While reading the Golden Road by William Dalrymple (Page 61) I came across this watery passage:-
According to the Greek geographer Strabo, the first European to attempt a regular commercial relationship with India was an Alexandrian merchant named Eudoxus... he was last seen disappearing through the pillars of Hercules... with a boatload of singing boys and dancing girls in an attempt to reach India by a new route.... he was never heard of again.
The phrase 'dancing girls' caught my eye. It was parlance in our household for possible naughtyness in the abscence of responsible adults! We still use it today in jocular fashion... However, to add singing boys. What a way to go. No wonder he was lost forever.
Hello, hello, glad your back. I was wondering how they failed to spot him with all those gyrating harpies and caterwauling young gents? (Ed.)
Maybe they were listening to the Shipping Forecast at the time, give me strength!
