Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/247

 B. xi. c. vi. 1. THE CASPIAN. 239 of the cold. There is plenty 1 of grain to be had in the country. Next to the Troglodytae are Chamaeccetae, 2 and a tribe called Polyphagi (the voracious), and the villages of the Eisadici, who are able to cultivate the ground because they are not altogether exposed to the north. 8. Immediately afterwards follow shepherd tribes, situated between the Maeotis and the Caspian Sea, Nabiani, Pangani, 3 the tribes also of the Siraces and Aorsi. The Aorsi and Siraces seem to be a fugitive people from parts situated above. The Aorsi lie more to the north. 4 Abeacus, king of the Siraces, when Pharnases occupied the Bosporus, equipped 20,000 horse, and Spadines, king of the Aorsi 200,000, and the Upper Aorsi even a larger body, for they were masters of a greater extent of territory, and nearly the largest part of the coast of the Caspian Sea was under their power. They were thus enabled to transport on camels the merchandise of India and Babylonia, receiving it from Armenians and Medes. They wore gold also in their dress in consequence of their wealth. The Aorsi live on the banks of the Tanais, and the Siraces on those of Achardeus, which rises in Caucasus, and dis- charges itself into the Maeotis. CHAPTER VI. 1 . THE second portion of northern Asia begins from the Caspian Sea, where the first terminates. This sea is called also the Hyrcanian Sea. We must first speak of this sea, and of the nations that live near its shores. It is a bay extending from the Ocean to the south. At its commencement it is very narrow ; as it advances further in- wards, and particularly towards the extremity, it widens to the extent of about 500 stadia. The voyage from the entrance 1 Groskurd reads airopia, want, instead of tviropia, plenty. 2 Xa/ioti/coTrai. People who lie on the ground. 3 Panxani, Paxani, Penzani. * The text is here corrupt.