Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/232

 218 STRABO. CASAUB. 115. Ostia, a Roman port ; they are in number nearly equal to thgge which arrive from Libya: " > /J/T./l^V^C- V. Such is the wealth of tM inlanapart of Turdetania, and its maritime portions are found fully to equal it in the richness of their sea-productions. In fact, oysters and every variety of shell-fish, remarkable both for their number and size, are found along the whole of the exterior sea, but here in particular. It is probable that the flow and ebb tides, which are particularly strong here, contribute both to their quantity and size, on account of the great number of pools and standing waters which they form. 1 The same is the case with regard to all kinds of cetacea, narwhals, whales, and physe- teri, 2 which when they blow [up the water from their snouts] appear to observers from a distance to resemble a cloud shaped like a column. The congers are quite monstrous, far surpass- ing in size those of our [sea] ; 3 so are the lampreys, and many other fish of the same kind. It is said that in Carteia there are kerukae 4 and cuttle-fish which would contain as much as ten cotylae. 5 In the parts more exterior there are lampreys and congers weighing 80 mince, 6 and polypes" a talent, 7 also teuthidae 8 two cubits in length, with other fish in proportion. jShoak^of rich fat thmmj_are driven hither from the sea-coast beyond. They feed on the fruit of a species of stunted oak, which grows_at the bottom of jhe_sea. and produces very large acorns. The same_oaks grow in large numbers ^throughout theland of Iberia, their roots are~oTT;he same size as those of tn~e full-grown oak, although the tree itself never attains the height of a low shrub. So great is the quantity of fruit which it produces, that at the season when they are ripe, the whole coast on either side of the Pillars is covered with acorns which have been thrown up by the tides : the quantity however 1 We have here followed Gosselin's suggestion of Xi^vaaiav instead of yvp.va.aiav, the reading of MSS. 2 A kind of whale, mentioned also by Aristotle, but which does not seem to have been identified. 3 The Mediterranean. 4 A kind of shell-fish with a wreathed shell, which might be used as a sort of trumpet. It is mentioned by Aristotle. 5 The cotyla held about three-fourths of a pint. 6 This weight equalled 15 oz. 83| grs. 7 The Euboic or Attic talent, which is here meant, equalled almost 57 Ib. 8 A kind of cuttle-fish or squid.