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1877 |
Indika. In: Ancient India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian. Translated and edited by J. W. McCrindle.
Calcutta & Bombay, Thacker, Spink: 30-174.
–P. 55 (RE: "monsters of the deep" in the sea around the island of Taprobane=Ceylon): {"Others are in appearance like women, but, instead of having locks of hair, are furnished with prickles."}
This account of the island of Ceylon by the Greek ambassador and historian Megasthenes (ca. 350-290 B.C.E.) was preserved by the Roman author Aelian (Claudius Aelianus; ca. 175-ca. 235 C.E.) in his De Natura Animalium, Book 16, chapter 18). The quoted passage (from Indika, Fragm. LIX, 34, "Of the beasts of India") is taken to refer to the dugong with its "prickly" vibrissae. This appears to be the earliest reference to the dugong, or any sirenian, in European literature.
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