Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/295

 B. iv. c. i. 14. GAUL. THE NARBONNAISE. 281 solid masses of silver. In Toulouse there was a sacred temple, held in greatjreverence by the inhabitants of the surrounding country, and on this account loaded with riches, inasmuch as there were many who offered gifts, amTncTone dared to touch them. 14. Toulouse is situated upon the narrowest part of the isthmus which separates the ocean from the sea of Narbonne ; the breadth of the [isthmus], according to Posidonius, being less than 3000 stadia. The perfect similarity maintained throughout this country both in respect tojts rivers, and to the exterior and interior sea, 1 appears to us worthy of especial notice, as we have said before. This, on reflection, will prove to be one main cause of the excellence of this country, since the inhabitants are enabled mutually to communicate, and to pro- cure from each other the necessaries of life ; this is peculiarly the case at the present time, when on account of their leisure from war they are devoting thp.msplves to agriculture and the pursuits of social life. In this we are persuaded that we be- hold theworFoO'rovidence ; such a disposition of these re- gions not resulting from chance, but from the thought of some [intelligence]. The Rhone, for instance, is navigable to a considerable distance for vessels of heavy burden, which it is capable of transmitting through various districts of the coun- try by means of other rivers which fall into it, and are like- wise fitted for the navigation of large vessels. To the Rhone succeeds the Saone, 2 and into this latter river falls the Doubs ; thence the merchandise is carried by land to the river Seine ; whence it is transported to the ocean and the [countries of the] Lexovii and Caleti, 3 the distance thence to Britain being less than a day's journey. The navigation of the Rhone being difficult on account of the rapidity of its current, the merchants prefer to transport in waggons certain of their wares, which are destined for the Arverni, 4 and the river Loire, 5 notwith- standing the vicinity of the Rhone in some places, but the road being level and the distance not far, (about 800 stadia,) they do not make use of water carriage on account of the 1 The Atlantic and Mediterranean. 2 *Apap. 3 The Lexovii inhabited the southern banks of the Seine, Lizieux was anciently their capital. The Caleti occupied the opposite side of the Seine, and the sea-coast as far as Treport. 4 The inhabitants of Auvergne. 5 The ancient Liger.