Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/458

 444 STRABO. CASATJB. 290. are Sicambri ; l next to the inhabitants of this valley succeeds the tribe dwelling between the Rhine and the river Elbe, 2 which river flows towards the ocean in a direction nearly parallel with the Rhine, and traversing a country of no less extent. There are also between these other navigable rivers, such as the Ems, 3 on which Drusus defeated the Bructeri 4 in a naval engagement ; all likewise flowing from south to north, and falling into the ocean ; for the whole country rises to- wards the south, and forms a ridge of mountains near the Alps, which extends eastward as though it were a continua- tion of the Alps; 5 and some have even so described it, as well on account of its position as because it produces the same system of vegetation ; nevertheless, the altitude of this ridge in no part equals that of the Alps. Here is situated the Hercynian Wood, 6 and the tribes of the Suevi, 7 some of whom inhabit the forest, as do likewise some of the Quadi. 8 Among these latter people is situated Bujaemum, the royal city of Marobodus, whither he has assembled many strangers and many of the Marcomanni, a kindred nation with his own. This Marobodus, from a private station, raised himself to the administration of affairs after his return from Rome. For he went to that city while a youth, and was patronized by Augustus. After he came home, he acquired the sovereignty of his country, and added to the people I have enumerated, the Luji, 9 a powerful nation, and the Zumi, 10 and the Gutones ll 1 The Sicambri were located near the Menapii. See above, p. 289. 2 The Albis. 3 Amasias. 4 The name of this tribe is written variously by different authors. They are supposed to have occupied the lands between the Rhine, the Ems, and the Lippe, but their boundaries were very uncertain, on ac- count of their continual wars. 5 This refers to the chain of mountains which, running from the north of Switzerland, traverses Wurtemberg, Franconia, Bohemia, Moravia, and joins Mount Krapak. 6 The Hercynian Wood, or Black Forest, was either one or a succes- sion of continuous forests, extending from the banks of the Rhine to the confines of Persia and Bactriana. 7 The Suevi occupied a considerable portion of Germany, to the north and east of Bohemia. 8 Coldui manuscripts. Kramer agrees with Cluverius in this instance, and we have followed Kramer's text. 9 The Lugii of Tacitus. 10 Zeus thinks these were the Burri of Dio Cassius, Ixviii. 8. See Zeus, Die Deutschen, &c., p. 126. 11 Kramer has Tovrutvas, although the MSS. have Bourwi/af. He is