NICO´NIS DROMUS
NICO´NIS DROMUS (
Νίκωνος δρόμος, Peripl. Mar. Erythr. p. 9, ed. Hudson;
Τονίκη,
Ptol. 4.7.11;
Νίκι,
Ptol. 1.17.12), one of the “Runs” of Azania, on the E. coast of Africa, seven (days' stations) in all. Passing the Noti Cornu of Ptolemy (
El-Khaïl), the voyager arrived at the “Strands” (
αἰγιαλοί), the Little and the Great, extending six days according to the Periplus, eight according to Ptolemy's authorities, though he would reduce the distance to four natural days. The Little Strand, which occurs first, is doubtless the
Seïf Tawíl, or “Long Sword,” of the Arab pilots, so called from its curvature. The Great Strand is probably the district now called
Merút, “Dry Desert.” These have an extent of 300 miles. Next comes the peopled shore where Ptolemy (
1.17.11) places 3 towns, ESSINA (
Ἔσσινα), the
SARAPIONIS PORTUS (
Σαραπίωνος ὅρμος), and
TONICE or NICI, the Nicon of the Periplus.
These towns must be placed in the
Bara Somauli, or the land of the
Somauli, or
Shúmáli, a mild people of pastoral habits, confined to the coast, which they occupy from the Red Sea to the river
Juba. The “Port of Sarapion” corresponds with
Markah, while the “Run of Nicon” agrees with the point called
Torre in Owen's map. (
Narrative of Voyages to explore the Shores of Africa, Arabia, and Madagascar, performed in H. M. ships Leven and Barracouta, London, 1833; comp. Cooley,
Claudius Ptolemy and the Nile, p. 64.)
[
E.B.J]
