IABA´DIUS
IABA´DIUS (
Ἰαβαδίου νῆσος,
Ptol. 7.2.29,
8.27.10), an island off the lower half of the Golden Chersonesus.
It is said by Ptolemy to mean the “Island of Barley,” to have been very fertile in grain and gold, and to have had a metropolis called
ARGYRE There can be little doubt that it is the same as the present
Jaua, which also signifies “barley.” Humboldt, on the other hand, considers it to be
Sumatra (
Kritische Unters. i. p. 64); and Mannert, the small island of
Banca, on the SE. side of
Sumatra. [
V]