Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/280

 266 STEABO. CASATJB. 177. to the Belgae. However, it is the duty of the Geographer to describe the physical divisions of each country, and those which result from diversity of nations, when they seem worthy of notice ; as to the limits which princes, induced by a policy which circumstances dictate, have variously imposed, it will be sufficient for him to notice them summarily, leaving others to furnish particular details. 2. The whole of this country is irrigated by rivers descend- ing from the Alps, the Cevennes, and the Pyrenees, some of which discharge themselves into the ocean, others into the Mediterranean. The districts through which they flow are mostly plains interspersed with hills, and having navigable streams. The course of these rivers is so happily dis- posed in relation to each other, that you may traffic from one sea to the other, 1 carrying the merchandise only a small distance, and that easily, across the plains ; but for the most part by the rivers, ascending some, and descending others. The Rhone is pre-eminent in this respect, both be- cause it communicates with many other rivers, and also be- cause it flows into the Mediterranean, which, as we have said, is superior to the ocean, 2 and likewise passes through the richest provinces of Gaul. The whole of the Narbonnaise produces the same fruits as Italy. As we advance towards the north, and the mountains of the Cevennes, the plantations of the olive and fig disappear, but the others remain. Likewise the vine, as you proceed northward, does not easily mature its fruit. The entire of the remaining country produces in abundance corn, millet, acorns, and mast of all kinds. No part of it lies waste except that which is taken up in marshes and woods, and even this is inhabited. The cause of this, however, is rather a dense population than the industry of the inhabitants. For ~ttie~ women there are both very_ prolific and excellent nurses, while the men devote themselves rather to Tvar tnanjiuspandry. However, their arms being now laid asidX they are compelled to engage in agriculture. These remarks apply generally to the whole of Transalpine Keltica. We must now describe particularly each of the four divisions. 1 From the ocean to the Mediterranean, and vice versa. 2 Alluding to the superiority of the climate on the shores of the Medi- terranean.