory of the finished voyage. He was therefore allowed to sail it up the Persian Gulf and the Euphrates.]

They traveled 900 stades (106 miles), and cast anchor at the mouth of the Euphrates, near a certain village in Babylonia, named Diridotis; where the merchants bring frankincense from the country on the opposite side of the gulf, and all the other spices which the country of the Arabs produces. From the mouth of the Euphrates up to Babylon, Nearchus said, is a voyage of 3300 stades (388 miles).

When it was reported that Alexander was approaching, they again sailed up the river, and moored near the bridge of boats by which Alexander was going to convey his army to Susa. Here a junction was formed, and Alexander offered sacrifices for the safety of the ships and of the men, and celebrated contests. Wherever Nearchus appeared in the army he was pelted with flowers and garlands. Here also Nearchus and Leonnatus were crowned by Alexander with golden crowns; the former for the preservation of the fleet, and the latter for the victory which he had won over the Oreitians and the neighboring barbarians. Thus Alexander's army, starting from the mouth of the Indus, arrived safely.

THE FORGED WILL.

By W. A. BECKER.

(From "Charicles.")

[WILHELM ADOLF BECKER, a noted German classical antiquary, was born at Dresden, 1796; died at Meissen, 1846. Designed for trade, he left it for scholarship; studied at Leipsic, and the last four years of his life was professor there. His still familiar works are "Charicles" and "Gallus," novels embodying the social life of the Greeks in Alexander's time and the Romans in Augustus'. His "Handbook of Roman Antiquities" (1843-1846) is his chief monument as a scholar.]

[NOTE. A talent may be reckoned as nearly $1200; a mina, $20; a drachma, 20 cents.]

POLYCLES was a very wealthy man. His country estates, his houses in the city and the Piræus, and his numerous slaves, yielded him, with no trouble, a secure income; which however was as nothing compared to that which he derived from the ready money lying at the money changers', or lent out elsewhere, at a high rate of interest. Those who were more intimate with the state of his affairs were convinced that his property amounted in all to more than fifty talents.

He had remained single till his fifty-fifth year, and then, in compliance with his late brother's dying request, he had married his only surviving daughter, Cleobule, a blooming girl of sixteen. But in the midst of the festivity of the marriage feast, he was attacked with apoplexy, which had been succeeded by tedious and painful illness. No means of relief had been neglected. The veteran family physician, a man of no mean skill, had called in the advice of other medical men, but the resources of their art were exhausted without success: neither their exertions, nor the tenderness of Cleobule, who nursed the patient like a dutiful daughter, availed to reunite the ruptured threads of his existence. Polycles was not satisfied with applying for aid to the successors of Esculapius, but tried the efficacy of certain charms; while interpreters of dreams were consulted, expiations placed in the crossways, and aged women, reputed to have the power of curing diseases by mysterious arts and magic songs, had been summoned to attend. Whole days and nights had also been passed by the sufferer in the temple