Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/206

 192 STRABO. BOOK n. terspersed with plains and mountains, so that every where the foundations of husbandry, civilization, and hardihood lie side by side. The number of those who cultivate the arts of peace, is, however, the most numerous, which preponderance over the whole is mainly due to the influence of the government, first of the Greeks, and afterwards of the Macedonians and Romans.^! Europe has thus within itself resources both for war [and JjeaceJTlt is amply supplied with warriors, and also with men fitted for the labours of agriculture, and the life of the towns. It is likewise distinguished for producing in perfection those fruits of the earth necessary to life, and all the useful metals. Perfumes and precious stones must be imported from abroad, but as far as the comfort of life is concerned, the want or the possession of these can make no difference. The country like- wise abounds in cattle, while of wild beasts the number is but small. Such is the general nature of this continent. 27. We will now describe separately the various countries into which it is divided. The first of these on the west is Iberia, which resembles the liide^of an ox ^sjread_out] ; the eastern portions, which correspond tcTthe neck, adjoining the neigh- bouring country of Gaul. The two countries are divided on this side by the chain" of mountains called the Pyrenees ; on all its other sides it is surrounded by sea ; on the south, as far as the Pillars, by jOur Sea ; and thence to the northern extremity of the PyreneesHfry the Atlantic. The greatest length of this country is about 6000 staSia^ its breadth 5000. * 28. JCast ofjjiis^is Keltica, which extends, as far as the Itsnorthern side is washed by the entire of the BritishjDhannel, for this island lies opposite and parallel to it throughout, extending as much as 5000 stadia in length. Its eastern side is bounded by the river Rhine, whose stream runs gajiallel with the Pyrenees ; and its southern side commencing from the Rhine, [is bounded] partly by the Alps, and partly by Our__Sea ; where what is called the Galatic TJulf 2 runs in, and on this are situated the far-famed cities of Marseilles and Nar- bonne. Right opposite to the Gulf on the other side of the land, lies another Gulf, called by the same name, Galatic, 3 look- 1 From Cape Gata in Granada to the borders of Asturias the distance is about 5000 stadia. But the greatest breadth of Spain is from Cape Gata to Cape Belem in Gallicia, which equals 5890 stadia of 700 to a degree. 2 The Gulf of Lyon. 3 The Gulf of Aquitaine or Gascony.