in India), keeping along that of Mekran, and finally following
both sides of the peninsula of Hindustan :—
From Ezion-geber, or Dhahab,’ pursuing the windings of
the coast, the western side of Arabia gives a distance of 1206 miles.
The southern side of the peninsula to the coast of Persia,
at the Straits of Ormuz. . . . . 1660 , ,
From the Straits of Ormuz to the Eiver Indus . . 732 , ,
From the latter to Cape Comorin . . . . 1390 , ,
From Cape Comorin to the River Ganges . . . 1350 , ,
From the River Ganges to the Straits of Malacca. . 1500 , ,
Total 7838
At the rate of about 25 miles in 24 hours, this would occupy Distances and
313 days, which, with the addition of the sabbaths, 44 days, fOTth”voyage.
and other halts, as rests, at intervals of about 10 days, say 31,
would make the outward voyage to the coast of Sumatra quite
388 days; and this is exclusive of detention from bad weather,
which must have occurred frequently, especially during the
monsoons; for assuredly such frail barks could not venture to
proceed, excepting at the commencement, or towards the
termination of these periodical winds. This applies more
particularly to the Red Sea; for outside of the straits of
Bab-el-Mandeb, and, again, along the coasts of Mekran and
the western side of India, the only resource would be to haul
up the flotilla until the strength of the gale were passed. It is
difficult to estimate the time lost in consequence of these
delays, outward and homeward; but as a monsoon would be
encountered during each voyage, about three months may be caused by the
allowed, making 90 days each way; and as from 90 to 120monsooES'
days would probably be occupied on the coasts of Ophir and
Parvaim2 in bartering for the desired articles, and in refitting
the ships, this number of days, with 478 for the return voyage,
will give 1076 days, or nearly three years in all, for the time
consumed in an enterprise which forms one of the glories of
Solomon’s reign.
As it was chiefly owing to the skill and intrepidity of the The earl7
ship-men of Hiram that the trade with Ophir was opened by Phoenicians
1 This place is represented, Plate 45.
8 2 Chron., chap. I I I . v. 6.