Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/243

 B. in. c. in. 4. SPAIN. 229 this country is bounded by the Tagus, on the west and north by the ocean, on the east by the well-known nations of the CarpetamTthe Vettones, the Vaccasi, the Gallicians, and by others not worthy to be mentioned on account of their insig- nificance and obscurity. On the other hand, certain his- torians of the present day give the name of Lusitanians to all of these nations. To the east the Gallicians border on the nation of the As- turians and Keltiberians, the others [border] on the Keltibe- rians. In length Lusitaniais 3000 * stadia ; its breadth, which is comprised between the eastern side and the opposite sea- coast, is much less. The eastern part is mountainous and rugged, while the country beyond, as far as the sea, consists entirely of plains, with the exception of a few inconsiderable mountains. On this account Ppsidomus remarks that Aristotle was not correct in supposing that the ebb and flow of the tide was occasioned by the sea-coast of Iberia and Maurusia. 2 For Aristotle asserted that the tides of the sea were caused by the extremities of the land being mountainous and rugged, and therefore both receiving the wave violently and also casting it back. Whereas Posidonius truly remarks that they are for the most part low andsandy. 4. The country which we are describing is fertile, and ir- rigated by rivers both large and small, all of whichJlow from the eastern parts parallel with the Tagus : most of them are navigable and full of goldjust After the Tagus, the most noted rivers are the Mondego 3 and the Vouga, 4 which are navigable but for a short distance. After these is the Douro, 5 which flows from afar by Numaritia, 6 and many other colonies of the Keltiberians and Vaccaei ; it is capable of being navi- gated in large vessels for a distance of nearly 800 stadia. Besides these there are other rivers, after which is the [river] of Lethe, which some call the Limaea, 7 others the Belio, 8 it likewise rises amongst the Keltiberians and Vaccrei. After 1 nvpiuv Kai Tpiai'n>jv, in text, but plainly the result of some error. 2 We have followed the suggestion of Kramer in the rendering of this passage, the Greek text being evidently corrupt. 3 Munda. 4 Vacua. 5 Durius. 6 A city situated near Soria in Old Castile. ' Now the Lima. 8 Xylander and many of the commentators propose to read 'OfiXiomiuva, or Oblivion, in place of BtXiuiva. The conjecture seems extremely probable.