at sea were quite defeated and themselves could hardly find meanes to escape with safetie to say nothing of the Alexandrine warres and how by will and testament the whole nation was transferred under the government of one successor Which affaires thus atchieved and long times passed under the Consuls government and then afterward our State being reduced under the power of the Caesars those nations now and then waged warre with us sometimes they went their wayes on even hand otherwhiles with losse and sometimes againe with victorie Now will I set downe the situation of the places therein as summarily and briefely as reason will permit These countries lying out largely spread in length and breadth environ about on every side the Persian gulfe so full of Islands so famous and so much frequented the mouthes of which sea are by report so narrow that from Harmozonta a cape or promontorie of Carmania unto another that standeth over against it and which the inhabitants call Maces a man may kenne without any impeachment at all After which straits one passed through and that the open sea spreadeth it selfe exceeding wide men use to sayle directly as farre as to the citie Teredon where after many downefals Euphrates is drowned in the sea and the whole gulfe if a man measure along the shore as if the whole space were wrought round by a Turners brake taketh up in circuit twentie thousand stadia upon all the coasts and sides wherof stand towns and villages thicke yea and there is frequent passage to and fro of shipping When as therefore yee have sayled through the foresaid straits yee come to the gulfe of Armenia lying into the East and after a certaine distance betweene occasioned by a necke or Isthm of land there openeth a Bay or Gulfe in the South named Cantichus not farre from whence there is another which they tearme Chalites under the Sunnesetting Then after a number of Isles passed by of which but few are knowne they joyne upon the Indians Ocean sea which is first of all others that entertaineth the fervent heat of the Sunne rising beeing of it selfe also exceeding hote And according as the Geographers penne hath in their Cards made the draught in this manner is the whole circuit aforesaid by parcels divided From the North pole to the Caspian straits it confineth upon the Cadusij with many nations of the Scythians and the Arimaspi men with one eye and savage on the South side it meeteth with the Armenians and Niphates as also the Albanes seated in Asia with the red sea and the Arabians Scenitae whom the posteritie ensuing named Saracenes under the South point it over-looketh Mesopotamia and where it lyeth afront opposite into the East it stretcheth to the river Ganges which cutting through the middest of the Indian lands is discharged into the South sea CHAP. VII The regions thereof the Praefects or Rulers in it the wonders of Nature and Cities that it sheweth NOw there are contained within the whole compasse of Persia these countries that be of greatest name and those ruled under Vitaxae that is captaines of horsemen kings and princes tearmed Satrapae for those of the lesser sort they be so many in number it were a difficult and needlesse piece of worke to recount namely Assyria Susiana Media Petsis Parthia Carmania the greater Hyrcania Margiana Bactriani Sogdiani Sacae Scythia lying beyond the mountaine Emodes Serica Aria Paropamissadae Drangiana Arachosia and Gedrosia The next unto us and on this side all the rest is noble Assyria for being well peopled and much frequented for greatnesse also in compasse and fruitfulnesse many wayes most wealthie which having lyen in times past spread into large countries and territories and being full of them and plenteous withall grew into one name and all of it now is called Assyria Where among abundance of Berries and other vulgar fruits groweth h Bitumen neere unto a lake named Sosingites by whose belly or channell Tigris being swallowed and running under ground after he hath gone a great way ariseth and appeareth again Here is engendred i Naphtha clammie and glutinous like unto pitch and it also resembleth Bitumen upon which if a little bird settle she looseth her flight sinketh downe and is drowned quite out of sight And when this kind of liquor beginneth one to catch fire mans wit is not able to devise any meanes save onely dust to quench and put it out In these territories there is likewise to be seene a gaping hole within the ground from whence exhaleth a deadly breath or vapour which with the strong smell or sent whereof killeth what living creatures soever standeth neere unto it Which noysome and pestilent vapor arising forth of a certaine deepe pit when it once passed the wide mouth thereof before that it walmed up higher caused through the contagiousnesse thereof the grounds lying round about it to be inhabitable The like hole unto this was as some report seene heretofore at Hierapolis in Phrygia from which in semblable sort an hurtfull spirit or aire issuing by the continuall smell that it yeelded killed whatsoever came neere unlesse they were guelded what the cause might be of this accident I referre to the reasons that may be made out of naturall Philosophie Also at the temple of Iupiter Asbameus in Cappadocia where that great and most renowmed Philosopher Apollonius is reported to have beene borne in the towne Tyana there is to bee seene a fountaine running forth of a poole which swelling big with abundance of water and drinking up himselfe againe yet never surroundeth his bankes Neere unto this circuit is that part of Assyria called in auncient time Adiabena which by long use turned to this name for that being situate betweene Oena and Tigris two navigable rivers there was no fouâ—d that ever gave accesse in to it For we in Greece expresse a passage over to a place by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And this verily is the conceit of those in old time But we have learned that in these countries there be two ever-running rivers which my selfe also hath passed over namely Diavas and Adiavas having bridges upon them of ships set together And hence we are to understand it tooke that denomination even as of very great rivers Aegypt as Homer sayth India and Euphratensis beforetime Comagena likewise Iberia now Spaine of Iberus and of the river Baetis that famous province Baetica In this Adiabena standeth the citie Ninus which in times past was possessed of the kingdomes of Persis and sheweth the name of Ninus that most mightie king sometime the husband of Semiramis also Ecbatana Arbela and Gaugamela where Alexander after many adventurous and dangerous battails in heat of martiall bloud gave Darius an overthrow Now within the compasse of Assyria
a goodly pompe and solemne shew and pretending along time sicknesse for his excuse he neither set foot within the palace nor went abroad into the citie but keeping close plotted many means to bring him to destruction putting into his reports some unnecessarie matters beside the purpose which otherwhiles he sent unto the prince At the last being entreated and admitted into the Consistorie g without any circumstance of words by way of preface premised inconsiderately ynough and bluntly Be gone Caesar quoth hee as you are commaunded and know this That if you make any stay I will cause forthwith all the provision for maintenance of your selfe and of your palace to be carried away With this peremptory speech and no more thus malapartly delivered he departed somewhat angry and came not afterwards in his sight although he was often sent for Hereupon the other al in a fume and chafe as one that suffered injuries and indignities committed the said Prefect to ward under the custodie of trustie pentioners of his guard which when Montius understood being at that time Questor h a man verily of a rigorous nature but yet somewhat enclined to mildnesse called unto him the chiefe of the Palatine trained companies and spake unto them in mild and gentle tearmes saying It was neither meet nor expedient thus to doe but proceeding withall to other words in a chiding accent That if they liked and allowed of this course after the Statues of Constantine were cast downe they might with lesse feare certainly devise how to take away the Emperours life also Gallus taking knowledge hereof faring as a serpent at which some dart is shot or stone flung abiding his utmost hopes and seeking to save himselfe by any meanes commaunded all his souldiors to assemble in armes and when they stood astonied he whetting gnashing his teeth Be prest quoth he right valiant men to assist me in ieopardie together with you Behold how Montius in a strange and unwonted humor of swelling pride by these muttering words of his chargeth us as rebels and spurners against the sacred maiesty of the Emperour displeased for sooth and angry for that I commaunded in regard of feare onely the malapart and stout Praefect who made himselfe ignorant what the course of the world and State requireth to be kept inward This said the militarie men very desirous many times of stirres and troubles without any longer stay first set upon Montius whose lodging was hard by a weerish old man and a sickly and with hairie cords bound fast to his legges drew him stride long without any intermission as farre as to the Praefects Praetorium And in the same gary braid they tyed Domitian likewise with his head forward to a sled or ladder and so harried and hurried them both together up and downe all over the broad streets of the citie And now by this time that the knitting of their joints and limmes were plucked asunder they clambering over their dead bodies mangled and dismembred in most unseemely manner as if now they had taken their fill of revenge cast them soone after into the river Now these men so outrageous desperat and even wood againe one Luscus governour of the citie whom suddainly they had a sight of had incensed to attempt these wicked designes and together with him Sthenelaus captaine or leader of the Porters inciting often calling upon them to the execution and quick dispatch of that which they had begun who not long after was therefore burned quicke And because Montius readie to yeeld up his vitall breath under their hands that like butchers were tearing him in pieces cried out divers times and layd much blame upon Epigonus and Eusebius without naming either their profession or place degree much diligent search there was What these persons should be and that the businesse might not waxe any thing coole brought out of Lycia there was Epigonus a Philosopher and out of Mysia Eusebius having his surname of Pietie a quicke and vehement Orator whereas the foresaid Quęstor had appeached and charged not them but certaine masters of forges or worke-houses i who promised armour if haply any commotion and trouble in the State should arise At the very same time Apollinaris who had married Domitians daughter late graund Seneschall or steward of the palace was sent from his father in law into Mesopotamia a man out of all measure inquisitive among the militarie bands that abode there Whether they received any secret letters of Gallus now projecting and plotting some higher designes who having learned what had beene done at Antioch passed through Armenia the lesse and went to Constantinople and from thence being brought backe againe by the Guard-souldiors was laied up fast and kept close prisoner Whiles these things were thus a working intelligence was given of a royall robe woven secretly in Tyrus but it was not certainly knowne who put it forth to be wrought or for whose use it was provided The governor therefore of that province for the time being Apollinaris the father for names sake was brought in question as privie thereto and many others were gotten together out of divers cities who had grievous imputations charged sore upon them of haynous and horrible crimes and now the trumpets resounding aloft intestine miseries and calamities his turbulent spirit raged not covertly as before time but turned quite aside from the consideration of truth and whiles no man enquired duly and by ordinarie course into the truth of matters plainely charged upon men or cunningly devised against them nor once putting difference betweene the innocent and the guiltie all right and equitie as thrust out of the judgement places was departed and gone quite whiles also the lawfull defence of causes was put to silence there was nothing so rife as the hangman sequestring of pillage hoodwincking punishing by the purse and confiscation of goods every where throughout the East provinces which I thinke it meet and convenient to reckon up all save Mesopotamia set already in due place when I treated of the Parthick warres and Aegypt which of necessitie I have put over to another time CHAP. VII The description of the East Provinces all save Mesopotamia and Aegypt AFter a man hath passed over the tops of the mountaine Taurus which toward the East rise up a great height Cilicia lyeth farre stretched out in length and breadth a land enriched with all good things and unto the right side thereof adjoyneth Isauria a fresh and goodly countrey in like sort as well for plentifull vines as aboundance of corne and graine through the middest whereof runneth the navigable river Calicadnus And verily this region two cities besides many other good townes doe beautifie to wit Seleucia founded and built by king Seleucus and Claudiopolis which Claudius Caesar erected as a Colonie For the citie Isauria being afore time strongly walled and fenced and long since subverted as a
never a whit leave off his purpose like for all the world to his brother Gallus although he was not bloudily minded Whereupon faring afterward against them as murmuring detractors and contumacious he compiled an invective volume which hee called Antiochense or Mesopogon upon a malitious mind reckoning up the shamefull reproaches of the citie and setting to more than were true After which understanding there were many pleasant jests and skoffes made of him being forced to dissimule all for the time he boiled and swelled againe inwardly with anger For mocked he was by these tearmes as â— Cercops a little dwarfe using to stretch his narrow shoulders carrying a goats beard before him and stalking with a wide pace like as if he had beene a brother of λ Otus and Ephialtes those Giants whose talnesse Homer infinitly setteth out in the highest degree He was also tearmed in stead of Sacricola i. a devout server of God Victimarius i. the common sacrificer or butcher whereby many alluded to his often sacrificing And verie aptly was he blamed in this behalfe when as for oâ—tentation sake he used verie boldly to carrie sacred oblations for the priests accompanied with a sort of women and he tooke joy and pleasure therein And although for these and the like causes he fretted and chafed yet he said not a word but holding in his passion within the power of his mind he celebrated his sacred solemnities notwithstanding To conclude upon a certaine set festivall day before appointed he ascended up to the mountaine Casius so full of woods and with a round compasse reaching up on high from whence at the second cocke crowing the sun is seene first to rise And when he offered sacrifice and celebrated divine service to Iupiter all on a sodaine he espied one lying prostrat upon the ground with a supplyant voyce humbly beseeching life and pardon And when he asked what he was answer was made unto him That it was Theodotus of Hierapolis one of the Presidents traine there who among other honourable personages accompanying Constantius as he went from their citie by way of unâ—eemely and base flattering him as who doubtlesse should win the victorie requested him and that with teares and grones which he had at commaund to send unto them the head of Iulian that ungratefull traitor in such sort as he remembred the said Member of Magnentius was carryed up and downe all about Which when he understood I have quoth he heard indeed long since by many mens relation of this thy speech but goe thy wayes in peace carelesse and void of all feare through the clemencie of thy Prince who as the wise man hath advised to diminish the number of foes and to encrease the number of friends of his owne accord and willingly striveth so to do After hee had performed the rites of sacrifice and was departed from thence there was presented unto him a writing from the governour of Aegypt avouching That the oxe Apis which had beene sought with great diligence and industrie might yet after a time be found Which as the inhabitants of those countries suppose is a token of luckinesse of plentifull fruits and divers good blessings as touching which matter it will bee requisit that somewhat were briefly delivered Among living creatures by auncient observation halowed Mneuis and Apis are of more note than the rest Mneuis is consecrated to the Sun concerning â—â—â—ch no memorable matter is recorded the other following to the Moon For Apis is an oxe or bull lively pourtraied unto us with divers figures of natural marks but marked most of al with the shape of the new Moon on his right flanke who when as after a certaine appointed time of life hee is deepe plunged in a sacred fountaine and departed out of this life for hee may not live any longer than the secret authoritie of mysticall bookes doth prescribe nor but once in the yeare is there presented unto him a cow and the same found with certaine especial markes another is sought for with publike sorrow and lamentation and if he may be found with all signes right and perfect accordingly he is brought to Memphis a goodly citie and ennobled with the presence of god Aesculapius and when by the ceremonious consecration of certaine prelats to the number of one hundred he is brought into a bed-chamber and beginneth to be sacred or hallowed hee is said by manifest conjectures to shew the signes of future things and seemeth by certaine crooked tokens to mislike some as they come toward him Like as upon a time when he rejected and refused Germanicus Caesar as we read in the Chronicles offering him meat it portended what fell out within a while after CHAP. XIIII An exact draught of things memorable in Aegypt and first as touching the auncientie of the people The site and limits of the kingdome then the heads courses mouthes or issues and strange wonders of Nilus BEcause therefore this present time seemeth to require so much the storie of Aegypt would slightly and in few words bee touched considering that the knowledge there of I have orderly put downe at large in the acts of the Emperours Hadrian and Severus reporting most things that I saw my selfe The Aegyptian nation the most auncient of all others but that it contendeth with the Scythians about antiquitie is on the South side bounded with the greater Syrtes the Promontorie Phycus and Borium together with the Garamants and sundrie other kinds of people where it looketh directly into the East it lyeth along just before Elephantina and Meröe cities of the Aethiopians the Catadupi also and the Red Sea together with the Arabians Scenitae whom we now call Saracenes The parts bearing just against the North are maine lands cohering one to the other a mightie way whence Asia and the provinces of Syria take their beginning On the West side disjoyned it is from the Continent by the sea Issiacum which some have named Parthenium Meet it will be therefore that somewhat in briefe I set downe as touching Nilus which Homer tearmeth Aegyptus minding shortly to shew other particulars which in these countries are admirable The spring heads and originall of Nilus as I for my part verily am wont to thinke the ages also ensuing hereafter shall be ignorant of like as those have beene heretofore to this day But for as much as the fabling Poets and disagreeing Geographers deliver divers matters as touching the hidden knowledge thereof I will dispatch in few words their opinions such as I suppose sound neere unto the truth Some Naturallists affirme That in the parts lying under the North when the cold Winters bind and freeze all there be mightie great snowes congealed and gathered together and these afterwards resolved through the force of the exceeding hot Sunne turne into clouds full of liquid and flowing humors which by the μ Etesian winds driven into the South quarter and wrung out with excessive heat
governement allotted unto them by the neighing of an horse In this region there is a medicinable oyle made where with an arrow or dart being annoynted if it bee gently shot out of a weake bow for with swift flight the vertue thereof is quenched and sticke in any place it catcheth fire and continueth still burning and if a man wold wash it away with water he maketh the same to burne more violently Neither by any other meanes goâ—th it out than by casting dust upon it Now the making of it is in this manner They that are skilfull confectioners take common oyle infected with a certaine hearbe and this being condited preserve it a long time and as it gathereth to a thicker consistence harden it by meanes of a substance issuing out of a naturall veine like unto grosse oyle and this kind of drugge is engendred among the Persians which as I have said alreadie they used to call by a tearme of that countrey Naphtha CHAP. IX The morefamous and better frequented townes of Persia A narration as touching the Parthians Arabians Carmans and Hyrcanes their neighbours as also of their townes maners and commodities IN these countries there stand a number of cities dispersed and the principall of them all be Zombis Patigra and Gazaca among which also for wealth and large walls these be conspicuous Heraclia Arsacia Europos Cycopolis and Ecbatana seated all under the mountaine Iasonium in the lands of the Syro-Medians Many rivers there be that passe along these regions of which the greatest are Choaspes Gyndes Amardus Charinda Cambyses and Cyrus which carrying a great and spatious streame Cyrus the elder that noble and amiable king so named when he had a bolished the old name therof what time as he made a voyage for the conquest of the kingdome of Scythia both for that it was so strong as himselfe also was reported puissant and also because with mightie force making itselfe way as he also did it runneth into the Caspian sea Beyond these confines next unto the sea coasts is auncient Persis inhabited stretched forth along the South tracts a countrey rich in the smaller sorts of graine and fruits as also in vines and for plentie of water most delectable For many rivers have their course through it into the gulfe aforesaid the biggest wherof are these Vatrachites Rogomanis Brisoana and Bagrada And the inland townes are verie great and large For in what regard they built nothing of any note along the maritime coasts it is not certainely knowne Among which cities Persepolis beareth a great name like as Ardea Orobatis and Tragonica But there are no more than three islands there seene to wit Tibiana Phara and Alexandria Neere bordering upon these are the Parthians scituat under the north-North-east inhabiting lands full of snow and frozen all over whose countries the river Choatres bigger than the rest divideth in the mids And for townes these bee of more account than the other all namely Genonia Charax Apamia Artacana and Hecatompylos From the bounds whereof along the Caspian sea shore unto the verie straits thereof are reckoned a thousand and fortie stadia The inhabitants of all the territories there be fierce and given to fight and such delight take they in skirmishes and warres that he is deemed among all other right happie who spendeth his life in battaile For such as depart otherwise by casuall or naturall death they rayle at and revile as base persons and meere cowards Vpon these on the East and South side bound the happie Arabians so tearmed for that they be so rich in come as well as in plenteous increase of cattell in vines and odoriferous spices of many kinds and a great part of them reach unto the red sea namely on the right side for on the left hand they border hard upon the Persian sea and so are acquainted with all the blessings and commodities that both elements can affoord Where also there be both rodes and quiet harbours verie many also townes of marchandise standing thicke and retiring houses for the kings passing sumptuous and beautifull besides most holesome and medicinable fountaines of waters naturally hot together with a number of brookes and rivers running cleere and a temperature of the ayre verie healthy so that whosoever considerâ—th all things aright may well thinke there is nothing wanting for the accomplishment of felicitie in the highest degree And although it hath store of cities as well Mediterranean as maritime and abound in plenteous fields and vales yet these it hath of greatest state above the rest to wit Geapolis Nascus and Baraba likewise Nagara Mephra Taphron and Dioscurias Moreover furnished it is with many islands hard at hand along both seas which to reckon up it skilleth not But of more note and name than all other is Turgana wherein standeth by report the greatest temple of Serapis Beyond the marches hereof which containe a mightie ground Carmania the greater mounteth up with loftie hills and reacheth even to the Indian sea decked with the encrease that commeth of fruits and trees but much more obscure and farre lesse than the land of the Arabians howbeit as wel replenished with rivers and for fruitfulnesse of soyle nothing inferiour to it But these be the rivers in it of greater name than the rest Sagareus Saganis and Hydriacus There are in it cities also although in number few yet for fare and apparell passing full and rich Among which Carmania mother of them all carryeth a brave shew so doth Ortospana also Alexandria and Hermupolis But as you travaile further within the countrey you meet with the Hyrcani by whom a sea of their name flowes and among whom there be verie big clods of earth glittering againe with gold Little set they by tillage and husbandrie but they feed upon venison in varietie whereof a wonder it is how they abound Where also are seene many thousands of Tigres and a number of wild beasts which by what sleights and devises they are woont to bee taken I remember well that a good while since I have related And yet for all that are not they unskilfull of holding the plough taile but some parts of these countries are sowed with seeds namely where the soyle is rich and fat neither bee hortyards vineyards and groves wanting in places meet to be planted and a number of the inhabitants be sustained with marchandise and commodities of the sea Here also be two verie notorious rivers Oxus and Maxera which the Tigres when they bee hunger-bitten swim over sometimes and at unwares do much mischief in the parts bordering upon them CHAP. X. Divers nations of Persia the Abij Margiani Bactriani Sacae Scythians Laxaâ—ae and Galactophagi together with the chiefe cities are described MOreover among smaller townes they have also strong cities two verily upon the sea coast namely Socunda and Saramanna other also within the land to wit Azmoâ—na Sole and Hyrcana more noble and famous than they Over against this nation
under the North-east are the Abij said to converse a people most godly and devout as who use to contemne and tread under foot all worldly things whom as Homer verie fabulously poetizeth l Iupiter beholdeth from the Idaean mountaines Beyond the Hyrcans in the next places are seated the Margiani enclosed in manner all on everie side with high hills and therefore disjoyned from the sea And albeit most parts lye there desert and unhabited for scarcitie of water yet have they certaine townes but Iasonion Antiochia and Nisea be better knowne than the rest The next limits to these are possessed by the Bactrians a nation before time warlike and most puissant evermore infesting the Persians before that they drew all the people seated round about them to their devotion and the allyance of their name governed in auncient times by kings dreadfull even to Arsaces The most parts of this country like as Margiana be far remote from the sea coasts but plenteous of such things as breed grow upon the ground the cattell also in the champian places and the mountaines is big limmed compact and strong made as the Camels well shew brought from thence by Mithridates and which the Romans saw the first time at the siege of Cyzicum To these Bactrians many nations yeeld obedience which tyl the plaines and levell fields and the same after the manner of Italie are overflowed with many rivers of which Artamis and Zariaspes that meet in one confluence before likewise Ochus and Orgomanes with their streames concurring together and joyning in one chanell wonderfully encrease the river Oxus There bee cities also here which divers rivers run just by giving place to these as their betters namely Cathra Charte Alicodra Astacia Menapila and Bactra it selfe of which the kingdome and nation tooke the name first scituat at the verie bottome and foot of the mountaines which they call Sogdij Among which rivers there passe two verie capable of ships and Navigable Araxates and Dymas which by hills and vallyes running headlong with a great downe-fall into the champian plaines make the marish named Oxia spred farre in length and bredth And here among other townes Alexandria Tribatra and Drepsa the mother citie are famous Vpon these joyne the Sacae a savage nation inhabiting foule and over growne places commodious onely for cattell and therefore not planted with cities over whom stand aloft the mountaines Ascanimia and Comedus neere to the foot whereof and a towne which they call Lithinos-Pyrgos there lyeth a verie long and open way passable for marchants that otherwhiles go to trade and traffique with the Seres About the breaches and edges of the mountaines which they tearme Immavi and Tapurij are the Scythians within the bounds of Persia confining with the Sarmatae of Asia and reaching to the utmost side of the Alani Who living as it were in some â—ooke and by-place and bred up in a solitarie life are dispersed a great way a sunder used to live upon homely and poore food And verily there bee sundrie nations that in habit these tracts which now to reckon up making hast as I doe to other matters I thinke superfluous Yet thus much would be knowne that among these nations unaccessable in manner by reason of the exceeding rigour and roughnesse of the countrey there be some men mild and kind as are namely the Laxartae and Galactophagi of whom the Poet Homer maketh mention in this verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is to say Of the Galactophagi people that live by eating milke and the Abij among whom no violence beareth sway or who have no regard of their food or life most righteous men Moreover among many riuers which in these lands nature either joyneth to greater or by their course afterward draweth into the Sea much talke there is of Roemnus Iaxartes and Talicus But these nations are not knowne to have above three cities Aspabota Cauriana and Saga CHAP. XI Likewise the Seres Ariani Paropamissadae Drangiani Arachosij and Gedrosij TEyond these places of Scythia the one and the other full upon the East climat the tops of high hills linked as it were in a chaine compasse within a round circle as one would say the Seres for plentifull large countries much esteemed who on the West side joyne upon the Scythians North and East they bound upon the snowie wildernesse and Southward they lye out as farre as India and Ganges Now the same mountaines before said are called Aria Nazavitium Asmira Emodus and Opurocarra This playne therefore environed on everie side with a steepe downefall and these lands stretched so spatiously in breadth two famous and renowmed rivers Oechardes and Banthisis with a still and slow streame run through and of the divers tracts herein the nature also is different in one place large and open in another lying flat and low with an easie fall and descent in which regards they have aboundance of corne store of cattell and plentie of hortyards and such like Now this soile so fertill and fruitfull as it is sundrie nations do inhabit of which Alitrophagi Carambusi Syzyges and Chardi ly open and full upon the Northerne winds and frosts But the Rabannae Asmirae and Essedones the noblest and most famous of them all face the Sunne-rising unto whom from the West part joyne the Atharae and Asparatae but the Betae bending toward the high mountaines in the South are much renowmed for their cities which though they be not many yet great they are and wealthie whereof Asmira Essedon Asparata and Pherae are most beautifull and best knowne Now the people themselves I meane the Seres live very quietly without use of armes at all times without triall of battailes and as rest is to stayed and peaceable men delectable they are to none of their neighbours troublesome The temperature of the weather among them is pleasant and holesome the constitution of the aire cleere and pure the blowing of gentle winds most commodious and the woods have pretie store of light within and under them from whence the people with much sprinckling of water softening that which the trees yeeld and bring forth like unto certaine fleeces kembe a most fine and tender matter mixed of a kind of downe and liquid substance and spinning thred hereof make silke serving for the use of nobilitie and gentrie before time but now for the basest sort also without any difference and respect They themselves are above others most frugall lovers of a still and quiet life shunning the companies of other mortall men And when as strangers are passed over the river to buy their thread or some other commodities without any speech to or fro the prices of wares set forth to sale are esteemed onely by the eye And so void are they of covetousnesse that delivering forth what things grow and are bred among them they themselves buy nothing brought in from other countries Beyond the Seres live the Ariani subject to the
and so neither entring upon the rampier and trench nor rifling their enemies tents for the most part they decide the quarell And in this respect a man may well say they fight like most sharpe and eagre warriours for that a farre off with casting weapons with sharpe poynted bones in stead of heads and those fastened and fitted with wonderfull cunning but neere at hand laid here and there with yron ........ and whiles their enemies ward and observe the mischievous venues of their pointed weapons they entangle and bind them fast within cords that they fling from them to the end that when their limmes as they make resistance be thus ensnared they might bereave them of all power either to ride or goe There is not one among them that eareth the ground or at any time layeth hand to the plough tayle For all of them without any set habitation without house or home without law or setled order wander here and there like alwayes to those that are in flight together with their wagons in which they dwell Wherein also the wives weare garments of hairie wooll and lye with their husbands Aske any among them Where he was borne there is not one of them can directly answer as being in one place begotten borne in another farre off and brought up yet farther In truce-time treacherous and unfaithfull inconstant upon everie gale of rumor readie to rise and upon new hopes passing mutable in one word putting all upon the issue of most violent furie Like unto inconsiderat and unreasonable creatures utterly ignorant of what is honest or unhonest doubtfull double and darke in their speeches Awed at no time with reverent regard either of religion or superstition burning exceedingly in greedie desire of gold So variable and prone to anger that in one and the same day at severall howers they will many times revolt from their allyes without any quarell and provocation and in like sort be pleased reconciled and become friends againe without the mediation of any to mitigate their mood This kind of men so quicke and nimble so untamed and unreclaimable burning in monstrous desire to rob and spoyle forrainers after they had by spoyle and slaughter of the neighbour inhabitants made foule worke and havock went on as farre as to Achaia CHAP. II. The Massagets Neuri Vidini Geloni Agathyrsi Melanchlaenae Anthropophagi and Alani who they were and their manners NOw remaine the Massagetae who whence they are descended or what lands they doe inhabit because the course of our storie is devolved upon them meet it is to declare The ambiguous Geographicall description being shewed which a long time ....... many and sundrie ..... found out at length the inward secrets of the truth ..... Ister flowing with a bigge streame of straunge waters running into him passeth by the Sauromatae reaching as farre as to the river Tanais which boundeth Asia from Europe When you have crossed over it there inhabit the desart wildes of Scythia stretched out an infinit way the Alani so called after the name of the mountains and having by little and little in many victories vanquished the nations bordering upon them brought them at length to be endenized and naturalized in their owne name like as the Persians also did Among these the Neuri possesse the mid-land places dwelling neere unto those high topped hills which being steepe up-right and frozen all over are subject to the nipping North-east wind Beyond them are the Vidini and Geloni verie fierce and savage nations these use to flea off the skinnes of those enemies whom they have slaine and thereof make for themselves garments and for their horses caparisons a warlike people I assure you Confining with the Geloni are the Agathyrsi the skinne of whose bodies also their haire is speckled all over with blew coloured spots And verily the meaner sort have markes of that kind small and standing here and there thin but the noble men and gentrie broader with a colour set upon them and thicker one by another Next beyond these we have heard that the Melanchlaenae and Anthropophagi dwell scattering in divers places these use to live by eating the flesh of men and womens bodies whom all the borderers forsooke for this abhominable feeding and went farre from them into the remote parts of the land And therefore the whole tract that lyeth North-east untill you come unto the Seres is become inhabitable In another quarter neere unto the place where the Amazons are seated dwell the Alani mounting East-ward and those be spred into mightie and great nations bending and bearing toward the tracts of Asia which people as I have heard stretch out in breadth as farre as to Ganges a river that cutteth the Indian land through the mids and carryeth his streame into the South sea And there the Alani being divided into both parts of the world the sundrie nations of which people it skilleth not now to reckon up albeit they keepe a great way asunder and wander like unto the Nomades in those enoâ—me and huge cantons yet in processe of time they grew into one name and generally they be all tearmed Alani In their manners custome and meanes of savage living they be in manner all one For they have no cottages at all nor any care to handle the plough but live of flesh and plentie of milke sitting upon waines which being made of the bended covers of barkes they carrie with them along the desert wildernesse that holdeth on still without end And when they are come to any places of greene grasse placing their carres in a round forme they fall to their victuals and feed as wild beasts doe Now when their food and forrage is spent they carry as one wold say whole cities upon those carts and above in them their males and females engender together in these are borne their infants in these they have their breeding and education These and no other have they for their habitations continually and whither soever they goe there they take to be their native dwelling and homestall As they drive their heards and flocks before them they let them have their pasturage but especially of their horses they have an extraordinarie care The fields there be evermore greene and full of grasse with places here and there betweene set thicke with trees bearing apples and other fruit and therefore what way soever they goe they are at no default either for food or fodder the reason hereof is the moist ground and the courses of many rivers running hard by All those therefore that for age or sex be not serviceable in the warres keepe about the verie wagons or carts aforesaid and are busied in easie kind of worke but the lustie youth that have growne up from their verie childhood in the practise of riding thinke it a base thing to goe on foot and they be all for militarie knowledge expert and politique warriours Whereupon the Persians also who by their first originall