Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/132

 98 pliny's natueal histoet. [Book ir. point to be investigated by arguments, but what lias been ascertained by experience. CHAP. 67. (67.) — WHETHEE THE OCEAN SUEEOIINDS THE EAETH. The whole of the western ocean is now navigated, from Gades and the Pillars of Hercules, round Spain and Gaul. The greater part of the northern ocean has also been navigated, imder the auspices of the Emperor Augustus, his fleet having been carried roimd Germany to the promontory of the Cimbri^; from which spot they descried an immense sea, or became ac- quainted with it by report, which extends to the country of the Scythians, and the districts that are chilled by excessive moisture^. On this account it is not at all probable, that the ocean should be deficient in a region where moisture so much abounds. In like manner, towards the east, from the Indian sea, all that part which lies in the same latitude^, and which bends round towards the Caspian*, has been explored by the Macedonian arms, in the reigns of Seleucus and An- tiochus, who wished it to be named after themselves, the Se- leucian or Antiochian Sea. About the Caspian, too, many parts of the shores of the ocean have been explored, so that nearly the whole of the north has been sailed over in one direction or another. Nor can our argument be much affected by the point that has been so much discussed, respecting the Palus Mreotis, whether it be a bay of the same ocean^, as is, I under- stand, the opinion of some persons, or whether it be the overflowing of a narrow channel connected with a different ocean^ On the other side of Gades, proceeding from the same western point, a great part of the southern ocean, 1 The voyage which is here alluded to was probably that performed by Drusus ; it is mentioned by Dio, Ub. iv., Suetonius, Claud. § 1, Yel. Paterculus, ii, 106, and by Tacitus, Grerm. § 34. 2 What is here spoken of we may presume to have been that part of the German Ocean which Hes to the N.W. of Denmark ; the term Scy- thian was apphed by the ancients in so very general a way, as not to aiford any indication of the exact district so designated. •^ " Sub eodem sidere ;" " which Hes under the same star." ■* The ancients conceived the Caspian to be a gulf, connected with the northern ocean. Our author gives an account of it, vi. 15. 5 That is, of the Caspian Sea. ^ The remarks which our author makes upon the Palus Mseotis, in the