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388
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1884.
both stout and strong, as may be judged from "Among the many rivers of Skythis which either the camels which were brought from thence by fall naturally into larger ones, or glide onward to Mithridates and seen by the Romans during the reach at last the sea, the Roemnus is of renown, siege of Cyzicus, when they saw this species of and the Jaxartes and the Talicus, but of cities animal for the first time. A great many tribes, they are not known to have more than but three, among which the Tochari are the most dis-Aspabota and Chauriana and Saga. tinguished, obey the Baktrians. Their country is "Beyond these places in the two Skythias and watered, like Italy, by numerous rivers, and of on their eastern side lie the Sêres, who are girt these the Artemis and Zariaspes after their in by a continuous circle of lofty mountain-peaks, union, and in like manner the combined Ochus and whose territory is noted for its vast extent and Orchomanes, swell with their confluent and fertility. On the west they have the Skywaters the vast stream of the Oxus. Here also thians for their next neighbours, and on the cities are to be found, and these are laved by dif- 1 north and east they adjoin solitudes covered ferent rivers. The more important of them are over with snow, and on the south extend as far Chatra and Charte and Alicodra and Astacia and as India and the Ganges. The mountains referMenapila, and Baktra itself, which is both the red to are called Anniva and Nazavicium and capital and the name of the nation. The people, who Asmira and Emodon and Oparocara. Through live at the very foot of the mountains, are called this plain which, as we have said,' is cinctured the Sogdii, through whose country flow two on all sides by steep declivities, and through rivers of great navigable capacity, the Araxates regions of vast extent, flow two famous rivers, the and Dymas, which rushing impetuously down Echardes and the Bautisus, with a slower from the mountains and passing into a level plain, current. The country is diversified in its character, form a lake of vast extent, called the Oxian. Here, here expanding into open plains, and there rising among other towns, Alexandria, and Kyreschata, in gentlo undulations. Hence it is marvellously and Drepsa the Metropolis, are well known to fame. | fruitful and well-wooded, and teeming with cattle. Contiguous to the Sogdians are the Saca e, an un- Various tribės inhabit the most fertile districts, and civilized people, inhabiting rugged tracts that yield of these tho Alitrophagi and Annibi and nothing beyond pasture for cattle, and that are, Sizyges and Chardi are exposed to blasts from therefore, unadorned with cities. They lie under the north and to frosts, while the Rabannae and Mounts Askanimia and Komodus. Beyond Asmirae and Essedones, who outshineall the the valleys at the foot of these mountains and the other tribes, look towards the rising sun. Next to village which they call Lithinon Pyrgon these, on their western side, are the Athagorae (Stone Tower) lies the very long road by which
live the very long road by which and the Asp&carae. The Beta e, again, are traders pursue their journey who start from this situated towards the lofty mountains fringing the point to reach the Sores. In the parts around south, and are famed for their cities which, though are the declivities by which the mountains called few in number are distinguished for their size and Imaus and the Tapourian range, sink down to the wealth; the largest of them being Asmira, and level of the plains. The Skythians are located Essed on and Asparata and Sera, which are within the Persian territories, being conterminous beautiful cities and of great celebrity. The Sêres with the Asiatic Sarmatians, and touching themselves lead tranquil lives, and are averse to the furthest frontier of the Alani. They live, as arms and war, and since people whose temper is it were, a sort of suctuded life, and are reared in thus sedate and peaceful relish their ease, they solitude, being scattered over districts that lie far give no trouble to any of their neighbours. They apart, and that yield for the sustenance of life a enjoy a climate at once agreeable and salubrious; mean and scanty fare. The tribes which inhabit the sky is clear and the prevailing winds are these tracts are various, but it would be superfluous wonderfully mild and genial. The country is for me to enumerate them, hastening as I am to well-shaded with woods, and from the trees the a different subject. One fact must, however, be inhabitants gather a product which they make stated, that there are in these communities which into what may be called fleeces by repeatedly are almost shut out from the rest of mankind by besprinkling it with water. The material thus tho in hospitable nature of their country, some men formed by saturating the soft down with moisture gentle and pious, as for instance, the Jaxortes is exquisitely fine, and when combed out and spun and the Galaktophagi, mentioned by the poet into woof is woven into silk, an article of dress Homer in this verse:
formerly worn only by the great, but now with Γλακτοφάγων αβίωντε δικαιοτάτων ανθρώπων. out any distinction even by the very poorest."
» It was a notion long prevalent that silk was combed from the leaves of trees. Thus Virgil (Georg. II, 121)
" Velleraque ut foliis depectant tennis Seres." Strabo (XV.i. 20) describes silk as oorded off the bark of certain
