Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/338

 324 STRABO. f CASAUB. 218. Tyrrhenia and Ombrica as far as the territory of Ariminum, 1 the other, the road as far as Bononia, 2 and thence to Aquileia 3 by the roots of the Alps, and encircling the marshes. The boundaries which separate from the rest of Italy this country, which we designate Citerior Keltica, 4 were marked by the Apennine mountains above Tyrrhenia and the river Esino, 5 and afterwards by the Rubicon. 6 Both these rivers fall into the Adriatic. 12. The fertility of this country is proved by its population, the size of its cities, and its wealth, in all of which the Romans of this country surpass the rest of Italy. The culti- vated land produces fruits in abundance and of every kind, and the woods contain such abundance of mast, that Rome is principally supplied from the swine fed there. Being well supplied with w.ater, millet grows there in perfection. This affords the greatest security against famine, inasmuch as mil- let resists any inclemency of the atmosphere, and never fails, even when there is scarcity of other kinds of grain. Their pitch-works are amazing, and their casks give evidence of the abundance of wine : these are made of wood, and are larger than houses, and the great supply of pitch allows them to be sold cheap. The soft wool and by far the best is produced in the country round Mutina 7 and the river Panaro ; 8 while the coarse wool, which forms the main article of clothing amongst the slaves in Italy, is produced in Liguria and the country of the .Symbri. There is a middling kind grown about Patavium, 9 of which the finer carpets, gausapi, 10 and every thing else of the same sort, whether with the wool on 1 Strabo here falls into a mistake in attributing to C. Flaminius Nepos, who was consul in the year of Rome 567, 187 years before the Christian era, the construction of the Via Flaminia which led from the Portus Flumentana to the city of Ariminum. According to most Latin authors, this grand route was formed by C. Flaminius Nepos, censor in the year of Rome 534, and 220 years before the Christian era (the same who three years afterwards was slain at the battle of Thrasymenus). Livy, whose authority is certainly of great weight, speaking of the grand road made by C. Flaminius Nepos, consul in the year of Rome 567, states ex- pressly that it led from Bologna to Arezzo. Hist. lib. xxxix. 2. 2 Bologna. 3 Maft'ei proposes to substitute Placentia for Aquileia. 4 Cisalpine Gaul. 5 The ancient JEsis, now Esino, named also Fiumesino. 6 Probably the Pisatello. 7 Modena. 8 The Scultanna of antiquity. 9 Padua. 10 A kind of cassock with long hair.