Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/331

 B. v. c. i. 6, 7. ITALY. CISALPINE GAUL. 317 which is both a large river, and also continually swelled by the rains and snows. As it expands into numerous outlets, its mouth is not easily perceptible and is difficult to enter. But experience surmounts even the greatest difficulties. 6. Formerly, as we have said, the district next this river was chiefly inhabited bv Kelts. The principal nations of these Kelts were the Boii, the Insubri, and the Senones and. Ga3sata3, who in one of their incursions took possession of KoTne. The Romans afterwards entirely extirpated these latter, and expelled the Boii from their country, who then inigr rated to the land about the Danube, where they dwelt wTthlhe Taurisci, and warred against the Dacians until the whole nation was destroyed ; and they left to the surround- ing tribes this sheep-pasturing district of Illyria. The Insubri ' still exist; their metropolis is Mediolanum, 1 which formerly fa ( ^ was a village, (for they all dwelt in villages,) but is now a considerable city, beyond the Po, and almost touching the Alps. Near to it is Verojia, a large city, and the smaller towns Brescia, Mantua, Reggio, and Como. This latter was but a very indifferent colony, having been seriously impaired by the Rhasti who dwelt higher up, but it was repeopled by Pojn^ey Strabo, father of Pompey the Great. Afterwards ^ Caius Scipio 2 transferred thither 3000 men, and finally divus Caesar peopled jt^with. 500Qjmen, the most distinguished of wHom wer^5dOJjrreeks. Heconferred on these the privileges of citizens, arid enrolled them amongst the inhabitants. They not only took up their abode here, but left their name to the colony itself; for all the inhabitants taking the name of NfOk-w/utT-cu, this was translated [into Latin], and the place called Novum-Comum. Near to this place is Lake Larius, 3 C^ * which is filled by the river Adda, and afterwards flows out into the Po. The sources of this river, as well as those of the Rhine, rise in Mount Adulas. 4 7. These cities are situated high above the marshes ; near to them is Patavium, 5 the finest of all the cities in this 1 Milan. 2 Apparently a mistake for Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus ; we are unacquainted with any Caius Scipio. 3 The Lake of Como. 4 The source of the Adda is at the foot of Mount BrauIFo ; the~three sources of the Rhine issue from Mounts St. Bernardin, St. Barnabe, and Crispalt, at a considerable distance from the source of the Adda. 5 Padua.