Page 282 - The Tigris Expedition

Tigris and the Superships: the l oya^e •*' * “x* \ [\w
brought from the lower part ot the \nvU1>. V/v -un states of
archaeological evidence left no doubt that the nug v ^
Mohcnjo-Daro and Harappa, further up the Indus nu . • j
sessed maritime traditions and built these torts at t K 01 • \K '
landing places on the Makran coast to detend themselves tu rn
other sea-borne intruders. The testimony ot these Indus \M t >
settlements along the coast strengthened Dales in his conviction
that ‘none of the great civilisations of the world originated or
thrived in a cultural and economic vacuum .5
Such words were more meaningful to me than ever as l lay
rereading old notes between our cane walls within a few miles ot the
Sotka-Koh fort.
‘I have discovered Pakistan!' I was tom back to reality by
Norman’s voice high above the ceiling. He was yodelling with joy
from the top of the mast. I stuck my books back in the case below
my mattress before I crawled out and climbed up the mast ladder.
This was the eleventh day after leaving Muscat. It was crowded up
on the ladder, for we all wanted to see this new land. It was 9.05 a. m.
on 26 January, and to me it was a great moment. The land Norman
had discovered at port quarter of the bow was a table-topped island,
first light blue and then, as we turned past, showing bright yellow
in the morning sun. Yuri, with an Antarctic expedition behind him,
likened it to a flat iceberg.
-
This was Astola island. We still 01 ot see the mainland coast
of Makran because of haze. was r.o ing to tempt us ashore,
there being nothing on the is*.an Ivan abandoned Hindu
shrine and an infinite quantir o: oisono js snak* s. 1 hr.
island has been identified fcv so r- as Ca »* r- or * iasoJa. viejm d \,y
Alexander the Great’s ad ra ea }j y. P.*.jr Porn;! 11
historian, refers to it in AD 77 a r- f' r r. or dr ( h of
the Nymphs, on which a.. arnrna.s y e/" poou dr, from
causes not ascertained’. Per naps tne Pornans no* / no // ,if#om
the snakes? We were sailing :r. hissor;' y/j,v rs /• .* / /', 1,10
grapher, Arrian, wno ham access so v.v >.'* /,;/ voo£* dr
admiral, tells that when the Greeks:y /!.•'( *
ing inland march through the w;.c rr.o e" v ?• . of b t .. • dr /
built a fleet on the Indus river anc s<* *: jva' / v, '/.• o;r,' .^/i ilonj'
the Persian coast. This happens'; /,........ / ' ' / t •
thousand three hundred sears ago ^ mo * I* 9 it
European history to us v/ho . '• /7 ,, of d,.* fr<d
forced Indus Valley rulers v, n,.. . , , * ft* n* /
centuries or more before ov da /s o ' / , ,
>7/