Chrysei

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Chrysei were an ancient mountain race inhabiting region between the Indus and the Yamuna as mentioned by Pliny and Megasthenes . Chryse was an island mentioned by Pliny.

Variants

• Chryse (Pliny.vi.23), (Pliny.vi.20), (Pliny.vi.3)

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Karesia = Chrysei (Pliny.vi.23)

• Karusha = Chrysei (Pliny.vi.23)

• Khar = Chrysei (Pliny.vi.23)

Jat Places Namesake

• Karachi = Chryse (Pliny.vi.20, Pliny.vi.23)

Mention by Pliny

Pliny mentions The Seres.... The first river that is known in their territory is the Psitharas,⁹ next to that the Cambari, and the third the Laros; after which we come to the Promontory of Chryse,¹⁰ the Gulf of Cynaba, the river Atianos, and the nation of the Attacori on the gulf of that name, a people protected by their sunny hills from all noxious blasts, and living in a climate of the same temperature as that of the Hyperborei. Amometus has written a work entirely devoted to the history of these people, just as Hecatæus has done in his treatise on the Hyperborei.

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9 Ptolemy speaks of it as the Œchordas.

10 The headland of Malacca, in the Aurea Chersonnesns, was also called by this name, but it is hardly probable that that is the place here meant.

Mention by Pliny

Pliny mentions The Indus .... But first there are some other islands of which we must make mention. Patala,²⁰ as we have already stated, lies at the mouth of the Indus: it is of a triangular figure, and is two hundred and twenty miles in breadth. Beyond the mouth of the Indus are the islands of Chryse and Argyre,²¹ abounding in metals, I believe; but as to what some persons have stated, that their soil consists of gold and silver, I am not so willing to give a ready credence to that. After passing these islands we come to Crocala,²² twenty miles in breadth, and then, at twelve miles' distance from it, Bibraga,²³ abounding in oysters and other bell-fish. At eight miles' distance from Bibraga we find Toralliba, and many others of no note.

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20 Supposed by some to have been Lower Scinde, and the vicinity of Kurrachee, with its capital Potala.

21 Ansart suggests that these may be the Laccadives. Their name means the "gold" and "silver" islands.

22 Probably an island near the mouths of the Indus.

23 Probably the same as the Bibacta of Arrian. The present name of it is Chilney Isle.

Mention by Pliny

Pliny mentions The Indus....The mountain races between the Indus and the Jomanes are the Cesi,⁶ the Cetriboni, who dwell in the woods, and after them the Megallæ, whose king possesses five hundred elephants, and an army of horse and foot, the numbers of which are unknown; then the Chrysei, the Parasangæ, and the Asmagi,⁷ whose territory is infested by wild tigers; these people keep in arms thirty thousand foot, three hundred elephants, and eight hundred horse. They are bounded by the river Indus, and encircled by a range of mountains and deserts for a distance of six hundred and twenty-five miles.

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6 Ansart suggests that the Cesi may be the same race as the modern Sikhs.

7 Perhaps the people of modern Ajmere.

Jat clans mentioned by Megasthenes

Megasthenes also described India's caste system and a number of clans out of these some have been identified with Jat clans by the Jat historians. Megasthenes has mentioned a large number of Jat clans. It seems that the Greeks added 'i' to names which had an 'i' ending. Identified probable Jat clans have been provided with active link within brackets.

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Jat clans as described by Megasthenes
Location	Jat clans	Information
9. The hill-tribes between the Indus and the Iomanes	The Cesi (Kes, Khasa); the Cetriboni (Khatri), the Megallae (Mukul, Magloda ), the Chrysei (Karesia, Khar, Karusha ), the Parasangae (Paraswal), and the Asange (Sangwa)	The Megallae , whose king is master of five hundred elephants and an army of horse and foot of unknown strength;The force under arms consists of 30,000 foot, 300 elephants, and 800 horse the Asange, where tigers abound, noted for their ferocity