Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/125

 CHAP. i. 13, 14. INTRODUCTION. 1 1 1 Dnieper. This would make the latitude of the Dnieper identical with that of Keltica next the Ocean ; for on pro- ceeding 3700 stadia [north of Marseilles], we reach the ocean. 1 13. Again, we know that the Cinnamon Country is the most southerly point of the habitable earth. According to Hipparchus's own statement, the latitude of this country, which marks the commencement of the temperate zone, and likewise of the habitable earth, is distant from the equator about 8800 stadia. 2 And since he likewise says that from the equator to the parallel of the Dnieper there are 34,000 stadia, there will remain a distance of 25,200 stadia be- tween the parallel of the Dnieper (which is the same as that which passes over the side of Keltica next the Ocean) to that which separates the torrid from the temperate zone. It is said that the farthest voyages now made north of Keltica are to lerne, 3 which lies beyond Britain, and, on account of its extreme cold, barely sustains life ; beyond this it is thought to be uninhabitable. Now the distance between Keltica and lerne is estimated at not more than 5000 stadia ; so that on this view they must have estimated the whole breadth of the habitable earth at 30,000 stadia, or just above. 14. Let us then transport ourselves to the land opposite the Cinnamon Country, and lying to the east under the same parallel of latitude ; we shall there find the country named Taprobane. 4 This Taprobane is universally believed to be a large island situated in the high seas, and lying to the south opposite India. Its length in the direction of Ethiopia is above 5000 stadia, as they say. There are brought from thence to the Indian markets, ivory, tortoise-shells, and other wares in large quantities. Now if this island is broad in proportion to 1 Gosselin remarks that these 3700, or rather 3800 stadia, on proceed- ing from Marseilles, would reach the latitude of Paris, and that of the coasts in the neighbourhood of Treguier. Eratosthenes and Hipparchus were out but 14' and some seconds in their calculation of the latitude of Marseilles; but Strabo's error touching the same amounted to 3 43' 28"; he consequently fixed the northern coasts of France at 45 17' 18'', which is about the latitude of the mouth of the Garonne. 2 These 8800 stadia, at 700 to a degree, amount to 12 34' 17" of lati- tude. This would be about the middle of Abyssinia. 3 Ireland. * The island of Ceylon.