 Section 28 of the Natural History, Volume 1. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Charles Bice. The Natural History, Volume 1 by Pliny the Elder. Translated by John Bostock and Henry Thomas Riley. Book 5. An account of countries, nations, seas, towns, havens, mountains, rivers, distances, and peoples who now exist or formerly existed. Chapter 1. The Two Moritanias. The Greeks have given the name of Libya to Africa, and have called the sea that lies in front of it the Libyan Sea. It has Egypt for its boundary, and no part of the earth is there that has fewer gulfs or inlets. Its shores extending in a lengthened line from the west in an oblique direction. The names of its peoples and its cities in a special cannot possibly be pronounced with correctness except by the aid of their own native tongues. Its population, too, for the most part, dwells only in fortresses. 1. On our entrance into Africa, we find the two Moritanias, which until the time of Caesars, the son of Germanicus, were kingdoms. But, suffering under his cruelty, they were divided into two provinces. The extreme promontory of Africa, which projects into the ocean, is called Ampelousia by the Greeks. There were formerly two towns, Lissa and Cate, beyond the pillars of Hercules. But at the present day, we only find that of Tinghi, which was formerly founded by Anteus, and afterwards received the name of Traducta Giulia from Claudius Caesar, when he established a colony there. It is 30 miles distance from Belon, a town of Baetica. There the passage across is the shortest. At a distance of 25 miles from Tinghi, upon the shores of the ocean, we come to Giulia Constantia zilis, a colony of Augustus. This place is exempt from all subjection to the kings of Moritania, and is included in the legal jurisdiction of Baetica. 32 miles distance from Giulia Constantia is Lixos, which was made a Roman colony by Claudius Caesar, and which has been the subject of such wondrous fables related by the writers of antiquity. At this place, according to the story, was the palace of Anteus. This was the scene of his combat with Hercules, and here were the gardens of the Hesperides. An arm of the sea flows into the land here, with a serpentine channel, and from the nature of the locality, this is interpreted at the present day as having been what was really represented by the story of the dragon keeping guard there. This tract of water surrounds an island, the only spot which is never overflowed by the tides of the sea, although not quite so elevated as the rest of the land in its vicinity. Upon this island also, there is still in existence the altar of Hercules, but of the grove that bore the golden fruit there are no traces left beyond some wild olive trees. People will certainly be the less surprised at the marvellous falsehoods of the Greeks, which have been related about this place and the river Lixos, when they reflect that some of our own countrymen as well, and that too very recently, have related stories in reference to them hardly less monstrous, how that this city is remarkable for its power and extensive influence, and how that it is even greater than Great Carthage ever was, how too that it is situate just opposite to Carthage, and at an almost immeasurable distance from Tinghi, together with other details of a similar nature, all of which Cornelius Nepos has believed with the most insatiate credulity. In the interior, at a distance of 40 miles from Lixos, is Baba, surnamed Julia Campestris, another colony of Augustus, and at a distance of 75, a third called Banasa, with the surname of Valencia. At a distance of 35 miles from this last is the town of Volubilis, which is just that distance also from both seas. On the coast at a distance of 50 miles from Lixos is the river Serber, which flows past the colony of Banasa, a fine river and available for the purposes of navigation. At the same distance from it is the city of Sala, situate on a river which bears the same name, a place which stands upon the very verge of the desert, and though infested by troops of elephants is much more exposed to the attacks of the nation of the autololes, through whose country lies the road to Mount Atlas, the most fabulous locality even in Africa. It is from the midst of the sands, according to the story, that this mountain raises its head to the heavens, rugged and craggy on the side which looks toward the shores of the ocean, which it has given its name. While on that which faces the interior of Africa, it is shaded by dense groves of trees, and refreshed by flowing streams, fruits of all kinds are springing up there spontaneously to such an extent as to more than satiate every possible desire. Throughout the daytime, no inhabitant is to be seen. All is silent, like that dreadful stillness that rains in the desert, a religious horror steals imperceptibly over the feelings of those who approach, and they feel themselves smitten with awe at the stupendous aspect of its summit, which reaches beyond the clouds, and well-nigh approaches the very orb of the moon. At night, they say, it gleams with fires innumerable lighted up. It is then the scene of the gambles of the Egyptans and the satyr crew, while it re-echoes with the notes of the flute and the pipe and the clash of drums and cymbals. All this is what authors of high character have stated, in addition to the labours which Hercules and Perseus there experienced. The space which intervenes before you arrive at this mountain is immense, and the country quite unknown. There formerly existed some commentaries written by Haunau, a Carthaginian general who was commanded in the most flourishing times of the Punic state to explore the sea coast of Africa. The greater part of the Greek and Roman writers have followed him and have related, among other fabulous stories, that many cities there were founded by him, of which no remembrance nor yet the slightest vestige now exists. While Scipio Emilianus held the command in Sicily, Polybius, the historian, received a fleet from him for the purpose of proceeding on a voyage of discovery in this part of the world. He relates that beyond Mount Atlas, proceeding in a westerly direction, there are forests filled with wild beasts peculiar to the soil of Africa, as far as the river Anatis, a distance of 485 miles, Lyxos being distant from it 205 miles. Agrippa says that Lyxos is distant from the Straits of Gades 112 miles. After it, we come to a gulf which is called the Gulf of Saguti, a town situated on the promontory of Mulelaca, the rivers Cerbera and Salat, and the port of Rutubis, distant from Lyxos 213 miles. We then come to the promontory of the sun, the port of Rosardier, the Githulian otololes, the river Cosinus, the nations of the Celatiti and the Masati, the river Masathat and the river Darat, in which crocodiles are found. After this, we come to a large gulf, 616 miles in extent, which is enclosed by a promontory of Mount Barse, which runs out in a westerly direction and is called Sorrentium. Next comes the river Salsus, beyond which lie the Ethiopian Pororci, at the back of whom are the Farucii, who are bordered upon by the Githulian Dari, lying in the interior. Upon the coast again, we find the Ethiopian Daratiti and the river Bambotus, teaming with crocodiles and hippopotamie. From this river, there is a continuous range of mountains till we come to the one theon Okema, from which to the Hesperian promontory is a voyage of ten days and nights, and in the middle of this space he has placed Mount Atlas, which, by all other writers, has been stated to be the extreme parts of Mauritania. The Roman arms for the first time pursued their conquests into Mauritania under the Emperor Claudius when the freedmen Edaman took up arms to avenge the death of King Ptolemy, who had been put to death by Caius Caesar. And it is a well-known fact that on the flight of the barbarians, our troops reached Mount Atlas. It became a boast not only among men of consular rank and generals selected from the Senate, who at that time held the command, but among persons of equestrian rank as well, who after that period held the government there, that they had penetrated as far as Mount Atlas. There are, as we have already stated, five Roman colonies in this province, and it may very possibly appear if we listen only to what report says that this mountain is easily accessible. Upon trial, however, it has been pretty generally shown that all such statements are utterly fallacious, and it is too true that men in high station, they are disinclined to take the trouble of inquiring into the truth through a feeling of shame at their ignorance, are not ever to be guilty of falsehood, and never is implicit credence more readily given than when a falsehood is supported by the authority of some personage of high consideration. For my own part, I am far less surprised that there are still some facts remaining undiscovered by men of the equestrian order, even those among them who have attained senatorial rank, than that love of luxury has left anything unassertained, the impulse of which must be great indeed, than that love of luxury has left anything unassertained, the impulse of which must be great indeed, and most powerfully felt when the very forests are ransacked for their ivory and citron wood, and all the rocks of Getulia are searched for the murex and the purple. From the natives, however, we learn that on the coast, at a distance of 150 miles from the Salat, the river Asana presents itself. Its waters are salt, but it is remarkable for its fine harbor. They also say that after this we come to a river known by the name of Fut, and then after crossing another called Vior, which lies on the road to Mount Atlas, we arrive at Diris, such being the name which in their language they give to Mount Atlas. According to their story, there are still existing in its vicinity many vestiges which tend to prove that the locality was once inhabited, such as the remains of vineyards and plantations of palm trees. Suctonius Paulinus, whom we have seen consul in Rome in general, who advanced a distance of some miles beyond Mount Atlas. He has given us the same information as we have received from other sources with reference to the extraordinary height of this mountain. And at the same time he has stated that all the lower parts about the foot of it are covered with dense and lofty forests composed of trees of species hitherto unknown. The height of the trees, is remarkable. The trunks are without knots and of a smooth and glossy surface. The foliage is like that of the Cyprus and besides ascending forth a powerful odor, they are covered with a flossy down from which by the aid of art a fine cloth might easily be manufactured, similar to the textures made from the produce of the silkworm. He informs us that the summit of the mountain is covered with snow even in summer and says that having arrived there after a march of ten days he proceeded some distance beyond it as far as a river which bears the name of Gher. The road being through deserts covered with a black sand from which rocks that bore the appearance of having been exposed to the action of fire projected every here and there. Localities rendered quite uninhabitable by the intensity of the heat, as he himself although it was in the winter season that he visited them. We also learn from the same source that the people who inhabit the adjoining forests, which are full of all kinds of elephants, wild beasts and serpents have the name of Kanarii from the circumstance that they partake of their food in common with the canine race and share with it the entrails of wild beasts. It is a well-known fact that these localities is a nation of Ethiopians which bears the name of Purorsi. Juba, the father of Ptolemy who was the first king who reigned over both Mauritanias and who has been rendered even more famous by the brilliancy of his learning than by his kingly rank has given us similar information relative to Mount Atlas and states that a certain herb grows there which has received the name of Euphorbia from that who was his physician who was the first to discover it. Juba extols with wondrous praises the milky juice of this plant as tending to improve the sight and acting as a specific against the bites of serpents and all kinds of poison and to this subject alone he has devoted an entire book thus much if indeed not more than enough Mount Atlas. 2. The province of Tingitana is 170 miles in length of the nations in this province the principal one was formerly that of Mori who have given to it the name of Moritania and have been by many writers called the Morusii this nation has been greatly weakened by the disasters of war and is now dwindled down to a few families only next to the Mori was formerly the nation of the Massicili they in a similar manner have become extinct their country is now occupied by the Gatulian nations the Baniuri, the Autolols by far the most powerful people among them all and the Vassuni who formerly were part of the Autolols but have now separated from them and turning their steps towards the Ethiopians have formed a distinct nation of their own this province district which lies on its eastern side produces elephants as also on the heights of Mount Abila and among those elevations which from the similarity of their height are called the seven brothers joining the range of the Abila these mountains overlook the straits of goddess at the extremity of this chain begin the shores of the inland sea with the sight of a former town of the same name and then the river Laude which is also navigable for vessels the town and port of Risadir and Malvaue a navigable stream the city of Siga formerly the residence of King Sifax lies opposite to that of Malacca in Spain and now belongs to the second Mauritania but these countries I should remark for a long time retained the names of their respective kings the further Mauritania being called the land of Bogud while that which is now called the Caesareansis was called the country of Bocus after passing Siga we come to the haven called Portus Magnus from its great extent with a town whose people enjoy the rights of Roman citizens and then the river Maluca which served as the limit between the territory of Bocus and that of the Massicili next to this is Chisa Zenitana a town founded by strangers and our scenario a place with the ancient Latin rights 3 miles distant from the sea we then come to Cartena a colony founded under Augustus by the second legion and Gunugum another colony founded by the same emperor a Praetorian cohort being established there the promontory of Apollo and a most celebrated city now called Caesarea but formerly known by the name of Eol this place was the residence of King Juba and received the rights of a colony from the now defied emperor Claudius Opidum Nobum is the next place a colony of veterans was established here by command of the same emperor next to it is Tipasa which has received Latin rights as also Icazium which has been presented by the emperor Vespacianus with similar rights Rusconii a colony founded by Augustus Rusucurium honored by Claudius with the rights of Roman citizens Ruzacus a colony founded by Augustus Saldae another colony founded by the same emperor Igilgili another and the town of Tuka on the seashore and upon the river Amsaga in the interior are the colony of Augusta also called Sucabar Tubusuptus the cities of Timiki and Tigavi the rivers Sardabal Aves and Nabar the nation of the Makiraby the river Ussar and the nation of the Nababes the river Amsaga is distant from Caesarea 322 miles the length of the two Mauritanias is 1038 and their breadth 467 miles chapter 2 parenthesis 3 Numidia at the river Amsaga Numidia begins a country rendered illustrious by the fame of Masinisa by the Greeks this region was called Metagonitis Indians received the name of Nomades from their frequent changes of pasturage upon which occasions they were accustomed to carry their Mapalia or in other words their houses upon wagons the towns of this country are Kalu and Rusikade and at a distance of 48 miles from the latter in the interior is the colony of Kirta surnamed of the Sitiani still more inland is another colony called Sica with the free town of Bula Regia on the coast are Takutua, Hippo Regius the river Armua and the town of Tabraca with the rights of Roman citizens the river Tusca forms the boundary of Numidia this country produces nothing remarkable except its marble and wild beasts after three parenthesis four Africa beyond the river Tusca begins the region of Zugetana and that part which properly bears the name of Africa we here find three promontories the white promontory the promontory of Apollo facing Sardinia and that of Mercury opposite to Sicily projecting into the sea bears the name of Hippo Nensis from its proximity to the city called Hippo Diarrutus a corruption of the Greek name Diarrutus which it has received from the channels made for irrigation adjacent to this place but at a greater distance from the seashore is Thudalis a town exempt from tribute we then come to the promontory of Apollo and upon the second gulf we find Utica a place enjoying the sights of Roman citizens and famous for the death of Cato the river Bagreda the place called Castra Cornelia the colony of Carthage founded upon the remains of Great Carthage the colony of Maxula the towns of Carpi Mizzua and Clepia the last of Freetown on the promontory of Mercury also Corubus of Freetown and Neapolis here commences the second division of Africa, properly so called those who inhabit Bizzachium have the name of Libyphonicis Bizzachium is the name of a district which is 250 miles in circumference and is remarkable for its extreme fertility as the ground returns the seed sown by the husband men with interest 100 fold here are the free towns of Leptis Adrimetum, Ruspina and Thapsus and then Thini, Macumades Thacape and Sabrata which touches the lesser Sirtis to which spot from the Ampsaga the length of Numidia and Africa is 580 miles and the breadth so far it has been ascertained 200 that portion which we have called Africa is divided into two provinces the old and the new these are separated by a dike which was made by order by order of the second Scipio Africanus and the kings and extended to Thini which town is distant from Carthage 216 miles end of section 28 recording by Charles Bice www.charlesbice.com courtesy of Wimabi Press section 29 of the natural history volume 1 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the natural history volume 1 by Pliny the Elder translated by John Bostock and Harry Thomas Riley section 29 chapter 4 the Sirtis a third gulf is divided into two smaller ones the two Sirtis which are rendered perilous by the shallow of their quicksands and the ebb and flow of the sea Polybius states the distance from Carthage to the lesser Sirtis the one which is nearest to it to be 300 miles the inlet to it he also states to be 100 miles across and its circumference 300 also a way to it by land to find which we must employ the guidance of the stars and cross deserts which present nothing but sand and serpents after passing these we come to forests filled with vast multitudes of wild beasts and elephants then desert wastes and beyond them the Garimentes distance 12 days journey from the Ogile above the Garimentes was formerly the nation of the Siley and above them again the lake of Lycomedes surrounded with deserts the Ogile themselves are situated almost midway between Ethiopia which faces the west and the region which lies between the two Sirtis at an equal distance from both the distance along the coast that lies between the two Sirtis is 250 miles on it are found the city of Ia the river Sinipes and the country of that name the towns of Neapolis Grafera and Abirtonum and the second surname the greater Leptis we next come to the greater Sirtis 625 miles in circumference and at the entrance 312 miles in width next after which dwells the nation of the Sisypates at the bottom of this gulf was the coast of the Lutofagai whom some riders have called the Alacre extending as far as the altars of the Philenai these altars are formed of heaps of sand on passing these not far from the shore there's a vast swamp which receives the river Triton and from it takes its name by Calimacus it is called Pelantius and is said by him to be on the nearer side of the lesser Sirtis many other riders however place it between the two Sirtis the promontory which bounds the greater Sirtis has a name of Borean beyond it is the province of Cyrene Africa from the river Emsaga its limit includes 516 peoples who are subject to the Roman sway of which six are colonies among them Athena and Tiberbae besides those already mentioned the towns enjoying the rites of roman citizens are 15 in number of which I shall mention as lying in the interior those of Asure Abatacum Silma Smythium Thanasidium Tabernicum Thainidrumum Tobiga the two towns called Ossida the greater and the lesser and Faga there's also one town with Latin rites Ouzalita by name and one town of tributaries Castracarnilie the three towns are 30 in number those of Acala Agerida Avina Abzirita Canopida Militsida Matura Salafida Tostrida Tifica Tunica Theuda Toghasta Tyga Not only cities but nations even such for instance as the Neta Buddhas the Kepsitanae the Musulamae the Sbarberes the Masilae the Nisivis the Vemecures the Sinifai the Musunae the Markubii and the whole of Jatulia Chapter 5 Cyrenaica The region of Cyrenaica also called Pentapolis is rendered famous by the Oracle of Hemen which is distanced 400 miles from the city of Cyrene also by the fountain of the sun there and 5 cities in special those of Berenice Arsinoe Ptolemies, Apollonia Berenice is situated upon the outer promontory that bounds the Certes it was formerly called the city of the Hesperides previously mentioned according to the fables of the Greeks which very often change their localities not far from the city and running before it is the river Leven and with it a sacred grove where the gardens of the Hesperides are said to have formerly stood this city is distanced from Leptis 375 miles from Berenice to Arsinoe commonly called Tukera is 43 miles after which at a distance of 22 we come to Ptolemies the ancient name of which was Barcy and at a distance of 40 miles from this west the promontory of Ficus which extends far away into the Cretan sea being 350 miles distant from Tenerim the promontory of Laconia and from Crete 225 after passing this promontory we come to Cyrene which stands at a distance of 11 miles from the sea from Ficus to Apollonia is 24 miles and from thence to the Cersinesis 88 from which Bathmas is a distance of 216 miles the Marmoridae inhabit this coast extending from almost the region of Peritonium to the greater Certes after them the Eredosiles and then upon the coasts of the Certes the Nezimonis whom the Greeks formerly called Nezimonis from the circumstance of there being located in the very midst of Sands the territory of Cyrene to a distance of 50 miles from the shore is set to a bound in trees while for the same distance beyond that district it is only suitable for the cultivation of corn after which a tract of land 30 miles in breadth and 250 in length is productive of nothing but laser or sylphium after the Nezimons after the dwellings of the Esbiste and Masse and beyond them at 11 days journey to the west of the greater Certes the Amentes the people also surrounded by Sands in every direction they find water however without any difficulty at a depth mostly of about 2 cubits and their district receives the overflow of the waters of Mauritania they build houses with blocks of salt which they cut out of their mountains just as we do stone from this nation to the Trugledite the distance is 7 days journey in a south-westerly direction the people with whom are only intercourse is for the purpose of procuring from them the precious stone which we call the Carbuncle and which is brought from the interior of Ethiopia upon the road to this last people but turning off towards the deserts of Africa of which we have previously made mention as lying beyond the lesser Certes is the region of Fazania the nation of Fazania belonging to which as well as the cities of Aleli and Sileba we have subdued by force of arms as also Cedemus which lies over against Sabrada after passing these places a range of mountains extends in a prolonged chain from east to west these have received from our people the name of the Black Mountains either from the appearance which they naturally bear of having been exposed to the action of fire or else from the fact that they have been scorched by the reflection of the sun's rays beyond it is the desert and then Talje a city of the Garimentes and debris at which place there is a spring the waters of which from noon to midnight are at boiling heat and then freeze for as many hours until the following noon Garama too at most famous capital of the Garimentes all which places have been subdued by the Roman arms it was on this occasion that Crenelius Balbus was honored with a triumph the only foreigner indeed that was ever honored with a triumphal chariot and presented with the rights of a Roman citizen for although by birth a native of Gaddis the Roman citizenship was granted to him as well as to the elder Balbus his uncle by the father's side there is also this remarkable circumstance that our writers have handed down to us the names of the cities above mentioned as having been taken by Balbus and have informed us that on the occasion of his triumph besides Sedamus and Garama there were carried in the procession the names and models of all the other nations and cities in the following order the town of Tobodium the nation of Niteres the town of Niclegemela the nation or town of Bubaeum the nation of Anipae the town of Thubben the mountain known as the Black Mountain Niterbrim the towns called Rapsa the nation of the Sera the town of Debrey the river Nathabber the town of Thabsegem the nation of Nannajai the town of Boan the town of Pigi the river Desiberi and then the towns in the following order of Berekham Bolaba Olesid Galia Maksala and Mount Jairai which was preceded by an inscription stating that this was the place where precious stones were produced up to the present time it has been found impracticable to keep open the road that leads to the country of the Garamantis as the predatory bands of that nation have filled up the wells with sand which do not require to be dug for to any great depth if you only have a knowledge of the locality in the late war however which at the beginning of the reign of the Emperor Vespasian the Romans carried on with the people of Ia a short cut of only four days journey was discovered this road is known as the Preter Capid Saxae the last place in the territory of Sirenecha is Catabathmas consisting of a town and a valley with a sudden and steep descent the length of Sireneyan Africa up to this boundary from the Lesser Serdes is 1060 miles and so far as has been ascertained it is 800 cubic miles in breadth Chapter 6 Libya Mariotis the region that follows is called Libya Mariotis and borders upon Egypt it is held by the Marmeridae the Adrimachidae and after them the Marioti the distance from Catabathmas to Peritonium is 86 miles in this district is Apis a place rendered famous by the religious belief of Egypt from this town Peritonium is distant 62 miles and from thence to Alexandria the distance is 200 miles the breadth of the district being 169 Eratosthenes says that it is 525 miles by land from Sirene to Alexandria while Agrippa gives the length of the whole of Africa from the Atlantic sea and including lower Egypt as 3040 miles Polybius in Eratosthenes who are generally considered as remarkable for their extreme correctness state the length to be from the ocean to great Carthage 1100 miles and from Carthage to Canapas the nearest mouth of denial 1628 miles while Isidoras speaks of the distance from Tingai to Canapas as being 3599 miles Artemidoras makes this less distance 40 miles less than Isidoras Chapter 7 The Islands in the vicinity of Africa These seas contain not so very many islands the most famous among them is Meninx 25 miles in length and 22 in breadth by Eratosthenes Fagaites This island has two towns Meninx on the side which faces Africa and Trois on the other It is situated off the promontory which lies on the right hand side of the lesser Sirtis at a distance of a mile and a half 100 miles from this island and opposite the promontory that lies on the left is the free island of Cersina with a city of the same name It is 25 miles long and half that breadth at the place where it is the widest but not more than 5 miles across at the extremity The diminutive island of Cersinides which looks towards Carthage is united to it by a bridge at a distance of nearly 50 miles from these is the island of Lopadusa 6 miles in length and beyond it Gaulis and Galata the soil of which kills the scorpion that noxious reptile of Africa It is also said that the scorpion will not live at Clepea opposite to which place lies the island of Caesira with a town of the same name Opposite to the gulf of Carthage are the two islands known as the Ejimurai The Alters which are rather rocks than islands lie more between Sicily and Sardinia There are some authors who state that these rocks were once inhabited but that they have gradually subsided in the sea Chapter 8 Countries on the other side of Africa If we pass through the interior of Africa in a southerly direction beyond the Jatulai after having traversed we shall find the Libby Egyptians and then the country where the Leukithiopians dwell Beyond these are the Negrite nations of Ethiopia so called from the river Negris which has been previously mentioned The Gymnettis surnamed Ferozii and on the very margin of the ocean the Perorsi whom we have already spoken of as lying in the boundaries of Mauritania After passing all these peoples there are vast deserts towards the east until we come to the Geremantis the Ogile and the Troglodyte The opinion of those being exceedingly well founded who place two Ethiopias beyond the deserts of Africa and more particularly that expressed by Homer who tells us that the Ethiopians those of the east and those of the west The river Negris has the same characteristics as the Nile it produces the Calanus the Papyrus and just the same animals and it rises at the same seasons of the year its source it's between the Therelian Ethiopians and the Icalici Magyum, the city of the latter people has been placed by some riders amid the deserts and next to them the Atlantis then the Ijippenai Half-men, half-beasts the Blemie the Gamfazantis the Satterai and the Himantopodies The Atlantis, if we believe what is said have lost all characteristics of humanity for there is no mode of distinguishing each other among them by names and as they look upon the rising and the setting sun they give utterance to direful implications against it as being deadly to themselves and their lands nor are they visited with dreams like the rest of mortals the Troglodidae make excavations in the earth which serve them for dwellings the flesh of serpents is their food they have no articulate voice but only utter a kind of speaking noise and thus are they utterly destitute of all means of communication by language the Garimantis have no institution of marriage among them and live in promiscuous concubinage with their women the Aljile worship no deities but the gods of the infernal regions the Gamfazantis who go naked and are unacquainted with war hold no intercourse whatever with strangers the Blemie are said to have no heads their mouths and eyes being seated in their breasts the Satterai beyond their figure have nothing in common with the manners of the human race and the form of the Ejipanae is such as is commonly represented in paintings the Himantopodes are a race of people with feet resembling thongs upon which they move along by nature with a serpentine crawling kind of gate the Ferozii descended from the ancient Persians are said to have been the companions of Hercules when on his expedition to the Hesperides beyond the above I have met with nothing relative to Africa worthy of mention End of section 29 Section 30 of the Natural History Volume 1 Chapter 9 Joining on to Africa is Asia the extent of which according to Temosthenes from the Canopic mouth of the Nile to the mouth of the Uxen is 2,639 miles from the mouth of the Uxen to that of Lake Meiotis is according to Eratosthenes 1,545 miles the whole distance to the Teneis including Egypt is according to Arzimidorus and Isidorus 6,375 miles the seas of Egypt which are several in number have received their names from those who dwell upon their shores for which reason they will be mentioned together Egypt is the country which lies next to Africa and the interior it runs in a southerly direction as far as the territory of the Ethiopians who lie extended at the back of it the river Nile dividing itself forms on the right and left the boundary of its lower part which it embraces on every side by the Canopic mouth of that river it is separated from Africa and by the Pelusiaque from Asia there being a distance between the two of 170 miles for this reason it is that some persons have reckoned Egypt among the islands the Nile so dividing itself as to give a triangular form to the land which it encloses from which circumstance also have named Egypt the Delta after that of the Greek letter so called the distance from the spot where the channel of the river first divides into branches to the Canopic mouth is 146 miles and to Pelusiaque 166 the upper part of Egypt which borders on Ethiopia is known as Thebes this district is divided into prefectures of towns which are generally designated as Gnomes these are the district which lies in the vicinity of Pelusiaque contains the following gnomes pharbithiates bubestiates cethroiates and teniates the remaining gnomes are those called the Arabian the Ammonian which lies on the road to the oracle of Jupiter Hamon and those known by the names of oxyrachites leontopolites atherbites synapolites hermopolites xoites mendizium herbicites latipolites heliopolites prosopites penipolites bucerites eunufites seites tinithu timphu nukritites metalites gynecopolites menelites heracliopolites is a gnomes on an island of the Nile 50 miles in length upon which there is a city called the city of Hercules there are two places called arsenoites these and memphites extend to the apex of the delta adjoining to which on the side of Africa are the two gnomes of oesites some writers vary in some of these names and substitute for them other gnomes heropolites and crocodilopolites between arsenoites and memphites a lake 250 miles or according to what museumis says 450 miles in circumference and 50 paces deep has been formed by artificial means after the king by whose orders it was made it is called by the name of meris the distance from thence to Memphis is nearly 62 miles which is formally the citadel of the kings of Egypt from thence to the oracle of Hammon it is 12 days journey Memphis is 15 miles from the spot where the river Nile divides into the different channels which we have mentioned as forming the delta chapter 10 the river Nile the sources of the Nile are unassertant and travelling as it does for an immense distance through deserts and burning sands it is known to us by common report having neither experienced the vicissitudes of warfare nor been visited by those arms which have so effectually explored all other regions it rises so far indeed as King Juba was enabled to ascertain in a mountain of lower Mauritania not far from the ocean immediately after which it forms a lake of standing water which bears the name of Nileides in this lake are found the several kinds of fish the origins of alabita corikinas and celurus a crocodile also was brought thence as a proof that this really is the Nile and was consecrated by Juba himself in the temple of Isis at Caesarea where it may be seen at the present day in addition to these facts it has been observed that the waters of the Nile rise in the same proportion in which the snows and rains of Mauritania increase pouring forth from this lake the river disdains to flow through arid and sandy deserts and for a distance of several days journey conceals itself after which it bursts forth at another lake of great magnitude in the country of the Marci Salai a people of Mauritania Caesareansis and thence casts a glance around as it were upon the communities of men in its vicinity giving proofs of its identity in the same peculiarities of the animals which it produces it then buries itself once again in the sands of the desert and it remains concealed for a distance of 20 days journey till it has reached the confines of Ethiopia here, when it once more becomes sensible of the presence of men it again emerges at the same source in all probability to which writers have given the name of Niger or Black after this, forming the boundary line between Africa and Ethiopia its banks, though not immediately peopled by men are the resort of numbers of wild beasts and animals of various kinds giving birth in its course to dense forests of trees it travels through the middle of Ethiopia under the name of Aztapus a word which signifies in the language of the nations who dwell in those regions water issuing from the shades below proceeding onwards it divides innumerable islands in its course and some of them of such vast magnitude that although it's tide runs with the greatest rapidity it is not less than 5 days in passing them when making the circuit of Merui the most famous of these islands the left branch of the river is called Aztaboris or in other words an arm of the water that issues from the shades while the right arm has the name of Aztasapes which adds to its original signification the meaning of side it does not attain the name of Nile until its waters have again met and are united in a single stream and even then for some miles both above and below the point of confluence it has the name of Cyrus Homer has given to the whole of this river the name of Egyptis while other writers again have called it Triton every now and then its course is interrupted by islands which intervene and which only serve so many incentives to add to the impetuosity of its torrent and though at last it is hemmed in by mountains on either side in no part is the tide more rapid and precipitated its waters then hastening onwards it is born along to the spot in the country of the Ethiopians which is known by the name of Cata Dupai where at the last cataract the complaint is not that it flows but that it rushes with an immense noise between the rocks that lie in its way after which it becomes more smooth the violence of its waters is broken and subdued and where it out where by the length of the distance it has traveled it discharges itself though by many mouths into the Egyptian sea during certain days of the year however the volume of its waters is greatly increased and as it traverses the whole of Egypt it inundates the earth and by so doing greatly promotes its fertility there have been various reasons suggested for this increase of the river of these however the most probable are that its waters are driven back by the Etesian winds which are blowing at this season of the year from an opposite direction and that the sea which lies beyond is driven into the mouths of the river or else that its waters are swollen by the summer rains of Ethiopia which fall from the clouds confede thither by the Etesian winds from other parts of the earth Taimius the math magician has alleged a reason of an occult nature he says that the souls of the river are known by the name of Fayela and that the stream buries itself in channels underground where it sends forth vapours generated by the heat among the steaming rocks amid which it conceals itself but that during the days of the inundation in consequence of the sun approaching nearer to the earth the waters are drawn forth by the influence of his heat and on being thus exposed to the air overflow after which in order that it may not be utterly dried up the stream he says that this takes place at the rising of the dog-star when the sun enters the sign of Leo and stands in a vertical position over the souls of the river at which time at that spot there is no shadow thrown most authors however are of opinion on the contrary that the river flows in greater volume when the sun takes its departure for the north which he does when he enters the sign of cancer and Leo because its waters then are not dried up to so great an extent while on the other hand when he returns toward the south pole and re-enters Capricorn its waters are absorbed by the heat and consequently flow in less abundance if there is anyone inclined to be of opinion, with timeus that the waters of the river may be drawn out of the earth by the heat it will be as well for him to bear in mind the fact that the absence of shadow is a phenomenon which lasts continuously in these regions the Nile begins to increase at the next new moon after the summer solstice and rises slowly and gradually as the sun passes through the sign of cancer it is at its greatest height while the sun is passing through Leo and it falls as slowly and gradually as it arose while he is passing through the sign of Virgo it has totally subsided between its banks as we learn from Herodotus on the hundredth day when the sun has entered Libra while it is rising it has been pronounced criminal for kings or prefects even to sail upon its waters the measure of its increase is ascertained by means of wells its most desirable height is 16 qubits if the waters do not attain that height the overflow is not universal but if they exceed that measure by their slowness in receding they tend to retard the process of cultivation in the latter case the time for sowing is lost in consequence of the moisture of the soil in the former the ground is so parched that the seed time comes to no purpose the country has reason to make careful note of the either extreme when the water rises to only 12 qubits it experiences the horrors of famine when it attains 13 hunger is still the result a rise of 14 qubits is productive of gladness a rise of 15 sets all anxieties at rest while an increase of 16 is productive of unbounded transports of joy the greatest increase known up to the present time is that of 18 qubits which took place in the time of the emperor Claudius the smallest rise was that of 5 in the year of the battle of Pharsalia the river by this prodigy testifying its horror as it were at the murder of Pompeius Magnus when the waters have reached their greatest height they will open the embankments and admit them to the lands as each district is left by the waters the business of sowing commences this is the only river in existence that admits no vapours the Nile first enters the Egyptian territory at Syene on the frontiers of Ethiopia that is the name of a peninsula a myelin circumference upon which Castra is situated on the side of Arabia opposite to it are the four islands of Phile at a distance of 600 miles from the place where the Nile divides into two channels at which spot as we have already stated the delta as it is called begins this at least is a distance according to Artemidorus who also informs us that there were in it 250 towns Juba says however that the distance between these places is 400 miles Aristocrion says the distance from Elephantis to the sea is 750 miles Elephantis being an inhabited island 4 miles below the last cataract 16 beyond Syene 585 from Alexandria and the extreme limit of the navigation of Egypt to such an extent as this have the above named authors been mistaken this island is the place of rendezvous for the vessels of the Ethiopians they are made to fold up their shoulders whenever they come to the cataracts Chapter 11 Egypt besides its boast of extreme antiquity asserts that it contained in the reign of king Amasus 20,000 inhabited cities in our day they are still very numerous though no longer of any particular note still however we find the following ones mentioned as of great renown the city of Apollo next that of Leucothia then great Diospolis otherwise Thebes known to fame for its hundred gates Coptos which from its proximity to the Nile forms its nearest emporium for the merchandise of India and Arabia then the town of Venus and then another town of Jupiter after this comes Tantyrus below which is Epidus the royal abode of Memnon and famous for a temple of Osiris which is situated in Libya at a distance from the river of 7 miles and a half next to it comes Ptolemaeus then Panopolis and then another town of Venus and on the Libyan side Lycon where the mountains run the boundary of the province of Thebes on passing these we come to the towns of Mercury Alabastron the town of dogs and that of Hercules already mentioned we next come to Arsinoe which has been previously mentioned between which last and the Nomi of Arsinoitis upon the Libyan side are the towers known as the pyramids the Labyrinth on Lake Merse in the construction of which no wood was employed and the town of Criallon besides these there is one place in the interior on the confines of Arabia of great celebrity the city of the sun with the greatest justice however we may lavish our praises upon Alexandria built by Alexander the Great on the shores of the Egyptian sea upon the soil of Africa at 12 miles distance from the economic mouth and near Lake Mariotis the spot having previously borne the name of Rick Hotties the plan of this city was designed by the architect Dinoccheries who is memorable for the genius which displayed in many ways building the city upon a wide space of ground 15 miles in circumference he formed it in the circular shape of a Macedonian clamus uneven at the edge giving it an angular projection on the right and left while at the same time he devoted one fifth part of the site to the royal palace Lake Mariotis which lies on the south side of the city is connected by a canal which joins it to the canopic mouth and serves for the purposes of communication with the interior it has also a great number of islands and is 30 miles across and 150 in circumference according to Claudius Caesar other writers say that it is 40 scony in length making the sconem to be 30 stadia hence according to them it is 150 miles in length and the same in breadth there are also in a letter part of the course of the Nile many towns of considerable celebrity and more especially those which have given their names to the mouth of the river I do not mean all the mouths for there are no less than 12 of them as well as 4 others which the people call the false mouths I allude to the 7 more famous ones the canopic mouth next to Alexandria those of Bulbitain, Sebenis Fetnis, Mendis Tannis and last of all Pelusium besides the above there are the towns of Butos, Pharbithus Leontopolis Arthrabis the town of Isis Buzyrus Cainopolis Aphrodites Seis and Nocrites from which last some writers call the Nocratic mouth which is by others called the Heracliotic and mention it instead of the Canopic mouth which is the next to it Chapter 12 the coasts of Arabia situate on the Egyptian sea beyond the Pelusiac mouth is Arabia which extends to the Red Sea Arabia known by the surname of Hapi so famous for its perfumes and its wealth this is called Arabia of the Caterbanes the Esbonite and the Scannite it is remarkable for its sterility except in the parts where it joins up to Syria and it has nothing remarkable in it except Mount Cassius the Arabian nations of the Canclei join these on the east and on the south the Kedrei both of which peoples are joining to the Nebetiae the two gulfs of the Red Sea where it borders upon Egypt are called the Heropolisic and the Illinitic between the two towns of Ilene and Gaza upon our sea there is a distance of 150 miles Agrippa says that Arsinoe a town on the Red Sea is by way of the desert 125 miles from Pelusium how different the characteristics impressed by nature upon two places separated by so smaller distance chapter 13 Syria next to these countries Syria occupies the coast once the greatest of lands and distinguished by many names for the part which joins up to Arabia was formerly called Palestine, Judea, Curly and Phoenicia the country in the interior was called Damascina and that further on and more to the south, Babylonia the part that lies between the Euphrates and the Tigris was called Mesopotamia that beyond Tares, Sofine and that on this side of the same chain, Comagine beyond Armenia was the country of Adiabene, anciently called Assyria and at the part where it joins up to Cilicia it was called Antiochia its length between Cilicia and Arabia 470 miles and its breadth from Cilicia Pairia to Zoykma a town on the Euphrates 175 those who make a still more minute division of this country will have it that Phoenicia is surrounded by Syria and that first comes the maritime coast of Syria part of which is Idomia and Judea after that Phoenicia and then Syria the whole of the tract of sea under these shores is called the Phoenician Sea the Phoenician people enjoy the glory of having been the inventors of letters and the first discoverers of the sciences of astronomy, navigation and the art of war end of section 30 section 31 of the natural history volume 1 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information if you are a volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Anna Simon the natural history, volume 1 by Pliny the Elder translated by John Bostock and Henry Thomas Riley section 31 book 5 chapters 14 to 19 chapter 14 Idomia, Palestine and Samaria on leaving Pelusium we come to the camp of Caprius the temple of Jupiter Cassius and the tomb of Pompeus Magnus Ostracine at a distance of 65 miles from Pelusium is the frontier town of Arabia after this at the point where the Serbonian lake becomes visible Idomia and Palestine begin this lake which some writers have made to be 150 miles in circumference Herodotus has place at the foot of Mount Cassius it's now an inconsiderable fen the towns are Rhino Caldura and in the interior Raphia Gaza and still more inland Anthodon there's also Mount Argris proceeding along the coast we come to the region of Samaria Ascalo, a free town Asetus the two Gemnai one of them in the interior a city of the Phoenicians which existed it is said before the deluge of the earth it is situated on the slope of a hill and in front of it lies a rock upon which they point out the vestiges of the chains by which Andromeda was bound here the fabulous goddess Ceto is worshipped next to this place comes Apollonia and then the tower of Straito otherwise Caesarea built by King Herod but now the colony of Primaflavia established by the emperor Vespasianus this place is the frontier town of Palestina at a distance of 188 miles from the confines of Arabia after which comes Phoenicia in the interior of Samaria are the towns of Neopolis formerly called Mar Mortha Sebasta situated on a mountain in the middle of the city there is a small town called Mar Loftiwan Gamala Chapter 15 Judea beyond Irimia and Samaria Judea extends far and wide that part of it which joins up to Syria is called Galilea while that which is nearest to Arabia and Egypt bears the name of Peria by the river Jordanus the remaining part of Judea is divided into 10 toparchies which we will mention in the following order that of Hierarchus covered with groves of palm trees and watered by numerous springs and those of Emmaus Lidda Gioppi Acrobatina Gofna Thamna which was originally stood by far the most famous city not of Judea only but of the east and Herodium with a celebrated town of the same name the river Jordanus rises from the spring of Panias which has given its surname to Caesarea of which we shall have occasion to speak this is a delightful stream and so far as the situation at the localities will allow of winds along in its course and lingers among the dwellers upon its banks with the greatest reluctance as it were it moves onward towards Asphaltites a lake of a gloomy and unperpicious nature by which it is at last swallowed up and its bepraised waters are lost side of on being mingled with the pestilential streams of the lake for this reason it is that as soon as ever the valleys through which it runs afforded the opportunity it discharges itself into a lake by many writers known as Genocera 16 miles in length and 6 wide which is skirted by the pleasant towns of Julius and Hippo on the east of Tarikia on the south a name which is by many persons given to the lake itself and of Tiberius on the west the hot springs of which are so conducive to the restoration of health Asphaltites produces nothing whatever except bitumen to which indeed it owes its name the bodies of animals will not sink in its waters and even those of bulls and camels float there in length it exceeds 100 miles being at its greatest breath 25 and its smallest 6 Arabia of the Nomadis faces it on the east and Makyrus on the south at one time next to Herosulima a commonly fortified place in Judea on the same side lies Caleroi a warm spring remarkable for its medicinal qualities and which by its name indicates the celebrity its waters have gained lying on the west of Asphaltites and sufficiently distant to escape its noxious accelerations are the Esseni a people that live apart from the world and marvelous beyond all others on the whole earth for they have no women among them to sexual desire they are strangers money they have none the palm trees are their only companions day after day however their numbers are fully recruited by multitudes of strangers that resort to them driven thither to adopt their usages by the tempests of fortune and worried with the miseries of life thus it is that through thousands of ages people to relate this people eternally prolongs its existence without a single birth taking place there so fruitful a source of population to it is that wariness of life which is felt by others below this people was formerly the town of Angada second only to Herosulima in the fertility of its soil and its groves of palm trees now like it it is another heap of ashes next to it we come to Masada a fortress on a rock not far from Lake Asfal Titus thus much concerning Judea Chapter 16 The Capillus on the side of Syria joining up to Judea is the region of the capillus so called from the number of its cities as to which all writers are not agreed most of them however agree in speaking of Damascus as one a place fertilized by the river Cressoros which is drawn off into its meadows and eagerly imbibed Philadelphia and Rafaana all which cities fall back to its Arabia Seitopolis formerly called Nisa by father Libbe from his nurse having been buried there its present name being derived from a Schizian colony which was established there Gadera before which the river Hyromix flows Hippo which has been previously mentioned Dion Pella, rich with its waters Galassa and Kanatha the dead truckies lie between and around these cities equal each of them to a kingdom and occupying the same rank as so many kingdoms their names are Trecanites Panias in which is Caesarea with the spring previously mentioned Abila, Arca and Ghebe Chapter 17 Phunike we must now return to the coast and to Phunike there was formerly a town here known as Crocodillon there is still a river of that name Dorum and Sycaminon are the names of cities of which the Remembrance only exists we then come to the Promontory of Carmelus and upon the mountain a town of that name formerly called Akbatana next to this are Geta Giba and the river Parchaida or Bilus which throws up on its narrow banks a kind of sand from which glass is made this river flows from the marshes of Candibia at the foot of Mount Carmelus close to this river is Tolemaze formerly called Akie a colony of Claudius Caesar and then the town of Ekdipa and the Promontory known as the White Promontory we next come to the city of Tyrie formerly an island separated from the mainland by a channel of the sea of great death 700 paces in width but now joined to it by the works which were thrown up by Alexander when beseeching it the Tyrie so famous in ancient times for its offspring the cities to which it gave birth Leptis Utica and Cartage that rival of the Roman sway that thirsted so eagerly for the conquest of the whole earth Gades too which he founded beyond the limits of the world at the present day all her fame is confined to the production of the murex and the purple it's a conference including therein Pelleteris is 19 miles the place itself extending 22 stadia the next towns are Serrepta and Ornithon and then Psydon the structure of glass and the parent of Thebes in Boeotia in the rear of this spot begins the chain of Libanus which extends 1500 stadia as far as Semera this district has the name of Curle Seria opposite to this chain and separated from it by an intervening valley stretches away the range of Antelibanus which is formally connected with Libanus by a wall and lying in the interior is the region of Decapolis and with it the tetra keys already mentioned and the whole expanse of Palestina on the coast again and lying beneath Libanus is the river Magoras the colony of Baritas which bears the name of Felix Julia the town of Leantos the river Lycos Pella Biblos the river Adonis and the towns of Biblos Gigarta Truris Chalamos Cipollus inhabited by the Tyrians, Cedonians and Aredians Orthosia the river Illytheras the towns of Semera and Marathos and opposite Eredals the town's seven stadia long on an island distant 200 paces from the mainland after passing through the country Mount Bargolis is seen to rise Chapter 18 Syria and Tyokia Here Funikia Ents and Syria recommends this the towns are Carney, Bellania, Peltos and Gabali then the promontory upon which is situated the free town of Laodicea and then Deospolis Heraclia, Caradres and Posidium the promontory of Syria and Tyokia in the interior is the free city of Antiochia itself surnamed Epidaphnis and divided by the river Orontes On the promontory is Solukia called Pairia a free city beyond it lies Mount Cassius a different one from the mountain of the same name which you have already mentioned the height of this mountain is so vast that at the fourth watch of the night you can see from it in the midst of the darkness the sun rising on the east and thus by merely turning round we may at one at the same time behold both day and night the winding road which leads to its summit is 19 miles in length its perpendicular height 4 upon this coast there is the river Orontes which takes its rise near Heliopolis between the range of Libonus and Antilibonus the towns are Rosos and behind it the gates of Syria lying in the space between the chain of the Rosian mountains and that of Taurus on the coast there is the town of Maryandros and Mount Amunas upon which is the town of Bometi this mountain separates Solicia from Syria Chapter 19 the remaining parts of Syria we must now speak of the interior of Syria Curlis Syria has the town of Apamia divided by the river Marcius from the tetra-key of the Nazarene Bambex the other name of which is Hierapolis but by the Syrians called Mabok here the monster Atargaitis called Derkito by the Greeks is worshipped and the place called Calcus on the Bithys from which the region of Calcidina that is how part of Syria takes its name we here also find Charestiki with Chiram the Gazati the Guinarini the Gabini the two tetra-keys called Granico-Mati the Emesinae the Helati the Nation of the Iteriai and a branch of them the people called the Bitharini the Herodissus the Pineraiti two cities called Salukia besides the one already mentioned the one Salukia on the Euphrates and the other Salukia on the Bilus and the Cardotensis the remaining part of Syria except those parts which will be spoken of in conjunction with the Euphrates contains the Erythusii the Beroensis and the Epiphaniensis and on the east the Leodachini which are called the Leodachini on the Libanus the Lucati and the Larissii besides 17 other tetra-keys divided into kingdoms and bearing Barbara's names End of Section 31 Section 32 of the Natural History Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joyce Martin The Natural History Volume 1 by Pliny the Elder translated by John Bostock and Henry Thomas Riley Section 32 Chapter 20 the Euphrates Section 22 will be the most appropriate one for making some mention of the Euphrates This river rises in Carinidus a prefecture of greater Armenia according to the statement of those who have approached the nearest to its source Domitius Corbulus says that it rises in Mount Abba Licinius Molcianus at the foot of a mountain which he calls Capotes above Ximera and that at its source it has the name of Pyrox Taste It first flows past Dirkxin and then Anatica shutting out the regions of Armenia from Cappadocia Discusa is distant from Ximara 75 miles From this spot it is navigable as far as Sartona a distance of 50 miles from Melitine in Cappadocia distant 74 miles and thence to Elegia in Armenia distant 10 miles receiving in its course the rivers Lycus, Arsenius and Arsenus At Algia it meets the range of Mount Taurus but no effectual resistance is offered to its course although the chain is here 12 miles in width and thence the river bears the name of Uma but afterwards when it has passed through it receives that of Euphrates beyond this spot it is full of rocks and runs with an impetuous tide it then divides that part of Arabia which is called the country of the Ori on the left by a channel 3 Shioni in width from the territory of the Comageni on the right it even where it forces a passage through the range of Taurus at Claudiopolis in Cappadocia it takes an easterly direction and here for the first time in this contest Taurus turns it out of its course though conquered before and renaissance under by its channel the mountain chain now gains the victory in another way and breaking its career compels it to take a southerly direction thus is this warfare of nature equally waged the river proceeding onward to the destination which it intends to reach and the mountains forbidding it to proceed by the path which it originally intended after passing the cataracts the river again becomes navigable and at a distance of 48 miles from thence in Samosata the capital of Comageni Chapter 21 Syria upon the Euphrates Arabia mentioned above has the cities of Edessa formerly called Antiochia and from the name of its fountain Calarrohae and Carhae memorial for the defeat of crisis there adjoining to this is the prefecture of Mesopotamia which derives its origin from the Assyrians and in which are the towns and the Musia and Nisporium after which come the Arabians known by the name of Pratabi with Singara for their capital below Samosata on the side of Syria the river Marcius flows into the Euphrates at Singila ends the territory of Comageni and the state of the Emi begins the cities which are here washed by the river are those of Epiphania and Antiochia generally known as Epiphania and Antiochia on the Euphrates also Zugma 72 miles distant from the Samosata famous for the passage there across the Euphrates opposite to it is Appamia which Seleucus the founder of both cities united by a bridge the people who join up to Mesopotamia are called the Roali other towns in Syria are those of Europus normally Thapsacas now Amphipolis we then come to the Arabian Senate the Euphrates then proceeds in its course till it reaches the place called Yura at which taking a turn to the east it leaves the Syrian deserts of Palmyra which extend as far as the city of Petra and the regions of Arabia Felix Palmyra is a city famous for the beauty of its site the riches of its soil the delicious quality and abundance of its water its fields are surrounded by sands on every side and are thus separated as it were by nature from the rest of the world though placed between the two great empires of Rome and Parthia it still maintains its independence never failing at the very first moment that a rupture between them is threatened to attract the careful attention of both it is distant 337 miles from Salusia of the Parthians generally known as Salusia on the Tigris 203 from the nearest part of the Syrian coast and 27 last from Damascus below the deserts of Palmyra is the region of Stelendene and Heropolis Beroea and Chalcis already mentioned beyond Palmyra Palmyra takes to itself a portion of these deserts also Elatium nearer to Petra by one half then Damascus at no great distance from Surah is Phyllischium a town of the Parthians on the Euphrates from this place it is 10 days sail to Salusia and nearly as many to Babylon at a distance of 594 miles beyond Zugma near the village of Pate the Euphrates divides into two channels the left one of which runs through Mesopotamia past Salusia and falls into the Tigris as it flows around that city its channel on the right runs toward Babylon the former capital of Caldria and flows through the middle of it and then through another city the name of which is Otris after which it becomes lost in the marshes now this river increases at stated times and at much about the same period when the sun has reached the 20th degree of cancer it inundates Mesopotamia and after he has passed through Leo and entered Virgo its waters begin to subside by the time the sun has entered the 29th degree of Virgo the river has fully regained its usual height Chapter 22 Zugma and the adjoining nations but let us now return to the coast of Syria joining up to which is Salusia where we find the river Diaphanes Mount Crocodilus the gates of Mount Amanias the rivers Androcus Paneras and Lycus the Gulf of Issos and the town of that name then Alexandria the river Chloris the free town of Agae the river Paramus the gates of Salisia the towns of Malus and Magorosus and in the interior Tarsus we then come to the Alian Plains the town of Casipolis Mopsos a free town in the river Paramus Thinos Saphirium and Ankyli next to these are the rivers Saros and Sidonus the distance from the sea runs through the free city of Tarsus the region of Selendoritus with a town of similar name the place where Nymphenium stood Soli of Salisia now called Pompeopolis Adena Sibara Pinare Pedali Eil, Salinas, Arsione Ayatop, Duran the town, port and cave all of the same name passing these we come to the river Callicadnes the promontory of Sarpidon the towns of Homei and Myle and the promontory and town of Venus at a short distance from the island of Cyprus on the mainland there are the towns of Myanda Animerium and Corascium and the river Milas the ancient boundary of Salisia in the interior the places more especially worthy of mention are Anazarbus now called Caesarea Augusta Castabola Epiphania formerly called Eneandos Elusa Iconium Salusia upon the river Callicadnes a city removed from the sea shore where it had the name of Homiya besides those already mentioned there are in the interior the river Leparis Bambos Paradisus and Mount Imbaris Chapter 23 Isaiuria and the Homenades all the geographers have mentioned Panfilia as joining up to Salisia without taking any notice of the people of Isaiuria its cities are in the interior Isaiura Silabenos and La Lasis it runs down toward the sea by the side of Aminurium already mentioned in a similar manner also all who have treated of the subject have been ignorant of the existence of the nation of the Homenades bordering upon Isaiuria and their town of Hamona in the interior there are 44 other fortresses which lie concealed Chapter 24 The Piside the Piside formerly called the Salimik occupy the higher parts of the mountains in their country there is the colony of Caesarea also called Antiochia and the towns of Uroanda and Sagalassosus Chapter 25 Lycaonia these people are bounded by Lycaonia which belongs to the jurisdiction of the province of Asia to which also resort the people of Phylo-Millennium Timbrium Leucolithium Pelta and Tyrium to this jurisdiction is also added a tetarchy of Lysinonia on that part which joins up to Galatia containing 14 states with the famous city of Iconium in Lycaonia itself the most noted places are Thebesa on Taurus and Hyde the confines of Galatia and Cappadocia on the western side of Lycaonia and above Pamphylia come the Mili a people descended from the Thracians their city is Araconda Chapter 26 Pamphylia the former name of Pamphylia was Mopsopia the Pamphylian sea joins up to that of Celesia the towns of Pamphylia are on the western side Aspendium Cichate on the side of a mountain Palintensium and Perga there is also the promontory of Lyacola the mountains of Sardemnesus and the rivers Yermidon which flows past Aspendus and Cataractes near to which is Lyonesis also the towns of Obia and Felicis the last on the coast Taurus a joining to Pamphylia is the sea of Lycia and the country of Lycia itself where the chain of Tauris coming from the eastern shores terminates the vast gulf by the promontory of Caelodonium of immense extent and separating nations innumerable after taking its first rise at the Indian sea it branches off to the north on the right hand side and on the left toward the south then taking a direction toward the west it would cut through the middle of Asia were it not that the seas check it in its triumphant career along the land it accordingly strikes off in a northerly direction and forming an arc occupies an immense tract of country nature designedly as it were every now and then throwing seas in the way here the sea of Phoenicia there the sea of Pontus in this direction the Oaspian and the Hierocanian and then opposite to them the lake Mayotes although somewhat curtailed by these obstacles it still winds along between them and makes its way even amidst these barriers and victorious after all it then escapes with its signeous course to the kindred chain of the Rhaefae numerous are the names which it bears as it is continuously designed by new ones throughout the whole of its course in the first part of its career it has the name of Imaeus after which it is known successively by the names of Emodus, Parapanisus Cercius, Cambedis Paredris Coetris Oregis Oruandis and where it even outtops itself Caucasus where it throws forth its arms as though every now and then it would attempt to invade the sea it bears the names of Sarpidon, Cor Aseus Kregus and then again Taurus where also it opens and makes a passage to admit mankind it still claims the credit of an unbroken continuity by giving the name of Gates to these passes of Armenia in another the Gates of the Caspian and another the Gates of Cilicia in addition to this when it has been cut short in its onward career it retires to a distance from the seas and covers itself on the one side and on the other with the names of numerous nations being called on the right hand side the Hurcanian and the Caspian and on the left the Paryedrian and the Moschian the Amazonian, the Choraxican and the Schifian chain among the Greeks it bears the one general name of Serunian Chapter 28 Lycea in Lycea after leaving its promontory we come to the town of Samina Mount Shimmera which sends forth flames by night and the city of Hephaestium the heights above which are also frequently on fire here too formerly stood the city of Olympus now we find the mountain places known as Gaghe Cordelia and Rhodiopolis near the sea is Limraia and a river of like name into which the Aracandas flows Mount Misaitis the state of Andriaca Myra the towns of Aperae and up to Phelous formerly called Hebesus the city of Xanthus 15 miles from the sea as also a river known by the same name we then come to Patara formerly Pataros and Sedema Sitchade on a mountain next comes the promontory of Kregos and beyond it a gulf equal to the one that comes before it upon it are Panara and Talmisus the frontier town of Lycea Lycea formerly contained 70 towns now it has but 36 of these the most celebrated besides those already mentioned Arcanus Candaba so celebrated for the Aenean Grove Podalia Coma past which the river Edesa flows Seranae Ascandalis Amilas Nascopian Telos and Telandrus it includes also in the interior Ayenanda Babura and Boubon on passing Tel Mesos we come to the Asiatic or Carpathian Sea and the district which is properly called Asia Agrippa has divided this region into two parts one of which he has founded on the east by Phyregia and Laconia and on the west by the Aegean sea on the south by the Egyptian sea and on the north by the Paphilaconia making its length to be 473 miles and its breadth 320 the other part he has bounded by the lesser Armenia on the east Phyregia, Laconia and Paphilia on the west the province of Pontus on the north and the sea of Paphilia on the south making it 575 miles in length and 325 in breath End of section 32 recording by Joyce Martin section 33 of the natural history volume 1 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joyce Martin the natural history volume 1 by Pliny the Elder translated by John Bostock and Henry Thomas Riley section 33 chapter 29 Caria upon the adjoining coast is Caria then Ionia and beyond it Aeolus Caria surrounds Doris which lies in the middle and runs down on both sides of it to the sea in it is the promontory of Padallium Caluchus into which the Tommendium discharges itself the towns of Dedala Caria peopled by fugitives the river Axon and the town Calinda the river Indus which rises in the mountains of the Sibirate recedes 65 rivers which are constantly flowing besides upwards of 100 mountain torrents here is the free town of Cayunos then the town of Parnos the port of Crisa from which the island of Rhodes is distant 20 miles the place where Lorima formally stood the towns of Tiseusa Paridion and Larimna the Gulf of Thaminis the promontory of Aphrodiasis the town of Hydra the Gulf of Shonus and the district of Babusus there was formerly the town of Acanthus here of which was Dilopolis we then come to Sinidos a free town situate on a promontory Triopia and after that the towns of Pegusa and Stadia at this last town Doris begins but first it may be as well to describe the districts that lie to the back of Caria and the several jurisdictions in the interior the first of these is called Burea being a town of Furgis 25 states resort to it for legal purposes together with the most famous city of Leodicea this place at first bore the name of Diaspolis and after that of Roas and is situate on the river Lycus the Asops and the Capurus washing its sides the other people belonging to the same jurisdiction whom it may be not a miss to mention are the Hydrolite the Thymisiones and the Hieropolite the second jurisdiction receives its title from Sinanas to it resort the Lacaones, the Apiani the Eucarpeni the Dorileae the Medeaae the Juliences and 15 other peoples of no note the third jurisdiction has its seat at Apamia formerly called Salani after that Sibotos this place is situate at the foot of Mount Signia the Marseyes the Ogrima and the Orga rivers which fall into the meander flowing past it here the Marseyes rising from the earth again makes its appearance but soon after buries itself once more at Aulo Serenae the spot where Marseyes had the musical contest with Apollo as to superiority of skill in playing on the flute Aulo Serenae is the name given to a valley which lies 10 miles on the road toward Porigia from Apames as belonging to this jurisdiction it may be as well to mention the Metropolitan the Dionysso the Euphorbenae the Akmonensis the Peltenae the Silbiani besides 9 other nations of no note upon the Gulf of Doris we have Luscopolis Hamaxatos, Eulis and Euthene we then come to Pitayum Euthene and Halacarnassus towns of Caria to the jurisdiction of this last place 6 towns were appended by Alexander the Great the Angela Sibdae Medmasa Eurylium Helacarnassus lies between two gulfs those of Seramus and Aesus we then come to Mindos and the former site of Palaeomindos also Narriandos Neopolis Caranda the free town of Tirmera Bargaila and the town of Aesus from which the Aesun Gulf takes its name Caria is especially distinguished for the fame of its places in the interior for here are Milasa the city town and that of Antioca on the site of the former towns of Cementos and Creneus it is now surrounded by the rivers Miander and Orsinus in this district also was formerly Miandropolis we find also Eumania situate on the river Clodros the river Galacus the town of Lysias and Orthosa the district of Berycyntus Nysa Trielus also called Juantia Salusia and Antiochia it is washed by the river Eudon while the Thebias runs through it some authors say that a nation of pygmies formerly dwelt here besides the preceding towns there are Thidonos Piraja Eurome Heracola the free town of Alabanda which has given name to that jurisdiction the free town of Strada Nysia Heinedos Ceremus Terozine and Ferrantes at a greater distance but resorting to the same place of jurisdiction are the Orphaniances the Alindiances or Hippini the Zistiani the Hidysiances the Apollonietes the Trapezo Polite a free people besides the above there are the towns of Cosinus and Harpasa situate on the river Harpasus which also passed the town of Trelissan when it was in existence Chapter 30 Lydia Lydia, bathed by the sinuous and ever-recurring windings of the river Meander lies extended above Ionia it is joined by Farja on the east and Mycia on the north while on the south it runs up to Caria it formerly had the name of Meonia its place of the greatest celebrity is Sardis which lies on the side of Mount Tmolus formerly called Tmolus from this mountain which is covered with vineyards flows the river Pactolus also called the Chrysoroas and the sources of the Tarnas this famous city which is situate upon the Gijian lake used to be called Haidaid by the people of Meonia this jurisdiction is now called that of Sardis and besides the people of the places already mentioned the following now resort to it the Mycedonian Caduani the Lorani the Philadelphani the Meoni situate on the river Cogemus at the foot of Mount Tmolus the Tripoli Tani who are also called the Antonioprolite situate on the banks of the Meander the Apala Nihirate the Mesotimo Latte and some others of no note Chapter 31 Ionia Ionia begins at the Gulf of Iosis and has a long winding coast with numerous bays first comes the Gulf of Basilicum then the Promontory and Town of Poseidium and the Oracle once called the Oracle of the Brunchidae but now of the Demian Apollo a distance of 20 stadia from the seashore 180 stadia thence is Miletus the capital of Ionia which formerly had the names of Lelegius, Pityusa, and Anacatoria the mother of more than 90 cities founded upon all seas nor must she be deprived of the honor of having Cadmus for her citizen who was the first to write in prose the river Meander rising from a lake in the Mount Olo-Serne waters many cities and receives numerous tributary streams it is so serpentine in its course that it is often thought to turn back to the very spot from which it came it first runs through the district of Appamia then that of Eumenia and then the plains of Burgaila after which with the placid stream it passes through Caria watering all that territory with a slime of a most fertilizing quality and then at a distance of 10 stadia from Miletus with a gentle current enters the sea we then come to Mt. Lotmus the towns of Herculia also called by the same name as the mountain Caris Maya said to have been first built by Onians who came from Athens, Nalocum, and Pyrene upon that part of the coast which bears the name of Trogilia is the river Gesus held sacred by all the Ionians and thence receives the name of Panionia near to it was formerly the town of Fajella built by fugitives as its name implies and that of Marthesium above these places is Magnesia distinguished by the surname of the Neandrian and sprung from the Magnesia in Thessaly it is distance from Ephesus 15 miles and 3 more from Trales it formerly had the name of Thessalychii and Androlida and lying on the sea shore has withdrawn from the sea the islands known as the Dera Sidae and joined them to the mainland in the interior also is Thyatira washed by the Lycus for some time it was also called Pelopia and Euhipia upon the coast again is Mantium and Ephesus which was founded by the Amazons and formerly called by so many names Aelopus at the time of the Trojan War after that Ortigia and Morges and then Smyrna with the surname of Trachia as also Samornian and Petalia this city is built on Mount Pion and is washed by the Keister a river which rises in the Kybilian range and brings down the waters of many streams as also of Lake Pegasus which receives those which is discharged by the river for Rites from these streams there accumulates a large quantity of slime which vastly increases the soil and has added to the mainland the island of Serae which now lies in the mist of its plains in this city is the fountain of Calipia and the temple of Diana which last is surrounded by two streams each known by the name of Salenas and following from after leaving Ephesus there is another Mantium belonging to the Caliphonians and in the interior Caliphon itself past which the river Halesus flows after this we come to the temple of the Clarion Apollo and Lebedas the city of Noceum once stood here next comes the promontory of Corisium and then Mount Mimas which projects 150 miles into the sea and uses the mainland sinks down into extensive plains it was at this place that Alexander the Great gave orders for the plain to be cut through a distance of 7 miles and a half for the purpose of joining the two gulfs and making an island of Aerithari and Mimas near Aerithari formerly stood the towns of Pettelion, Helos and Dorion we now find the river Alion Corisium a promontory of Mount Mimas Calazominae Parthenae and Hippie known by the name of Chaitroferia when it formed a group of islands these were united to the continent by the same Alexander by means of a causeway to Stadia in length in the interior the cities of Dauphinus, Hermesia and Cifylum formerly called Tantalus and the capital of Moania where Tantal now stands are now no longer in existence Archaeopolis too which succeeded Cifylum has perished and in her turns Clopay and Levadne which succeeded it on returning thence toward the coast at a distance of 12 miles we find Smyrna originally founded by an Amazon of that name and rebuilt by Alexander it is refreshed by the river Miles through this district run what may almost be called the most famous mountains of Asia Mastusia in the rear of Smyrna and Termitas joining the foot of Olympus Termitas is joined by Draco Draco running into Tantalus Tantalus into Cadmus and Cadmus into Taurus leaving Smyrna the river Hermus forms a tract of plains and gives them its own name it rises near Dorleum a city of Fargia and in its course receives several rivers among them the one called the Firks which devise Caria from the nation to which it gives name also the Hylos and the Cryos themselves swollen by the rivers Furgia Mycia and Lydia at the mouth of the Hermus formally stood the town of Temnos we now see at the extremity of the gulf the rocks called Mermexes the town of Lusae on a promontory which was once an island and Fosea the frontier town of Ionia a great part also of Aeolia which we shall have presently to speak has recourse to the jurisdiction of Smyrna as well as the Macedones surnamed Hercani and the Magnetes from Syphilis but to Ephesus that other great luminary of Asia resorts the more distant peoples known as the Sassarineses the Metropolite and the Sibiani both the lower and upper the Mysomassadones the Mastarenses the Briolite the Hypepene and the Diosherite Chapter 32 Aeolis Aeolis comes next formerly known as Mycia and Trois which is adjacent to the Hell Spawn here after passing Fosea we come to the Esci and Port then the spot where Larissa stood and then Cernay Marina also called Sabastopolis and the interior Agai Atalia, Posadia Neontikos and Temnos upon the shore we come to the river Titanus and the city which from it derives its name Gurnia also stood there on an island reclaimed from the sea and joined to the land now only its harbors are left we then come to the town of Ilea the river Caicos which flows from Mycia the town of Pitane and the river Caneus the following towns no longer exist Cane, Lysimacia Aeternia Carinae Sistinae Sila, Sicilium Theba, Astrae Grisa, Palasipsus Grgitha and Neanderos we then come to the city of Perperne which still survives the district of Heraclites the town of Corifas the river Gralios and Olius the region of Aprodiesis which formerly had the name of Policeorgos the district of Sepsus and the river Evinus on whose banks the towns of Larnizos and Malitos have fallen to decay in this district also is Mount Aida and on the coast Andromateus which gives its name to the gulf and the jurisdiction so called the other rivers are the Astron, Cormelos Serenos, Alabastros and Haeros flowing from Mount Aida in the interior is Mount Gargara with a town of the same name again on the coast we meet with Antandros formerly called Adonis and after that Cimmeris and Esoas also called Apollonia the town of Palimadium also formerly stood here the promontory of Lecton separates Aolis from Troas in Aolis there was formerly the city of Palimedia as also Chrysia and a second Larissa the temple of Cementheus is still standing Cologne in the interior to Adromadium resort upon matters of legal business the Apolloniate whose town is on the river Riandicus and Orizzi the Militopolite the Pomanie the Macedonian Asculace the Policine and the Pionte the Sicilian Mandascandi and the Mycia the Abertini the people known as the Hellesponti and others of Lesnot end of section 33 recording by Joyce Martin