Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/261

 B. xi. c. xi. 2, 3. BACTRIA. 253 conquests were achieved partly by Menander, partly by De- metrius, son of Euthydemus, king of the Bactrians. They got possession not only of Pattalene, 1 but of the kingdoms of Saraostus, and Sigerdis, which constitute the remainder of the coast. Apollodorus in short says that Bactriana is the orna- ment of all Ariana. They extended their empire even as far as the Seres and Phryni. 2. Their cities were Bactra, which they call also Z&riaspa, (a river of the same name flows through it, and empties itself into the Oxus,) and Darapsa, 2 and many others. Among these was Eucratidia, which had its name from Eucratidas, the king. When the Greeks got possession of the country, they divided it into satrapies ; that of Aspionus and Turiva 3 the Parthians took from Eucratidas. They possessed Sog- diana also, situated above Bactriana to the east, between the river Oxus (which bounds Bactriana and Sogdiana) and the laxartes ; the latter river separates the Sogdii and the nomades. 3. Anciently the Sogdiani and Bactriani did not differ much from the nomades in their mode of life and manners, yet the manners of the Bactriani were a little more civilized. Onesicritus however does not give the most favourable account of this people. Those who are disabled by disease or old age are thrown alive to be devoured by dogs kept expressly for this purpose, and whom in the language of the country they call entombers. 4 The places on the exterior of the walls of the capital of the Bactrians are clean, but the interior is for the most part full of human bones. Alexander abolished this custom. Something of the same kind is related of the Caspii also, who, when their parents have attained the age of 70 years, confine them, and let them die of hunger. This cus- tom, although Scythian in character, is more tolerable than that of the Bactrians, and is similar to the domestic law of the Cei ; 5 the custom however of the Bactrians is much more according to Scythian manners. We may be justly at a loss considers this reading highly probable. Isamus is not found in any other passage, but Mannert, (Geogr. v. p. 295,) finding in Pliny (N. H. vi. 21, 17) the river lomanes, proposes to read in this passage 'lopdvou, in which he recognises the Jumna. 1 Tatta or Sindi. 2 Adraspa. B. xv. c. ii. $ 10. 3 Mentioned nowhere else. Kramer seems to approve of Du Theil's proposed correction, Tapuria. * ivTa^iaaraq. 5 B. x. c. v. 6.