Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-12-31

AHcIEHr TaADE WITH ISDiA.-lt was the
Romans who, in thor love Of luxury and msR-
ai6esAss, 6rss e. ctuslly opened channels Of
communics tion-wiih lndia, and caused The spi-
ces and silks snd muslins Of that country to be-
como articles Of use in Europe. In tho latter
ages Of the empire the diamond Of Golconds
spsrkled upon the fingers and bosoms Of the
Roman ladies ; aAd The pearls Of tho Indian
ocean,. the gsuzy fabrics Of Csremsndsi, and
the perfumes and rich productions Of Hindos-
tan perpetuslly travelled westward, and adorn-
cd or scented the beauties o~fltaly. Tho com
merce with India was carried ON through two
channels; the first. through Alexsndna, by the
Nile and the Red Sea, along the shores Of Ara
bis the Happy, conducted the mariner 10 the
coast Of Malsbsr , the second lay over the in
land deserts Of Asia. and gave rise to the splen-
did city Of Palmyra. and ate, wards 10 Aleppo.
The pilots vho steered the Roman navies 10
the East were Greeks or Egyptians and they,
at hrss. sailed tim'dly from port TO port. along
the shores Of Arabia and Persia. Their cour-
ego incrsassd. however. with their experience.
and they, at length. 'vsntured 10 trust them.
selves 10 tho open %. and monsoon winds,
which carried them directly 10 their place Of
destination. These were the usual routes. for
the bold expedition Of Hanno round the Cape
Of Good Hope did not encourage tho a~ncients
to prosecute their Communications with India
BY that channel. THO taste for Oriental lux
uries was propsgated in Spain by the Romans.
and Afterwards by the Arabs. who. during the
early periods Of the KhalIfste, exhibited q re-
msrksbly bold and entesprising spirit. The
descriptions Of magni6csncs and splsndor in
the palaces and cities Of the Moorish Sultans
still fiji tho mind with . sort ofdreamy wonder,
and transport us. in Imagination. TO the gorge
Gus halls Of the Eastsra bards. The mans Of
Alhambra 10 not forgotten /; and W yet linger
with pleasure over the intoxicating picture Of
Cordova, when the star Of Arabian grestuess
was about to set for ever. and The united pow
ers Of Csstine and Arrsgon reared the cross up
on the gilded minareis Of the Prophet Of Mecca.
There vas grandeur then, which succeeding
times seem snxiously struggling 10 rival. The
learned men among the earlier Arabs travelled
over the greater portion Of the known world.
and even penetrated into tho uRsxplsssd 70.
gions Of central Ahics- Some ofihesc SET out
from Spain, ssd, aftes many ,ois and dangers;
returned to their country. enriched with that
knowledge which nothing but travelling could
then bestow. Among these were Ahmed ben
Khalaf, Ahmed ben MuzA, and Ahmed lisa ell
Ghssani. Benjamin Of Tuddld, and Marco
Polo. though Of q different people. and q ra,h.
or later day, deserve to have their names re-
corded with :he others. The latter in particu-
lar. after spending twsnty-six years in the hear:
Of Asia. returned, to compose. in the prison. a
valuable memorial Of his journeyings. At this
period the Europeans had never sailed beyond
the Gulf Of Siam /; bui the Arabs. more enter
prising and enlightened, pushed on ~ far ss
China, aud carried on q tiourishing
with the islands Of the Indian Archipelago
long before either they or tho Chinese discov-
cred the mariners compass.