Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/219

 BOOK III. SPAIN. CHAPTER I. 1. HAVING thus given a general view of Geography, it will now be proper to describe each separate country in detail, as we engaged to do. We fancy that the method which we have adopted in the division of our subject, up to this point, has been correct ; and we now re-commence with Europe and the various countries into which it is divided, on the same prin- ciples as formerly, and induced by the same reasons. 2. The first division of this continent towards the west is Iberia, as we before stated. The greater part of this country is~but little fitted_fbr habitation ; consisting chiefly of moun- tamsT^ooo 1 ^ and plains~covered with a light meagre soil, the ^irrigation of which is likewise uncertain. The part next the north, which borders on the oceanTTs extremely cold, and be- sides its rugged character, has no communication or inter- course with other [countries], and thus to dwell there is at- tended with peculiar hardship. Such is the character of this portion ; on the other hand, almost the whole of the south^is fertile, especially what is bevond_Jhe JE > !U. ars [f Hercules]. "TRis however will be shown more in detail, but we must first describe the figure and extent [of the country]. 3. In shape it resembles a hide stretched out in length from west to east, the forepart l towards the east, its breadth being from north to south. Its length is about 6000 stadia ; the greatest breadth is 5000; while there are parts considerably less 1 The neck, &c.