Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/30

 16 STRABO. BOOK. I for action ; limited, for limited actions ; vast, for grander deeds ; but that which contains them all, and is the scene of the greatest undertakings, constitutes what we term the habit- able earth ; and they are the greatest generals who, subduing nations and kingdoms under one sceptre, and one political administration, have acquired dominion over land and sea. It is clear then, that geography is essential to all the transactions of the statesman, informing us, as it does, of the position of the continents, seas, and oceans of the whole habitable earth. In- formation of especial interest to those who are concerned to know the exact truth of such particulars, and whether the places have been explored or not : for government will certainly be bet- ter administered where the size and position of the country, its own peculiarities, and those of the surrounding districts, are understood. Forasmuch as there are many sovereigns who rule in different regions, and some stretch their dominion overofrhers' territories, and undertake the government of different nations and kingdoms, and thus enlarge the extent of their dominion, it is not possible that either themselves, nor yet writers on geography, should be equally acquainted with the whole, but to both there is a great deal more or less known. Indeed, were the whole earth under one government and one adminis- tration, it is hardly possible that we should be informed of every locality in an equal degree; for even then we should be most acquainted with the places nearest us : and after all, it is better that we should have a more perfect description of these, since, on account of their proximity, there is greater need for it. We see there is no reason to be surprised that there should be one chorographer l for the Indians, another for the Ethiopians, and a third for the Greeks and Romans. What use would it be to the Indians if a geographer should thus describe Boeotia to them, in the words of Homer : " The dwellers on the rocks Of Aulis follow'd, with the hardy clans Of Hyria, Schcenus, Scolus." 2 To us this is of value, while to be acquainted with the Indies 1 Chorography, a term used by Greek writers, meaning the description of particular districts. 2 Iliad ii. 496. Four cities of Boeotia. The present name of Aulis is Vathi, situated on the Strait of Negropont The modern names of the other three cities are unknown.