Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/312

 298 STRABO. CASAUB. 200. with felled trees, they make themselves huts therein, and lodge their collie, though not for 'any long continuance. Their at- mosphere is more subject to rain than to snow ; even in their clear days the mist continues for a considerable time, inso- much that throughout the whole day the sun is only visible for three or four hours about noon ; and this must be the case also amongst the Morini, and the Menapii, and among all the neighbouring people. 3. Divus Caggar twice passed over to thejsland, but quickly returned, having efiectecT nottimg ~5F consequence, nor pro- ceeded far into the country, as well on account of some com- motions in Keltica, both among his own soldiers and among the barbarians, as because of the loss of many of his ships at the time of the full moon, when both the ebb and flow of the tides were greatly" increased. * Nevertfieless " luT" gained although he had transported thither only two legions of his army, and brought away hostages and slaves and much other booty. At the present time7 lioweverT "soiaa-jQf-4he._:princes there have, by their embassies and solicitations, obtainedthe friendship of Augustus Cassar, dedicated their offerings in the Capitol, and brought the whole island into intimate union with the Romans. They pay butjnoderate duties both on the imports and exports from Keltica; which are ivory bracelets and necklaces, amber, vessels of glass, and small wares ; so that thlflsTand scarcely needs iTgarrison, for at the least it would require one legion and some cavalry to enforce tribute from them ; and the total expenditure for the army would be equal to the revenue collected ; for if a tribute were levied, of neces- sity the imposts must be diminished, and at the same time some danger would be incurred if force were to be em- ployed. 4. There are also other small islands around Britain ; but one, of great extent, lerna, 2 lying parallel to it towards the 1 The fleet consisted of J.OOQ vessels, according to Cotta. (Athen. 1. vi. c. 21.) The great loss sp/wcen 6f "by Strabo occurred before the first re- turn of Caesar into Gaul. (Csesar, 1. iv. c. 28.) As to his second return, it was occasioned, to use his own words, " propter repentinos Galliae motus." L. v. c. 22. 2 Called by Caesar, Hibernia ; by Mela, Juverna ; and by Diodorus Sicu- lus, Iris.