Herodotus suspects the word "Eridanos" to be essentially Greek in character, and notably forged by some unknown poet, and expresses his disbelief in the whole concept—passed on to him by others, themselves not eye witnesses—of such a river flowing into a northern sea, surrounding Europe, where the mythical Amber and Tin Isles were supposed; he upholds the belief in the abundance of natural goods at the world's ends though, to be found in the north of Europa as well as in India (east: big animals, gold, cotton) and Arabia (south: incense, myrrh, etc.).