brightness of the Sun it 's not seen in the Day but shines bright and glorious in the darkest Night and discovers it self at a great distance The Keepers of the Island disperse themselves into several Places to search for this stone and whereever it appears they mark the Place with a great Vessel of largeness sufficient to cover the sparkling Stone and then in the Day time go to the Place and cut out the Stone and deliver it to those that are Artists in polishing of ' em Then sailing on further from these Parts appear many of those Nations call'd the Ichthuophages dispers'd along the Sea-shoar and many likewise of those Troglodites call'd †Shepherds Nomades several Mountains likewise present themselves in this Course as far as to the Haven call'd * Sotera Safe-Port which gain'd this Name from some Grecians that first sail'd into these Parts and there arriv'd safe Thence passing on the Gulf begins to grow narrower and bends its Course towards Arabia And the peculiar property of the Places is such that both the nature of the Sea and the Soyl seem to be chang'd for the Land appears very flat and low without any Hills or Rising Ground and the Sea seems to be muddy and green all over and is not above †Three Orgia's every Orgia Two Yards Two Fathom and an half deep The Greenness there is not ascrib'd to the nature of the Water but to the abundance of Moss and Sea-Grass that grows at the bottom and casts their Colour through the Water This part is very safe and commodious for small Ships with Oars because the Sea is there very calm and no roughness of the Waves for many Leagues and there they take abundance of Fish But the Mariners that transport Elephants run into great and desperate Hazards by reason of the strong built Ships they use for that purpose and the depth of Water they draw For oftentimes they are so driven by the violence of the Winds at full Sail in the Night time that they are either split upon the Rocks or stranded upon some of the deep sanded Necks of Land thereabouts and it 's no going for the Mariners out of the Ship because the Ford is above the height of any Man Neither can they force the Ship in the least forward with their Poles And although they throw all over-board but their Victuals yet even while they have Provision they are reduc'd to the utmost Extremities for neither Island Promontory or Ship is to be seen P. 122. in these Parts being desert and seldom frequented by Mariners And to the other Inconveniencies this further is an Addition the violent Waves on a suddain raise up such heaps of Sand out of the Channel and so inclose the Ship as if Men on purpose had fixt it to some Continent Being plung'd into this Calamity at first they only gently and modestly breath out their Complaints to a doleful Wilderness which regards them not yet not altogether desparing of deliverance For often by the raging working of the Sea the Ship is mounted up on high above the heaps of Sand and so the poor Creatures that were in this desperate Condition are unexpectedly as by some God assisting them out of an Engin deliver'd But if this help from God do not intervene when their Provision grows low the stronger throw the weaker overboard that the Meat that is left may last the longer for the support of those few that remain But at length when all hope of safety is gone and Provision spent these few die far more miserably than those that perisht before For these in a moment of time give up that Breath which Nature had given them but those by prolonging their Misery and dividing as it were their Sorrows into several parts dye at last with more lingering Torments The Ships being in this miserable manner depriv'd of their Pilots and Mariners continue a long time as so many Solitary Sepulchers and at length being buried in heaps of Sand their lofty Masts and Main-Yards remain only Spectacles to move Compassion in them that see them afar off For by the King's Command the Monuments of these Misfortunes are not to be toucht but are to remain as Sea-marks to Mariners to avoid those dangerous Places It has been an ancient Report among the Ichthuophages the Inhabitants of those Tracts continu'd down to them from their Fore-fathers that by a mighty reflux of the Sea which hapned in former days where the Sea is thus green the whole Gulf became dry Land and appear'd green all over and that the Water overflow'd the opposite Shoar and that all the Ground being thus bare to the very lowest bottom of the Gulf the Water by an red- This seems to be the Passage of the Israelites over the Red-Sea extraordinary high Tide return'd again into the ancient Channel The Navigation from * Ptolemais not in Phaenicia but that bordering upon the Red Sea Ptolemais to the Promontary of Taurus has been describ'd when we spoke of Ptolemy's Pleasure in hunting of Elephants From Taurus the Sea Coasts turn towards the East Here from the time of the Summer to the Winter Solstice A further Description of the Country of the Troglodites the Sun casts the shadow to the South contrary to what it does with us This Country is water'd with Rivers flowing down from the Psebarian Mountains as they are call'd and is divided into many spacious Plains which produce Mallows Cardanum and extraordinary Palm-Trees and divers other Fruits of an unsavory Taste altogether unknown to us The South parts of this Country are full of Elephants wild Bulls Lions and other wild Beasts In passing over to this Coast there lye several Islands in the way which are altogether barren as to any Fruit that is grateful but in them are bred strange sorts of Birds and wonderful to view and observe From hence sailing forward the Sea is exceeding deep and abounds with mighty great Whales which yet do no harm unless any by chance run upon their erected Finns for they cannot pursue the Ships because when they rise up towards the top of the Water they are struck blind by the brightness and splendour of the Sun These are the utmost Bounds of Troglodita known to us inviron'd with the Psebarian Promontaries And now we shall pass over to the other side of the Gulf and take a view of The Arabian side of the Red Sea the Regions lying towards Arabia beginning again at that part of the Sea which is call'd †Neptunium P. 123. Neptunium because Ariston erected there an Altar in honour of Neptune when Ptolemy sent him to discover the Arabian Coast as far as to the Ocean From thence to the Month of the Gulf is a place along the Sea-Coast of great esteem among the Inhabitants for the profit it yields them it 's call'd the Garden of Palm-Trees because they abound there and are so very Fruitful that they yield sufficient
Neighbouring Barbarians knowing their low Condition despis'd them and remembring what ruin and destruction they had formerly made amongst them so wasted them with continual War that not so much as the Name of Amazons is now to be found any where in the World For a few Years after Hercules's Time the Trojan War broke forth at which time Penthesilia Queen of those Amazons that were left and Daughter of Mars having committed a cruel Murther among her own People for the horridness of the Fact fled and after the Death of Hector brought aid to the Trojans and though she bravely behav'd her self and kill'd many of the Greeks yet at last she was slain by Achilles and so in Heroick Actions ended her Days This they say was the last Queen of the Amazons a brave spirited Woman after whom the Nation growing by degrees weaker and weaker was at length wholly extinct So that these later Ages look upon all those old Stories concerning the valiant Acts of the Amazons to be but meer Fictions and Fables Now since we have thus far spoken of the Northern Parts of Asia it 's convenient to observe something relating to the Antiquity of the Hyperborcans Amongst them that have written old Stories much like Fables Hyperboreans Hecateus and some others say that there is an * This seems to be Brittain Island in the Ocean over against Gall as big as Sicily under the Artick Pole where the Hyperboreans inhabit so call'd because they lye †Or rather very far North. beyond the Breezes of the North Wind. That the Soyl here is very rich and very fruitful and the Climate temperate insomuch as there are Two Crops in the Year They say that Latona was born here and therefore that they worship Apollo above all other Gods and because they are daily saying Songs in praise of this God and ascribing to him the highest Honours they say that these Inhabitants demean themselves as if they were Apollo's Priests who has there a stately Grove and renown'd Temple of a round Form beautify'd with many rich Gifts That there is a City likewise consecrated to this God whose Citizens are most of them Harpers who playing on the Harp chant Sacred Hymns to Apollo in the P. 92. Temple setting forth his glorious Acts. The Hyperboreans use their own natural Language But of long and ancient time have had a special Kindness for the Grecians and more especially for the Athenians and them of Delos And that some of the Grecians pass'd over to the Hyperboreans and left behind them divers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Things dedicated to the Gods Presents inscrib'd with Greek Characters and that Abaris formerly travell'd thence into Greece and renew'd the ancient League of Friendship with the Delians They say moreover that the Moon in this Island seems as if it were near to the Earth and represents in the face of it Excrescences like Spots in the Earth And that Apollo once in Nineteen Years comes into the Island in which space of time the Stars perform their Courses and return to the same Point and therefore the Greeks call the Revolution of Nineteen Years the Great Year At this time of 19 Years the Great Year his appearance they say that he plays upon the Harps and sings and daunces all the Night from the * 10th of March. Vernal Equinox to the rising of the †In September Pleiades solacing himself with the Praises of his own successful Adventures The Sovereignty of this City and the care of the Temple they say belongs to the Boreades the Posterity of Boreas who hold the Principality by Descent in a direct Line from that Ancestor CHAP. IV. A Description of Arabia the Desert Happy c. Metals Precious Stones Beasts c. A Description of Taprobana in the Southern Ocean now call'd Ceylon or Zeilan The strange things there How discover'd by Iambulus HAving now finish'd these foregoing Relations we shall bend our Discourse to the other Parts of Asia not yet spoken of and chiefly to Arabia Arabia This Country is situated between Syria and Egypt and is divided into several Nations On the East the Arabians call'd the Nabateans inhabit a Tract partly Nabateans a Desert dry and barren Country Desert and in other Parts without Water and very little of it there is that bears any Fruit and therefore the Inhabitants live by Robbing and Stealing and for that end roving up and down the Countries far and near they vex the Inhabitants with their continual Incursions and Robberies it being a very difficult matter to subdue them For in the dry Country they have Wells digg'd in convenient Places unknown to Strangers whither they fly for refuge and are safe For knowing where the Waters lye hid and private upon opening of the Wells they are largely supply'd but Strangers who pursue them unacquainted with those Fountains either perish for Thirst or falling into many other Disasters and quite tyr'd out scarcely ever return home And therefore these Arabians being that they are not to be conquer'd are never inslav'd nor ever admit any Foreign Prince over them but preserve themselves continually in perfect Liberty and therefore neither the Assyrians antiently nor the Medes and Persians nor the very Macedonians themselves were ever able to conquer them who though they often march'd with great Forces against them yet they ever fail'd in their Designs In the Country of the Nabateans there 's a Rock strongly Fortified to which there is an Ascent but one way through which a few only at a time mount up to cast down their Fardles There 's likewise a large * The Lake of Sodom or Dead-Sea and Asphaltes Mere which produces Brimstone from whence they raise no small Revenue It 's †60 Miles Five Hundred Furlongs in length and * Betwixt 7 and 8 Miles Josephus in lib. of the Wars of the Jews Book 5 c. 5. says it's 580 Furlongs long and 150 broad extending in length to Zoar in Arabia Sixty in breadth The Water for Smell stinks and is bitter in Taste so that neither Fish nor any other living thing us'd to the Water can live there There are indeed great Rivers whose Waters are exceeding sweet which empty themselves into the Lake and yet it stinks howsoever Every Year the Brimstone rises up out of the middle of the Mere some Pieces Two and others Three Plethras Square in quantity The greater Pieces the Inhabitants call Plethra 200 or 300 Foot Bulls and the lesser Calfs When the Brimstone swims upon the Water it represents at a distance the form of an Island There are apparent Signs of casting The Lake Asphaltes or Sodom P. 93. up of the Brimstone Twenty Days before for every where round the Lake for many Furlongs distant a Steam arises with a stinking smell and all Gold Silver or Brass near those Places change their natural Colour but return to their former when all the Brimstone
to another in securing one another's Children from harm and prejudice and preserving their several Habitations from force and incroachment and though they are of different Stocks yet they peaceably and affectionately converse one with another without offering the least injury on either side And though this way of Living together be somewhat strange yet through long custom and constant use and practice or because they find it necessary and conducing to their mutual advantage it is still continu'd among them to this day These Nations inhabit not after the manner of the other Ichthiophages but have divers sorts of Dwellings according as their several Circumstances fall out to be some live in Caves lying most commonly to the North by which they have the advantage of being refresh'd not only by the depth of the Covert but by the cooling Breezes of the Northern Air. For those towards the South scorch like a Fiery Furnace and by reason of the violent heat no Man can indure them Others that cannot otherwise furnish themselves with Caves that lye Northward gather the Ribs of Whales which the Sea casts up in abundance and then bending them tye 'em together at both ends and cover them with Sea-grass and so rest under those guarded from the parching heat of the Sun as by the Cover of a shady Arch which Art and Contrivance they are taught by their own Necessities A Third sort of Lodgings these Ichthiophages have are these about those Places grow abundance of Fir-trees which are water'd by the Sea and bear very thick Leaves and Fruit like unto Chesnuts The Boughs and Leaves of these Trees they interlace one within another and so make for themselves a thick and close Shade and live merry and jocund Lives under this their new Canopy both in Land and in Water at one and the same time being hereby guarded from the Sun by the shade of the Trees and the natural heat of the Place being mitigated by the continual Fluctuations of the Sea and their Bodies refresht with the cooling Air of some Winds that blow at certain Seasons But to proceed as to the Fourth sort of Dwellings In this place there has been from the beginning of Time a vast heap of Moss like a Mountain cast up by the Sea which is so firm by the constant heat of the Sun that it s become solid and cemented together with Sand. In this they dig Caves of a Man's height that part over-head they leave for a Roof but below they make long Passages or Galleries to go in or out one over against another Here they abide with ease protected from the heat of the Sun and about the Time the Tide comes in out they start and then for that time imploy themselves in Fishing and at the ebbing of the Tide after they have fed deliciously together upon the Fish they have caught they fly again to their several Caves They bury their Dead only at the time of low-Low-Water and at that time they cast their Carcases upon the Shoar and there let them lye uncover'd to be carry'd away by the next Tide And so after all having spent all their Days in a strange and unusual Course and way of Living they themselves at last in their Burials become Food for the Fishes But there 's one Nation of the Ichthiophages whose Habitations are so strange that inquisitive Men are very much pulled about them For some of them dwell upon steep and dangerous hollows which time out of mind have been unaccessible to Mankind as far as appears For over their Heads are exceeding high Rocks rugged and steep every way and on both sides they are blockt up with unpassable Precipices and before the Sea is a Guard and Boundary to them so that the best Footman cannot come at them Neither have they any use or so much as P. 110. knowledge of any Boats or Ships as we have Hence the thing being so intricate and doubtful we may justly conclude that they are * There at the first and never elsewhere Aborigines and were ever in this Place without any certain time of their First Generation which some Naturalists doubt not to affirm of all other Works of Nature whatsoever But for as much as the perfect Knowledge of things of this nature are far above our Comprehension we may easily conclude that those know but little who are the most inquisitive and soaring so high as to know all who may perhaps tickle Mens Ears with a probable Fancy but never really attain to the Knowledge of the Truth CHAP. II. Chelonophages The Manner of taking Sea Tortoises The Cetivores or Whale Eaters The Sea Coasts over against Babylon their Manner of taking of Fish The Rizophages or Root Eaters Those call'd Spermaphages and Hylophages Hylogones or Hunters their taking of wild Beasts The Elephant Fighters how they are taken The Simoes Struthophages Acridophages or Locust Eaters their miserable Deaths Cynomolges The Country of the Troglodites Wild Beasts The Terrible Wild Bull Serpents That great one brought alive to Alexandria SOmething likewise is to be spoken of the * Shellfish-eaters Chelonophages to shew the whole Course and Manner of their way of living There are a vast number of Islands in the Ocean near to the Continent very small and of a low Situation barren both as to Tillage and the natural Fruits of the Earth Amongst these Islands because they are so near one to another there are no Storms or Tempests For the Force of the Waves are broke by the Promontories of these Islands that shoot out into the Sea and therefore abundance of * Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist l. 9. c. 10. Sea Tortoises lye in and about these Places seeking Relief under the Covert of this calm and quiet Shelter In the Night they lye at the bottom of the Water feeding but in the Day time appear above Water in that Part of the Sea that flows through the midst of the Islands and lye sleeping with their Shells erect expos'd to the Sun and seem to resemble a little Skiff turn'd with the Keel upwards for they are of a wonderful Bigness no less than a small Fisher's Boat The Barbarians that inhabit these Islands taking the Opportunity quietly and silently swim to these Sea Tortoises and assailing them on both sides some they thrust forward to the Shoar others they lift up till they have turn'd them upon their Backs then they that are on each side guide and direct the Creature to land like a Ship by the Stem lest the Tortoise should turn it self again and so by its natural Strength in swimming escape from them into the Sea And while they are thus imploy'd one of the Company swims to Shoar before with a long Rope ty'd at one end to the Fish and then draws him to Land those that assisted at the taking of him following close after When he 's brought into the Island they fry the Fish a little while in the Sun and then feed upon it
merrily together The Shells being in shape like to Boats are very useful to the Inhabitants for they use them both to fail in to the Continent to get fresh Water and likewise for Roofs to cover their Cottages turning the hollow Parts downwards So that Nature's Bounty has provided for them by one Gift many useful Advantages as Food Vessels Shipping and Habitations Not far off from these upon the Sea Shoar in the Continent dwell other Barbarians far different from the others in their way of living for they feed upon * Câ—tivori Whales cast up by Chance by the Sea Sometimes they have Plenty of Food by Reason of the vast Proportion of these Creatures but at other times for want of them they are almost starv'd and are forc'd through want of Food to gnaw Pieces of old stinking Bones and to suck the Ends of the rotten Ribs So many are the Nations of the Ethiopians who feed upon Fish and this is the manner of their living concluding this Account in a brief and summary way But the Sea Coasts over against the Province of Babylon border upon a fruitful The Sea coasts over against the Province of Babylon Country abounding in all sorts of Fruit-trees where there is such Plenty of Fish that they are more than the Inhabitants can consume For upon the Sea shoar they set such a number of Canes and so interwoven one within another that they are like to a Net spread all along by the Sea-side In every of which Works there are many little Portals wrought and interlac'd with Reeds and are tossed this way and that way with an easy Motion These open by the Tide when the Sea flows in upon the Land and when it returns into the Channel they shut again So that through these Portals with the Efflux of the Sea the Fish slip every day and when it ebbs they are left behind because they cannot pass with the Water through those Canes thus knit and wrought together And therefore near to the Sea-side sometimes may be seen Heaps of Fish panting for want of Water which those that have the Care and Oversight of this Business gather and carry away Hence P. 111. they have both Plenty of Food and raise a large Revenue beside Some of the Inhabitants when the Shoar is dry and the Country lies flat draw broad Sluces from the Sea many Furlongs to their Cottages at the ends of which they place Wears made of Twigs which open when the Tide comes in and shut again when the Sea goes out And then the Water flowing through the narrow Mouths of the Portals the Fish remain behind in the Sluces and there they take out every time as many as they have occasion to use Having gone through all those People bordering upon the Sea-coasts as far as from the Province of Babylon to the red-Red-Sea we shall now proceed to give an Account of the other Nations In Ethiopia above Egypt near to the River Asa inhabit a People call'd Rizophages Rizophages who get up the Roots of the Canes that grow in the Marishes and first wash them very clean Then they bruise and pound 'em with Stones till they are soft and pliant afterwards they lay a handful of 'em in the Sun till they are broil'd and this is the Food they live upon all their days But tho' they live in Plenty and are at constant Peace one with another yet they are miserably infested and often fallen upon by the Lyons that abound in those Parts For the Air being scorching hot they come out of the Deserts into the Rizophages Country both for shelter from the Heat and to hunt the lesser Beasts for Prey so that when the Ethiopians come out of the Marishes they are torn in Pieces by these Creatures for being unarm'd they are unable to withstand the Strength of the Lyons And the whole Nation would certainly be utterly destroy'd if Providence had not provided a Remedy in this Case for about the beginning of the Dog-days when there 's not the least Wind there comes in such a Multitude of Gnats larger than those that are commonly seen that the Inhabitants are forc'd to fly into the Marishes and so avoid them And the Lyons partly tormented by their biting and stinging of 'em and partly terrify'd with their humming and buzzing run far away out of the Country Next to these are those Nations call'd Hylophages and Spenmatophages The last of these gather in great Plenty Fruits which fall from the Trees in the Summer time and so feed on them without taking any further Pains The rest of the Year they feed upon a certain sweet Herb which grow in the shady Valleys Which being a solid Plant and having a Stalk like to a Turnip it sufficiently supplies the want of other necessary Food But the Hylophages together with their Wives and Children go into the Fields Hylophages Wood-eaters and climb the Trees and feed upon the Buds and tender Branches and by constant Usage and Practice are so nimble in getting up to the Top of the highest Branch that it seems almost incredible They skip from Tree to Tree like so many Birds and mount up upon the slenderest Branches without the least Hazard For being very slender and light body'd People if their Feet fail they catch hold with their Hands nay if they fall down from the very Top they are so light they get no harm They easily chew every juicy Twig of the Tree and as easily concoct them They always go naked and make use of their Wives promiscuously and therefore all their Children they look upon to be common amongst them They sometimes quarrel one with another for Places of Habitation Their Arms are Clubs with which they both defend themselves and pound in Pieces their conquer'd Enemy Many of them are often famish'd to Death when they grow P. 112. blind being depriv'd of so necessary a Member for the procuring of Sustenance The next adjoyning Country is inhabited by the Ethiopian * Hylogones Born in the Woods Hylogones call'd Hunters who are indeed but few but live after a peculiar and strange manner answerable to their Name for the Land being infested with multitudes of wild Beasts is very terrible to live in and very little running Water is to be found therefore for fear of the Beasts the Inhabitants sleep all Night in Trees and in the Morning they go to the Pools of Water with their Arms where they hide themselves among the Boughs and spy in the mean time out of the Trees Then when the Sun grows hot the wild Bulls and Leopards and a great Number of other wild Beasts come running to the Waters being scorch'd with Heat and Thirst and do so gorge themselves with drinking that they are ready to burst upon which the Ethiopians leap out of the Trees and set upon the Beasts that can scarcely stir or move with Clubs burnt at the end Stones and Darts and kill 'em with
Dead of all his burying Clothes and other Ornaments and leave the Body to be Food for the Wild Beasts Then they divide his Garments and Sacrifice to the Subterraneous Heroes and Feast all their Friends Alexander afterwards marched into Gedrosia all along the Sea Coast and came at length among a most rude and savage People From their very Birth to their old Age they never Marches into Gedrosia cut their Nails but suffer them still to grow and the Hair of their Heads all grow in Locks never comb'd out They 're of a swarthy Complexion through the parching Heat of the Sun and cloath themselves with the Skins of Wild Beasts They feed upon the Flesh of Whales cast up by the Sea In building of their Houses and Cottages they raise up their Walls as is usual but the Roofs are laid with the Rib-bones of Whales of which they have Summers and Beams eighteen Cubits in length and for Tiles they use the Whales Scales When Alexander with great Toil had march'd through this Country he came into a Alexander's Army near Perishing in Gedrosia desolate Wilderness where nothing at all was to be had for the support of Man's Life So that many dying for want of Food the whole Army was not only altogether discourag'd but the King himself was then over-whelm'd with unusual Sorrow and Anxiety of Mind For he look'd upon it as a most Miserable thing that those who by the Valour of their Arms had conquer'd all where ever they came should now ingloriously Perish for want Ant. Ch. 325. of Bread in a Barren Wilderness Therefore he sent away the swiftest Courriers he could find into Parthia Drangina Aria and other bordering Countries with order that with all speed they should meet him upon the Border of Carmania with Dromedary Camels and other Beasts of Burden loaden with Bread and all other necessary Provisions who hasted away as they were commanded and procur'd the Governors of the Provinces to dispatch abundance of Provision to the Place appointed By this extream Scarcity Alexander lost many of his Men and this was the first Mischief he met with in this Expedition Afterwards as they were marching some of the Mountaineers fell upon Leonatus his Squadron and cut off many of them and then made back to their Countrymen and this was another Loss When they had at length with very great Difficulties and Hardships past through this Desart they came into a Rich and Populous Country * In Carmania Vid. Curtius Lib. 9. ad finâ—m Here he randezvous'd his whole Army and after they had refresh'd themselves celebrated a Feast to Bacchus and dress'd up to make a shew like a Pageant he led the Darice before his Army who march'd likewise in great Pomp and State for the space of Seven days together spending all that time in Revelling and Drunkenness all along the way as he went When this was over hearing that many of his Officers and Governors of Provinces had The King punishes the Governors of Provinces Ant. Ch. 325. abus'd their Power to the Oppression and Injury of many he punish'd them according to their Demerits Which Severity of the King 's being spread abroad many who were conscious of being guilty of the same Crimes began to fear the same Punishment and therefore some who commanded the Mercenaries made a Defection others pick'd up what Moneys they could and fled Of which the King receiving intelligence he writ to all the Governors and Lord-Lieutenants of Asia that as soon as they had read his Letters they should without further delay disband all the Mercenaries About the same time while the King was at * Salmuntes in Harmozia now Ormus in the Gulf of Persia Nearchus returns Salmuntes a Sea port Town busie in making Stage Plays Those who were sent to examine all the Sea Coasts arriv'd with the Fleet who forthwith went into the Theatre and address'd themselves to the King and after they had made their Obeysance they acquainted him with what they had done The Macedonians so rejoic'd at their Return that as a Testimony of their joy they set up a great Acclamation and fill'd the whole Theatre with Exultations Those that return'd from the Voyage told him There were wonderful Tides of Ebbing and Flowing in the Ocean and that at low Water in the furthest Parts of the Sea Coasts there appear'd very Islands over-flow'd many great Islands which at the return of the Tide are all again laid under Water while a most Fierce and violent Wind comes off from them to the Continent and causes the Water to be all over on a Foam And as the greatest Wonder of all they declar'd they met with Whales of an incredible Magnitude which at the first so terrify'd them that Whales they look'd upon themselves as lost and that they and all their Ships must in a Moment perish together But all of them at once setting up a great shout and making a Noise by striking upon their Arms and sounding of Trumpets the monstrous Creatures were so terrify'd with a thing so unusual that they made to the Bottom of the Deep After the King had heard the Relation he order'd the Sea Officers to sail with the Ant. Ch. 325. Fleet to Euphrates And he himself in the mean time marching through many Countries with his Army came at last to the Borders of Susiana At which time Calanus an Indian a great Philosopher and much honour'd by the King ended his days in a wonderful manner Having now liv'd to be Seventy three years old and during all that The strange Death of Calanus Aelian Var. Hist lib. 5. c. 6. Plut. in Alexander time never knew what Sickness or the least Distemper meant he purpos'd to put an end to his own Life supposing that now both Nature and Fortune had brought him to the utmost Bounds of his Felicity and well-being in the World Being seiz'd upon therefore with Sickness which grew upon him more and more every day he desir'd the King that he would order a great Funeral Pile to be made and that when he had plac'd himself upon it some of his Servants should set it on fire The King at first endeavour'd to dissuade him from this Purpose but when he saw he would not be mov'd he promis'd it should be done as he had desir'd The thing presently spread abroad and when the Pile was finish'd multitudes of People flock'd to see this strange Sight And there Calanus according to the Rules and Dictates of his own Opinion with great Courage ascended the Pile and both he and it were consum'd together Some that were present judg'd this Act to be an effect of Madness others nothing else but a piece of Vain-glory Though some there were that admir'd his Noble Spirit and Contempt of Death And the King caus'd him to be honourably bury'd When Alexander came to Susa he marry'd Statira Darius his Eldest Daughter Drypetis the Younger he marry'd
one left and the very Face of the Country was so chang'd that new Rivers and Ponds appear'd in the room of the Old CHAP. III. The Innundations at Rhodes Antigonus kills Pitho getting him into his power by Dissimulation Then marches into Persia Revolters from Antigonus cut off in Media He divides the Asian Provinces and contrives to destroy all the Argyraspides Gets great Treasure in Susa Cassander besieges Olympias in Pydna The great Distress to which it was reduc'd Amphipolis surrender'd to Cassander He kills Olympias Marries Thessalonices Builds Cassandra Imprisons Rhoxana and her Son Alexander His Expedition into Peloponnesus against Alexander the Son of Polysperchon The History of Thebes Cassander rebuilds Thebes ABout this time hapned a Flood near the City of Rhodes which destroy'd many of the Inhabitants The first Flood did little prejudice because the City was but Olymp. 116. 1. An. M. 3656. Ant. Ch. 314. then newly built and far larger in Compass But the second was more Mischievous and destroy'd Multitudes The last fell out at the Beginning of the Spring accompany'd with violent Storms of Rain and Hail-stones of an incredible Bigness for they were a Mina in weight and sometime more so that they not only beat down Houses but kill'd The 〈…〉 dations at Rhodes many Men. And in regard Rhodes was built in Form of a Theatre and that the Water ran for the most part into one Place the lower Parts of the City were presently fill'd with Water for that the Winter being now look'd upon to be over no care was taken to cleanse the Channels and Aqueducts and the Pipes likewise in the Walls were choked up so that the Waters flowing in altogether on a sudden all the Ground about the * Some Monument in the Town in Memory of some remarkable Event either Goâ—d or Bad. Deigma as it is call'd and the Temple of Bâ—cchuss was fill'd with Water and now it rising up like a standing Pond to the Temple of Esculapius all were in a Consternation and could not agree together what should be done in order to their Preservation Some were for making to the Ships and others for hasting to the Theatre Some now almost surrounded with the Evil that threaten'd them in great Terror and Amazement climb'd up to the top of the highest Altars and others to the top of the Pedestals of the Statues The City being in this Danger to be overwhelm'd and ruin'd with all its Inhabitants Ant. Ch. 314. on a sudden they were unexpectedly deliver'd For the Wall burst asunder in a large Breach and the Water that stood on an Heap made its way through and ran with a violent Current into the Sea and so every one presently had free passage to his own House It was of great advantage to these distressed People that this Inundation was in the day time For most of the Citizens ran to the highest parts of the City for shelter And another advantage was that the Houses were not built of Tile but of Stone so that they who got to the House-tops escap'd without any great Damage However there perish'd in this common Calamity above Five hundred Souls and some of the Houses were born down to the Ground and others very ill torn and shaken And in this danger was Rhodes Antigonus while he Winter'd in Media discover'd Pitho plotting to draw over the Soldiers then in their Winter-Quarters partly by Bribes and partly by fair Promises to his own Interest and to make a Turn and Defection in the Army But Antigonus cover'd and conceal'd his Design and made show as if he gave no Credit to the Informers but chid them as those that contriv'd only to set him and Pitho together by the ears In the mean while he caus'd it to be nois'd abroad That he intended to leave Pitho with a considerable Ant. Ch. 314. P. 696. Army for his Defence Lord-Lieutenant of the higher Provinces and he wrote likewise to him and desired him to hasten to him with all speed that after they had consulted together of some weighty Affairs they might forthwith march away into the Lesser Asia To the parts on the Sea-Coasts Thus he manag'd his Business whereby to remove all ground of Suspicion and to get the poor Man into his hands upon an expectation and hopes to be left Governor of those Provinces For it was a difficult matter to take one by force who was in so great Repute with Alexander and for his Valour advanc'd by him to Places of Honour and who being then Governor of Media was a help and support to the whole Army Pitho was at that time in the furthest Parts of all Media in his Winter-Quarters and had now corrupted many who had promis'd to join with him in the Defection His Friends likewise acquainting him by their Letters with Antigonus his Purpose possess'd him with an Expectation of mighty Things And thus guil'd to Antigonus he went who having now seiz'd his Prey brought him before a Council of War even of his own Antigonus kills Pitho Confederates where he was easily convicted and forthwith had his Head chopp'd off Hereupon Antigonus gathering all his Army together committed the Government of Media to Orontobates a Median born but made Hippostratus General of the Army who Ant. Ch. 314. had Three thousand 500 foreign Foot-Soldiers under his Command He himself taking with him the Body of his Army went to Ecbatana where receiving Five thousand Talents of massie Silver he march'd into Persia and it cost him twenty days march before Antigonus marches into Persia he arriv'd at the Capital City Persepolis In the mean time while Antigonus was on his march Pitho's Friends who were concern'd with him in the Conspiracy the chief of whom was Meleager and Menoetas and other Well-willers of Eumenes and Pitho who were scatter'd abroad into Corners met together to the number of Eight hundred Horse and in the first place wasted the Territories of the Medes who refus'd to join with them Then receiving Intelligence where Revolters from Antigonus cut off in Media Hippestratus and Orontobates lay encamp'd they broke in upon them in the night and were not far off from effecting what they design'd but being overpower'd by number and having only entic'd some of the Soldiers to run the same course with them they were forc'd to retreat yet some of the nimblest of them all being Horse-men made many sudden Incursions upon the Country and caus'd a great Consternation and Hubbub amongst them but were atlast inclos'd in a place compass'd about with Rocks and were there all kill'd or taken But Meleager and Cranes the Median and some of the better sort of them stood it out to the last and died with their Swords in their hands And this was the Condition of the Conspirators in Media As for Antigonus as soon as he came into Persia the People honour'd him as a King as he that was now undoubtedly absolute Lord of all
the Ships were higher than the Walls next to the Harbour The Rhodians on the other hand understanding that Demetrius made it his main business to gain the Port were as earnest in providing all things necessary for its defence To this end they mounted two Engines upon a Rampart and put on Board Three others upon two Transport Ships and lay with them at the mouth of the little Harbour and in these they put great Numbers of Engins for the shooting of Stones Darts and Arrows of all sizes that by the help of these they might repulse the Enemy if he either attempted to land Men or make up with his Engines Besides all this they Ant. Ch. 303. had contriv'd convenient places and apartments in the Transport Ships which then lay in the Harbour wherein to place their Engines and Darts as they had occasion Both sides being now thus ready prepar'd and Demetrius just upon the point of moving into the Harbours with his Machines was prevented by a fierce and violent Storm that then arose But being calm all the night afterwards he Sails up secretly and seises upon the highest Rampart of the great Harbour and forthwith draws a Mud-wall about it and fences it with stones and planks of Timber Then he landed Four hundred of his Men and plac'd them there with all sorts of Darts and Weapons the Fort was * Five Plethras †Every Plethra a handred foot P. 777. distant from the Walls As soon as it was light they came up with the Engines into the Port with shouting and sound of Trumpet then with their small shot which did execution at a great distance they beat off those that were building the Wall in the Port and with their battering Engines broke in pieces the Enemies Machines and shak'd the the Wall near the Rampart in one part and batter'd it down in another For it was but low and weak at that time the Citizens stoutly defended themselves and spent all that day in wounding and receiving wounds from their Enemies but night drawing on Demetrius tow'd his Ships Cables ti'd to smaller Vessels and got oft his Engines out of the reach of the Enemies Artillery But the Rhodians took fire along with them and in Boats fill'd with combustible matter pursu'd their Enemies and coming up with the Engines put Ant. Ch. 303. fire to the matter in the Boats but being presently beaten off by Darts and Arrows from the floating Rampart they were forc'd to Tack about and so retire but the Flame rag'd to that degree that some few only having extinguish'd the fire return'd in the Boats and the greatest part of them having had their Vessels burnt down to the Water by swimming only sav'd their lives The next day Demetrius in the same manner made his Attack from the Sea and ordered an Assault with shouting and sound of Trumpet should be made on every side from the Land that he might strike the greater Terror into the Rhodians while innumerable dangers surrounded and distracted them on every hand he continu'd thus assaulting the Town for the space of Eight daies together shooting from his Engines upon the Rampart stones of the weight of a Talent and batter'd down the middle walls between the Towers together with the Towers themselves the Souldiers likewise possess'd themselves of part of the wall that fac'd the Harbours Upon which the Rhodians all flockt to that place and there they sharply fell to it and ingag'd the Enemy and over-powering them in number with the slaughter of some of them forc'd the rest to draw off The uneasie rough and uneven passage to the place by reason of many heaps of great and massy stones which were laid before the walls on the outside was of great advantage to the besieg'd many of the Enemies Vessels in the midst of this hurly burly mann'd with Soldiers comming up the Rhodians presently tore off the Beaks of the Ships and by combustible matter and Firebrands thrown in among them burnt the Ships themselves While the besieg'd were thus hurri'd and distracted in defending Ant. Ch. 303 themselves the Demetrians coming in with their Vessels on every side set Scaling Ladders to the Walls and prest on with the greater resolution being assisted in all parts by the Soldiers at Land who together with them in the Ships mutually repeated their shouts and acclamations And now many boldly and resolutely in contempt of danger press'd forward and in great Bodies mounted the Walls upon which follow'd a sharp Ingagement the assailant's forcing on with great resolution from without and the besieg'd with as much courage flocking together to defend themselves within At length the Rhodians after a brave Resistance beat off the Assailants killing some and taking others Prisoners that were wounded amongst whom were some of the chiefest Commanders The Besiegers being thus baffl'd Demetrius draws off his Engines into his own Port and then sets upon repairing both them and his Ships In the mean time the Rhodians bury their dead and dedicated to their Gods their Enemies Arms and the Beaks of their Ships and repair'd those parts of their walls as were beaten down by the Engines Demetrius however after seven days time spent in refitting his battering Engines and repairing his Shipping having now all things in readiness enters the Harbor again For he made it his main business to be absolute Lord of this and to intercept all Provision that might be brought in to the relief of the City when he came within the cast of a Dart he threw Firebrands of which he had a great number into the Rhodians Ships which lay scatter'd here and there and shook and batter'd the Walls with his Engines and wounded and gall'd with his Darts and Arrows whoever appear'd in view The Assault thus continuing to the great terror and amazement of the Inhabitants the Rhodian Pilots in great fear and concern for the Shipping extinguish'd the Firebrands and the Magistrates of the City whom they call Prytanes seeing that the Port was now even upon the point of being taken earnestly intreated all the Citizens both high and low without distinction resolutely to put to their helping hands for the common preservation and security of the whole City Whereupon many readily came in and mann'd three of their strongest Vessels with the best of their Men giving them Orders to do the utmost they could with the Beaks of their Ships to sink the Enemies Vessels that carry'd their Engines Those thus sent out though they were ply'd with showers of Darts and Arrows yet by the violence of their Charge broke in pieces the * The st 〈…〉 ing Rampart Rampart that was fenc'd with 〈◊〉 and so shatter'd their Ships with one stroke after another that they fill'd them with Water and dismounted two of their Engines Whereupon the Demetrians towing back the Third with Cables the Rhodians encourag'd by their Success prest on still with more Boldness than Prudence and therefore being pierc'd and shatter'd by
at this Day that those that travel Abroad suffer their Hair to grow till they return Home As he pass'd through Ethiopia a Company of Satyrs were presented to him who as it 's reported were all Hairy down to their Loyns For Osiris was a Man given to Mirth and Jollity and took great pleasure in Musick and Dancing and therefore carry'd along with him a Train of Musicians of whom Nine were Virgins most Excellent Singers and expert in many other things whom the Greeks call Muses of whom Apollo was the Captain and thence call'd the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leader of the Muses Upon this account the Satyrs who are natuturally inclin'd to skipping dancing and singing and all other sorts of Mirth were taken in as part of the Army For Osiris was not for War nor came to fight Battels and to decide Controversies by the Sword every Country receiving him for his Merits and Virtues as a God In Ethiopia having instructed the Inhabitants in Husbandry and Tillage of the Ground and built several stately Cities among them he left there behind him some to be Governors of the Country and others to be Gatherers of his Tribute While they were thus imploy'd 't is said that the River Nile about the Dog-days Inundation of Nile at which time it uses to be the highest broke down its Banks and over-flow'd the greatest part of Egypt and that part especially where Prometheus govern'd insomuch as almost all the Inhabitants were drown'd so that Prometheus was near unto Killing of himself for very grief of heart and from the sudden and violent Eruption of the Waters the River was call'd †Aetos in Greek because an Eagle is quick lively and swift Eagle Hercules who was always for high and difficult Enterprizes and ever of a stout Spirit presently made up the Breaches and turn'd the River into its Channel and kept in within its ancient Banks and therefore some of the Greek Poets from this fact have forg'd a Fable That Hercules * Shot through kill'd the Eagle that fed upon Prometheus his Heart The most ancient Name of this River was Oceames which in the Greek pronunciation is Oceanus afterwards call'd Eagle upon the violent Eruption Lastly it was call'd Egyptus from the Name of a King that there reign'd which the Poet attests who says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In th' River of Egyptus then I plac'd The Gallies swift For near Thonis as it 's call'd an ancient Mart Town of Egypt this River empties it self into the Sea The last Name which it still retains it derives from Nileus a King of those Parts Osiris being come to the Borders of Ethiopia rais'd high Banks on either side of the River lest in the time of its Inundation it should overflow the Country more than was convenient and make it marish and boggy and made Floodgates to let in the Water by degrees as far as was necessary Thence he pass'd through Arabia bordering upon the Red Sea as far as to India and the utmost Coasts that were inhabited He built likewise many Cities in India one of which he call'd Nysa willing to have a remembrance of that in Egypt where he was brought up At this Nysa in India he planted Ivy which grows and remains here only of Nysa in India all other Places in India or the Parts adjacent He left likewise many other Marks of his being in those Parts by which the latter Inhabitants are induc'd to believe and do affirm that this God was born in India He likewise addicted himself much to hunting of Elephants and took care to have Statues of himself in every place as lasting Monuments of his Expedition Thence passing to the rest of Asia he transported his Army through the Hellespont into Europe and in Thrace he kill'd Lycurgus King of the Barbarians who oppos'd him in his Designs Then he order'd Maro at that time an Old Man to take care of the Planters in that Country and to build a City and call it Maronea after his own Name Macedon his Son he made King of Macedonia so calling it after him To Triptolemus he appointed the Culture and Tillage of the Land in Attica To conclude Osiris having travell'd through the whole World by finding out Food fit and convenient for Man's Body was a Benefactor to all Mankind Where Vines would not grow and be fruitful he taught the Inhabitants to make Drink of Barley little interiour in strength and pleasant Flavour to Wine it self He brought back with him into Egypt the most pretious and richest things Beer anciently that ever place did afford and for the many Benefits and Advantages that he was the Author of by the common Consent of all Men he gain'd the Reward of Immortality and Honour equal to the Heavenly Deities After his Death Isis and Mercury celebrated his Funeral with Sacrifices and other Divine Honours as to one of the Gods and instituted many Sacred Rites mystical Ceremonies in Memory of the mighty Works wrought by this Hero now Deify'd Antiently the Egyptian Priests kept the manner of the Death of Osiris secret in their own Registers among themselves but in after-times it fell out that some that could not hold blurted it out and so it came Abroad For they say that Osiris while he govern'd in Egypt with all Justice imaginable was Murder'd by his wicked Brother Typhon and that This Osiris was murâ—her'd about the time Jacob with his whole Family came into Egypt As 〈◊〉 Hâ—lvicus Cro. An. Mund. 2239. Vid. Sir Walter Rawl History lib. 2. part 1. cap. 2. sect 5. That this Osiris was Misraim the Son of Cham. he mangled his dead Body into Six and Twenty Pieces and gave to each of his Confederates in the Treason a Piece by that means to bring them all within the same horrid Guilt and thereby the more to ingage them to advance him to the Throne and to defend and preserve him in the Possession But Isis the Sister and Wife likewise of Osiris with the assistance In the time of this Orus Jacob is said to come into Egypt Sir Walter Rawl lib. 2. part 1. c. 2. sect 5. Helvicus says in the time of Osiris An. Mun. 2239. of her Son Orus reveng'd his Death upon Typhon and his Complices and posses'd her self of the Kingdom of Egypt It 's said the Battel was fought near a River not far off a Town now call'd Antaea in Arabia so call'd from Anteus whom Hercules slew in the time of Osiris She found all the Pieces of his Body save his Privy Members and having a desire to conceal her Husband's Burial yet to have him honour'd as a God by all the Egyptians she thus contriv'd it She clos'd all the Pieces together cementing them with Wax and Aromatick Spices and so brought it to the shape of a Man of the bigness of Osiris then she sent for the Priests to her one by one and swore them all that they should not
yield them this advantage that the Sheep Yean twice in a Year and are shorn as often This Increase of the Nile is wonderful to Beholders and altogether incredible to them that only hear the Report for when other Rivers about the Solstice fall and grow lower all Summer long this begins to increase and continues to rise every day till it comes to that height that it overflows almost all Egypt and on the contrary in the same manner in the Winter Solstice it falls by degrees till it wholly return into its proper Channel And in regard the Land of Egypt lies low and Champain the Towns Cities and Country Villages that are built upon rising-ground cast up by Art look like the Islands of the Cyclades Many of the Cattel sometimes are by the River intercepted and so are drown'd but those that fly to the higher Grounds are preserv'd During the time of the Inundation the Cattel are kept in the Country Towns and small Cottages where they have Food and Fodder before laid up and prepar'd for them But the common People now at liberty from all Imployments in the Field indulge themselves in Idleness feasting every day and giving themselves up to all sorts of Sports and Pleasures Yet out of fear of the Inundation a Watch Tower is built in * Now Grand Cairo Memphis by the Kings of Egypt where those that are imploy'd to take care of this concern observing to what height the River rises send Letters from one City to another acquainting them how many Cubits and Fingers the River rises and when it begins to decrease and so the People coming to understand the Fall of the Waters are freed from their fears and all presently have a foresight what plenty of Corn they are like to have and this Observation has been Registred from time to time by the Egyptians for many Generations There are great Controversies concerning the Reasons of the overflowing of Controversies about the overflowing of Nile Nile and many both Philosophers and Historians have endeavour'd to declare the Causes of it which we shall distinctly relate neither making too long a Digression nor omitting that which is so much banded and controverted Of the Increase and Spring-heads of Nile and of its emptying of it self at length into the Sea and other properties peculiar to this River above all others though it be the greatest in the World yet some Authors have not dar'd to say the least thing Some who have attempted to give their Reasons have been very wide from the Mark. For as for Hellanicus Cadmus Hecataeus and such like ancient Authors they have told little but frothy Stories and meer Fables Herodotus above all other Writers very industrious and well acquainted with General History made it his Business to find out the Causes of these things but what he says is notwithstanding very doubtful and some things seem to be repugnant and contradictory one to another Thucydides and Xenophon who have the reputation of faithful Historians never so much as touch upon the Description of any Place in Egypt But Ephorus and Theopompus though they are very earnest in this matter yet they have not in the least discover'd the Truth But it was through Ignorance of the Places and not through Negligence that they were all led into Error For anciently none of the Grecians till the time of Ptolemy Philadelphus ever went into Ethiopia or so much as to the utmost Bounds of Egypt For those Places were never frequented by Travellers they were so hazardous till that King marcht with a Grecian Army into those Parts and so made a more perfect Discovery of the Country No Writer hitherto has pretended that he himself ever saw or heard of any one else that affirm'd he had seen the Spring-heads of Nile All therefore amounting to no more but Opinion and Conjecture the Priests of Egypt affirm that it comes from the Ocean which flows round the whole Earth But nothing that they say is upon any solid grounds and they resolve Doubts by things that are more doubtful and to prove what they say they bring Arguments that have need to be proved themselves But the Troglodites otherways call'd Molgii whom the scorching Heat forc'd †Bolgii to remove from the higher Parts into those lower Places say that there are some Signs whence a Man may rationally conclude that the River Nile rises from Streams which run from many Fountains or Spring-heads and meet at last in one Channel and therefore to be the most fruitful and richest River of any that is known in the World The Inhabitants of the Isle of Meroe who are most to be credited upon this account are far from inventing so much as any probable Arguments and though they live near to the Place in controversy are so far from giving any certain account of this matter that they call Nile Astapus which in the Greek Language signifies Water that issues out of a Place of Darkness so that they give a Name to the River to denote their Ignorance of the Place whence it springs But that seems the truest Reason to me that looks to be furthest from Fiction and study'd Contrivance Yet I am not ignorant that Herodotus who bounds Lybia both on the East and West with this River does ascribe the exact Knowledge of it to the Africans call'd Nasamones and says that Nile rises from a certain Lake and runs through a large Tract of Ground down all along through Ethiopia But neither are the Sayings of the Africans in this behalf as not altogether agreeable to Truth nor the affirmation of the Writer who proves not what he says to be of absolute credit But enough concerning the Spring-heads and Course of Nile let us now venture to treat of the Causes of the Risings of this River Thales who is reckon'd one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece is of Opinion that the Etesean Winds that beat fiercely upon the Mouth of the River give a Yearly Winds check and stop to the Current and so hinder it from falling into the Sea upon which the River swelling and its Channel fill'd with Water at length overflows the Country of Egypt which lies flat and low Though this seem a plausible Reason yet it may be easily disprov'd For if it were true what he says then all the Rivers which run into the Sea against the Etesean Winds would overflow in like manner which being never known in any other part of the World some other Reason and more agreeable to Truth must of necessity be sought for Anaxagoras the Philosopher ascribes the Cause to the melting of the Snow in Ethiopia whom the Poet Euripides who was his Scholar follows saying thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The pleasant Streams of th'River Nile forsakes Which flowing from the Negro's parched Land Swells big when th' melting Snow to th'River takes Comes furling down and overflows the Strand Neither is it any
the Torrid Zone the Water is boil'd and therefore this River is sweeter than any other in the World for Heat does naturally dulcorate Water But this Reason is easily refuted for its plainly impossible that the River should rise to that height and come down to us from the opposite Zone especially if it be granted that the Earth is round But if any yet shall be so obstinate as to affirm it is so as the Philosophers have said I must in short say it 's against and contrary to the Laws of Nature For being they hold Opinions that in the nature of the things can hardly be disprov'd and place an inhabitable part of the World between us and them that are opposite to us they conclude that by this device they have made it impossible and out of the reach of the Wit of Man to confute them But it is but just and equal that those who affirm any thing positively should prove what they say either by good Authority or strength of Reason How comes it about that only the River Nile should come down to us from the other opposite Zone Have we not other Rivers that this may be as well apply'd to As to the Causes alledg'd for the sweetness of the Water they are absur'd For if the Water be boyl'd with the parching Heat and thereupon becomes sweet it would have no productive quality either of Fish or other Kinds of Creatures and Beasts for all Water whose Nature is chang'd by Fire is altogether incapable to breed any living thing and therefore being that the Nature of Nile contradicts this decoction and boyling of the Water we conclude that the Causes alledg'd of its increase are false The Opinion of Oenopides of Chios is this The Waters say he that are under the Earth in Summer-time are cold and warm in the Winter as we see by experience in deep Wells for in a sharp Winter they are the least cold but in Summer they are the coldest of any other time and therefore saith he there 's good reason that Nile in the Winter should grow low and contracted because the Heat in the Bowels of the Earth exhales much of the Water which cannot be supply'd in regard no Rains fall in Egypt But in Summer-time when the Waters that lye deep in the Earth are no longer exhal'd then the Channel of the River according to the order of Nature fills without any obstruction But to this it may be answer'd that many Rivers in Africa whose Mouths lye parallel with this River and run the like Course yet overflow not like Nile For on the contrary they rise in Winter and fall in Summer which clearly evinces his Falsity who endeavours with a shew of Reason to oppose the Truth But to the true cause * This is now found to be the true Reason at this day Agartharchides of Cnidus comes nearest For he says that in the Mountainous parts of Ethiopia there are Yearly continual Rains †From the 10th of June to the 10th of September from the Summer Solstice to the Equinox in Autumn and therefore there 's just cause for Nile to be low in the Winter which then flows only from its own natural Spring-heads and to overflow in Summer through the abundance of Rains And though none hitherto have been able to give a Reason of these Inundations yet he says his Opinion is not altogether to be rejected for there are many things that are contrary to the Rules of Nature for which none are able to give any substantial Reason That which happens in some parts of Asia he says gives some confirmation to his Opinion For in the Confines of Scythia near Mount Caucasus after the Winter is over he affirms that abundance of Snow falls every Year for many Days together And that in the Northern Parts of India at certain Times there falls abundance of Hail and of an incredible Bigness And that near the River Hydaspis in Summer-time it rains continually and the same happens in Ethiopia for many Days together and that this disorder of the Air whirling about occasions many Storms of Rain in Places near adjoyning and that therefore it 's no wonder if the Mountainous Parts of Ethiopia which lies much higher than Egypt are soakt with continual Rains wherewith the River being fill'd overflows especially since the natural Inhabitants of the Place affirm that thus it is in their Country And though these things now related are in their nature contrary to those in our own Climates yet we are not for that Reason to disbelieve them For with us the South Wind is cloudy and boysterous whereas in Ethiopia it 's calm and clear and that the North Winds in Europe are fierce and violent but in those Regions low and almost insensible But however after all though we could heap up variety of Arguments against all these Authors concerning the Inundation of Nile yet those which we have before alledg'd shall suffice lest we should transgress those Bounds of Brevity which at the first we propos'd to our selves Having therefore divided this Book because of the Largeness of it into Two Parts having before determin'd to keep within moderate Bounds we shall now end the first part of this Treatise and continue in the other those things that are further remarkable in Egypt coherent with those before beginning with the Actions of the Kings of Egypt and the antient way of Living among the Egyptians THE SECOND PART OF THE FIRST BOOK OF Diodorus the Sicilian CHAP. IV. The First way of Living of the Egyptians Gods and Demy-Gods their Reigns in Egypt The antient Kings of Egypt Menis c. Their several Works Thebes built by Busiris The stately Sepulchers Oblisks and Temples there A Description of Osimanduas's Sepulcher Memphis built by Uchoreus Meris's Lake Sesostris or Sesoosis his famous Expedition and great Works THE First Book of Diodorus is divided into Two Parts by reason of the Greatness of it the First whereof is as a Preface to the whole Work and in which an Account is given of what the Egyptians say concerning the Beginning of the World of the first Creation of the Universe and of those Gods that built Cities in Egypt and call'd them after their own Names of the First Men and their antient way of Living of the Worship of the Gods and the building of Temples by the Egyptians Moreover of the Situation of Egypt and what strange things are related of Nile the Causes of its Inundation and the various Opinions of Philosophers and Historians concerning it Wherein likewise is set down the Confutations of the several Writers In this we shall handle and go through those matters that have a dependance upon the former After we have distinctly set forth the antient way of Living among the Egyptians we shall then begin with their first Kings and declare the Acts of every one of them successively down to Amasis They say the Egyptians in antient Times fed upon nothing but Roots
which differ one from another as there is more or less Light inclos'd in them in the Concretion And for the same Reason Birds Feathers differ in Colour so that some are all over of a Purple Dye others only spotted here and there For some things seem red others yellow some green and many of a golden Colour according to their Position to the Light To conclude P. 95. innumerable sorts of Colours very difficult to be reckon'd up are occasion'd by this Means which we see is done by the Reflection of the Sun's Beams upon the Rainbow Whence the Naturalists do agree that even the various Colours of Things above proceed from their Diversity of Heat the lively Operation of the Sun causing their several Forms and Shapes and that the various Colours of Flowers and even of the Earth it self proceed from the Efficacy of the Sun whose natural Operations the Arts of Men as Nature's Scholars do imitate framing Variety of Colours in Painting and Embroidery And that as Colours are form'd by Light so Smells of Fruits Variety of Tastes Greatness of living Creatures and the natural Constitution of every Thing and the several Properties of the Earth are caus'd by the Heat of the Sun which makes both the Earth and Water fruitful with its cherishing Heat and is the Parent of every Creature and therefore neither the Marble of Paros nor any other Stone tho' never so admirable are comparable to the Stones in Arabia which exceed all others for Lustre Weight and Delicacy This singular Property as I have said every thing is cloath'd with by the Power of the Sun in this Region For by its Heat it concretes by Exhalation hardens and by its Light beautifies Hence it is that Birds are of a hot Nature swift of Flight and deck'd most with Variety of Colours in those Regions that are directly under the Scorching Heat of the Sun For in the Province of Babylon are bred many Peacocks beautify'd with various Colours and in the * Eastern Parts furthest Parts of Syria Parrots †Porphyrio see Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 10. c. 46. Porphyrios * Meleagrides sorts of Turky-Cocks or Hens in Africa into which the Sisters of Meleager were transform'd for their immoderate Mourning for him Ovid. Met. lib. 8. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 10. c. 26. Meleagrides and many strange Birds of various Natures and Colours The like may be said of other Parts of the World where the Climate is the same as of India the Parts about the Red Sea of Ethiopia and some Parts of Africa But the Eastern Parts being richer and more fruitful breed larger and more noble Creatures Those Creatures that are bred in other Countries have Natures agreeable to the Goodness of the Soyl. So as to the Trees the * Date Trees Palm Trees of Africa bear but small and indigested Fruit But in Coelo-Syria the Dates which they call †Cariots so call'd because the wine made of the Juice is hurtful to the Head Plin. N. H. l. 13. c. 4. Cariots excel all others for pleasant Juice Sweetness and Largeness Yet in Arabia and in the Province of Babylon grow far larger than those in Quantity fix Fingers round some of a yellow some scarlet and others of a purple Dye delightful both to the Eye and grateful to the Taste The Palm Trees are very tall streight and smooth to the Top. The Branches grow near to * Plin. Nat. Hist l. 13. c. 4. the Head but not all in the like Manner For some have their Branches growing round them on every side here and there and between them the Fruit bursting out in Clusters through the Bark Others represent a burning Lamp their spiring Branches surrounding only one Part near the Top. Others whose Boughs clasp on every Part round the Tree and guarded on both sides with a double row of tender Sprouts represent something painted or inscrib'd That Part of Arabia lying to the South is call'd Arabia the Happy the Arabians Arabia the Happy that inhabit the inner Parts live Pastoral Lives and in Tents They have great Herds of Cattle and are continually in vast and large Pastures That Region which lyes between them and Arabia the Happy is Desert without Water as Arabia the Desert we have before observ'd The Places towards the West are sandy Deserts so that all that travel there direct their Course as Mariners at Sea by the * Artic Pole Bear P. 96. Star The other Part of Arabia stretching towards Syria is full of Husbandmen Sandy Arabia and divers sorts of Merchants These by their Traffic and Merchandize by importing and exporting plentifully furnish all other Parts round about with what things they want That Part bordering upon the Ocean lyes about Arabia the Happy and there by many Rivers falling down together are made many large Ponds and Lakes up and down in the Country And because large Tracts of Ground are water'd by the Rivers and the Rains that fall in the Summer time they have a double Harvest This Place breeds Troops of Elephants and other Beasts of vast Proportion and likewise of double Shapes and strange Kinds and also abundance of tame Cattle especially Oxen and Sheep which have very great and thick Tales There are there bred in like manner a sort of Camels far beyond all others both †Hairy and smooth bare and rough and the Bulch upon their Backs twice as big as any others and therefore they are call'd * Doublebulch'd Dityles Some of these bring in great Profit both by their Milk and their Flesh Others accustom'd to Burthens will carry †Ten Medimnas twenty Bushels of Corn upon their Backs which being of smaller Bodies but swifter than the rest are us'd to running and dispatch a vast Tract of Ground especially in the dry and desert Country These Beasts are useful in times of War for in Battles they carry two Archers sitting back to back the one to oppose them that attack them in the Front and the other to repulse such as fall upon them in the Rear Although this Discourse of Arabia and the Things there bred and produc'd may perhaps seem to be too tedious yet the observing Reader may find in it many things worthy to be known And now we purpose to say something briefly of a certain Island lying in the Southern Ocean and of the Wonders there Taprobana now Ceylon or Zeilan in Scripture call'd Ophir as Bochaâ—â— proves giving first an exact Account by what Means it came to be discover'd There was one Iambulus from his Youth studious and learn'd After the Death of his Father who was a Merchant he apply'd himself likewise to that Calling but as he travell'd through Arabia to This Island describ'd by Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 6. c. 22. The Discovery by Iambulus that Part of the Country where Spices most abounded he and all his Company fell into the Hands of Thieves And
fastn'd to their Forheads to give them Light being otherways in perfect Darkness in the various windings and turnings wrought in the Mine and having their Bodies appearing sometimes of one Colour and sometimes of another according to the nature of the Mine where they work they throw the Lumps and Pieces of the Stone cut out of the Rock upon the Floor And thus they are imploy'd continually without intermission at the very nod of the Overseer or Tax-master who lashes them severely besides And there are little Boys that attend upon the Labourers in the Mine and with great labour and toyl gather up the Lumps and Pieces hew'd out of the Rock as they are cast upon the Ground and carry them forth and lay them upon the Bank Those that are about Thirty Years of Age take a Piece of the Rock of such a certain quantity and pound it in a Stone Mortar with Iron Pestels till it be as small as a Vetch then those little Stones so pounded are taken from them by Women and older Men who cast them into Mills that stand together there near at hand in a long Row and Two or Three of them being imploy'd at one Mill they grind it so long till it be as small as fine Meal according to the pattern given them No care at all is taken of the Bodies of these poor Creatures so that they have not a Rag so much as to cover their Nakedness and no Man that sees them can chuse but must commiserate their sad and deplorable Condition For tho they are Sick Maim'd or Lame no rest no intermission in the least is allow'd them Neither the weakness of Old age nor Womens Infirmities are any plea to excuse them but all are driven to their work with Blows and Cudgelling till at length overborn with the intollerable weight of their misery they drop down dead in the midst of their insufferable Labours so that these miserable Creatures always expect worse to come than that which they then at present indure P. 106. and therefore long for Death as far more desirable than Life At length the Masters of the Work take Stone thus ground to Powder and carry it away in order to the perfecting of it They spread the Mineral so ground upon a broad Board somewhat hollow and lying shelving and pouring Water upon it rub it and cleanse it and so all the Earthy and Drossy part being separated from the rest by the Water it runs off the Board and the Gold by reason of its weight remains behind Then washing it several times again they first rub it lightly with their Hands afterwards they draw up the Earthy and Drossy Matter with slender Spunges gently apply'd to the Pouder'd Dust till it be clean pure Gold At last other Workmen take it away by Weight and Measure and these put it into Earthen Urns and according to the quantity of the Gold in every Urn they mix with it some Lead Grains of Salt a little Tin and Barley Bran. Then covering every Pot close and carefully dawbing them over with Clay they put them in a Furnace where they abide Five Days and Nights together then after a convenient time that they have stood to cool nothing of the other matter is to be found in the Pots but only pure refin'd Gold some little thing diminish'd in the weight And thus is Gold prepar'd in the Borders of Egypt and perfected and compleated with so many and so great toyls and Vexations And therefore I cannot but conclude that Nature itself teaches us that as Gold is got with Labour and Toyl so it s kept with difficulty creates every where the greatest cares and the use of it mixt both with Pleasure and Sorrow Yet the invention of those Metals is very ancient being found out and made use of by the ancient Kings Now we shall treat of those Nations that lye scatter'd among the Coasts of the †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arabian Gu 〈…〉 Ichthyophages Fish 〈…〉 Red Sea and through Troglodyta and the Southern parts of Ethiopia And First we shall speak of the Ichthyophages who inhabit the Sea Coasts all along as far as from Carmania and Gedrosia to the uttermost point of the Red Sea which runs up into the Land an incredible long way and at the entrance into it lyes bounded on one side with Arabia the Happy and with the Country of the Troglodites on the other Some of the Barbarians go stark naked and their Wives and Children are as common among them as their Flocks and Herds They know nothing either of Pleasure or Sorrow but what is natural like Bruit Beasts and have no apprehension either of Good or Evil. They inhabit not far from the very brink of the Sea Shore where there are not only deep Caves but Craggy Cliffs and strait and narrow Valleys divided naturally into many crooked Windings and Turnings which being of their own nature useful to the Inhabitants they make up the passages both in and out with heaps of great Stones and make use of those Places instead of Nets to catch their Fish For when the Tide comes in and overflows the Coasts as it does twice every Day about the Third and Ninth Hour and the Sea covers the Strand up to the Brinks of the Banks together with the Tide it brings in a Vast number of all sorts of Fish within the Land which at the first are kept within those parts next to the Sea but afterwards for Food disperse themselves about those hollow Caverns but when the Tide ebbs and the Water by degrees leaves the hollows and reflows through those heaps of Stones the Fish within those Caverns are left destitute of Water Upon which all the Barbarians as if they were rouz'd up by one general shout with their Wives P. 107. and Children Flock to the Place Yet they divide themselves into several Companies and each run with an hideous shout to their several Places as if a Prey were suddenly and unexpectedly presented to them Then the Women and Children gather the little Fish next to the shore and throw them upon the dry Land as fast as they can gather them and the Men and more able people busie themselves in catching the great and strong Fish for the Sea not only casts up the huge Lobsters Lampreys and Dog-Fish but also the Sea Calves and many such like both of strange names and shape They Master not these Creatures with Arms made by the Artist but strike 'em through with the sharp Goats Horns and wound and cut them with rough Stones broken off from the Rock For Necessity in every thing instructs Nature what to do and readily complies with that which seems most useful and advantagious in the present exigency After they have got their number in heaps together they carry away their Booty and put all they have caught into Stone Pots turn'd towards the South the Fish being as it were even by Fire Fry'd by the heat of the Sun
was open and near at hand In the mean time while he was filling the Net by rouling of himself round in it some forthwith rid up with full speed to the Place who before the Beast could wind up himself ty'd up the mouth of the Net which was to the Top made very long on purpose for quickness of dispatch in this business Then with all speed they put Roulers under the massy weight of the Net to lift it up and so drew it forth The Serpent being thus shut up hiss't most dreadfully gnawing the Bulrushes with his Teeth and tossing himself to and fro as if he were just leaping out of the Net which the Hunters exceedingly fearing he would do drew him out upon the ground and by often pricking him in the Tail caus'd him to snap and bite there where he was most sensible of pain At length they brought him to Alexandria and presented the Beast to the King a most strange Monster and almost incredible And to admiration this Creature was afterwards made tame For keeping him low in want of Food he abated in his fierceness so as by degrees to be very gentle Ptolemy liberally rewarded the Hunters and kept and fed the Serpent thus tam'd a most wonderful sight to all Strangers that travell'd into his Kingdom It may not therefore be judg'd altogether incredible or accounted for a Fable what the Ethiopians have related since so vast a Monster has been expos'd to open view For they affirm that there have been seen Serpents amongst them of that extraordinary bigness that they have not only devour'd Cows and Bulls and other Beasts of that size but have even fought with Elephants themselves P. 120. For they so wrap themselves round their Thighs and hold them so fast that they are not able to move or stir and pricking up their heads from under the Elephants Trunk and looking direct upon them full in the Face with the fiery Rays that dart out of their Eyes strike them blind so that they fall down to the Ground as if they were struck with a flash of Lightning and when they are down they tear them in Pieces And now since we have given a clear and sufficient account of Ethiopia and Troglodita and the bordering Countries as far as to the Torrid Zone and of the Southern Coasts and Climates of the Red Sea and the Atlantick Ocean we shall proceed to the Description of the other parts bordering upon the * Red Sea Arabian Gulf which we have learnt partly from the publick Records in Alexandria and partly from those that have seen the Places themselves For this part of the inhabited World as likewise the British Isles and the Places lying far to the North are the least known of any other But we shall describe those Northern parts which border upon the Frigid Zone together with the British Isles when we come to treat of the acts of Caius Caesar who inlarg'd the Bounds of the Roman Empire as far as to those parts and by his means we come to the Knowledge of all those Countries which were altogether unknown to us before CHAP. III. A Description of the Coasts and Countries on both sides the Arabian Gulf or Red Sea The Perfumes of Arabia the Happy The Fortunate Islands A Description of part of Lybia The Spectras near the Syrtes THe * The Red Sea Arabian Gulf as it 's call'd empties it self into the Southern Ocean and stretches out many Furlongs in length where it falls into the Sea it s both bounded with Arabia and Troglodita It 's breadth both at the Mouths and where it 's lost in the Sea is about Fifteen Furlongs But from the Port of Panormus the opposite Shoar is one Days sailing The greatest breadth is at Mount Tyrceus and Macaria where the Sea is very rough and tempestuous nor can Land be seen from one side to another from thence it grows narrower till it fall into the Ocean In the Sea are many great Islands between which the Passage for Ships is very narrow and the Water very rough And this in short is the Situation of this Gulf. We shall begin at the †That is next the Ocean utmost Parts of this Sea and describe the Coasts on both sides and what is remarkable in each as if we were sailing along And first we shall give an account of the Coast on the * Westward Right Hand the Seat of the Troglodites The Troglodites take up all this part as far as to the vast Deserts All along the Shoar on this right side from the City of Arsinoe Mariners meet with many Rivers of salt-Salt-water pouring down from the Rocks into the Sea After the passing these running Fountains appears a Mountain in a vast and large Plain of a red Colour which dazles the Eyes of all those that look earnestly upon it At the Foot of this Mountain is a Lake with an Entrance of many windings and turnings into it known by the Naâ—e of †Venus Aphrodites in this are Three Islands Two of which abound with Figs and Olives but the Third has neither yet breeds great numbers of those Birds they call Mâ—leogrides From hence you sail through a vast Gulf call'd * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acathar 〈…〉 s. Filthy or Acathartus and near unto it is an exceeding deep Current making a Peninsula carrying Ships through a narrow straight into the open Sea on the other side In sailing along by these Places there lies an Island surrounded with a deep Sea Fourscore Furlongs in length call'd the * Ophiodes Serpents Island because that in former times it abounded P. 121. with divers sorts of dreadful Serpents but in after-times by the diligence of the Kings of Alexandria it was so improv'd that now there 's not the least sign of any such Beast there But it 's not to be omitted for what Reason this Island was with so much charge improv'd The chief reason was for that in this Island was found the Topaz a resplendent Stone of a delightful Aspect like to Glass of a Golden colour and of admirable brightness and therefore all were forbidden to set footing upon that Place and if any landed there he was presently put to death by the Keepers of the Island These Keepers were few and liv'd a most miserable Life And lest the Stones should be stolen and carry'd off there was not a Ship left there and if any by chance pass near to these Places out of fear of the King they sail away as far off as they can The Provision that is imported is commonly soon spent and there 's nothing to be had that grows naturally in the Island and therefore when their Store grows low all the Inhabitants of the Village sit upon the Shoar waiting and longing for the arrival of the Provision Ships and if they stay longer than ordinary the People are driven to the utmost desperation This Stone grows in the Rocks darken'd by the
both for pleasure and necessity But the whole Country next adjoyning is destitute of Rivers and Brooks and lying to the South is even burnt up with the heat of the Sun and therefore * Where the Palm Trees grow this fruitful Tract that lies amongst dry and barren Regions far remote from Tillage and Improvement and yet affords such plenty of Food and Provision is justly by the Barbarians dedicated to the Gods For there are in it many Fountains and running Streams as cold as Snow by which means the Region from one side to the other is always green and flourishing and very sweet and pleasant to the view In this place there 's an ancient Altar of hard Stone with an Inscription in old and illegible Characters where a Man and a Woman that execute here the Priests Office during their Lives have the charge of the Grove and Altar They are Persons of Quality and great Men that abide here and for fear of the Beasts have their Beds they rest upon in the Trees The Mariner passing by this Country of Palms arrives at an Island near to a Promontory of the Continent which is call'd the Island of †Phocarum Insula Sea-Calves from the great multitudes of those Creatures that frequent this Place The Sea here so abounds with them that it 's to the admiration of the Beholders The Promontory that shoots out towards this Island lies over against Petra in Arabia and Palestine It 's said that the Gerrheans and Mineans bring out of the higher Arabia Frankincense and other odoriferous Gums into this Island The Coast next adjoining has been anciently inhabited by the Marranians and afterwards by the Garyndaneans their Neighbours who got possession in this manner At the Festival celebrated every Fifth Year in the Palm Country a great Concourse Garyndanians destroy the Marranians of the Neighbours meet together from all Parts both to Sacrifice Stall-fed Camels to the Gods of the Grove and likewise to carry some of the Spring-water that rises there back into their own Country which they say is Physical The Garyndanians taking the opportunity when the Marranians were gone to the Feast cut the Throats of all those that remain'd at Home and lay in wait for those that return'd and in their way homeward slew all them likewise and so the Country being by this means depopulated they divided that fruitful Region and those rich Pastures for Flocks and Herds by Lot amongst themselves But this Coast has very few Harbours in it by reason of the many vast Mountains that lye all along as they sail from whence is presented to the view such variety of Colours that they afford a most wonderful and delightful Prospect to the Passengers at Sea as they sail along The Promontory of Alainites next salutes them that sail on forward full of Alainites Nabateans Towns and Villages inhabited by the Arabians call'd Nabateans They possess a large Country all along the Sea-Coast and go far likewise up into the Land This Tract is very Populous and exceeding rich in Cattel Once they liv'd justly and honestly content with the Sustenance they had from their Flocks and Herds but after that the Kings of * In Egypt The Ptolemies Alexandria allow'd liberty to Merchants to traffick in the Red Sea they not only rob'd them that were Shipwrackt but provided little Skiffs and acted the Pyrats and spoil'd all other Merchants that traffickt in those Seas imitating the Taurians of Pontus in cruelty and inhumanity But afterwards being beaten in a Fight at Sea by some Gallies sent out against them they were punish'd according to their Demerits After the passing of these Tracts follows a flat Champain Country water'd in every part which by the advantage of the many Springs and Fountains that are in it abounds in rich Pastures and produces great plenty of †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clavergrass vid. Plin. Nat. Hist l. 18. c. 16. P. 124. Medica and Lotus as high as a Man Here in these Pastures are fed not only an infinite number of Cattel of all sorts but of wild Camels Harts Red and Fallow Deer This extraordinary Plenty invites out of the Deserts Lions Wolves and Leopards with whom the Shepherds and Herdsmen are forc'd to have Conflicts Night and Day for the preservation of their Flocks and Herds And thus the richness of the Countrey occasions Mischief and Prejudice For Nature often distributes her Gifts with a mixture of good and evil In sailing further along by this Champain Country the Gulf offers to the view something strange and wonderful For it shoots up with a bending Course into the Inland Parts Five Hundred Furlongs in length wall'd in on both sides with high and steep Rocks so that both the Entrance and Passage is very difficult For the Rocks that lye under Water so stop up the Entrance that it 's scarce possible to enter into the Gulf or come out and by the continual dashing of the Floods with the violence of the Winds beating upon the Shoar it foams terribly and rages on every side the Rock The People that inhabit these Parts are call'd Bizomenians and live upon wild Bizomenians Beasts taken in hunting Here 's a Sacred Temple in high veneration among all the Arabians To the Shoar of these Tracts are adjoining Three Islands which have many Ports The first which is Desert they say is consecrated to Isis There remain the Foundations of the ancient Buildings and Pillars whereon are Inscriptions in barbarous Characters the rest are as much defac'd and ruin'd yet they are shaded with Olive Trees planted here and there much different from ours Beyond these Islands there are steep Rocks hard to pass all along the Shoar for the space of a Thousand Furlongs For there 's neither Port nor Ancorage for Ships nor any Wood which can afford any necessary Relief to Mariners be they in never so great wants and extremities To this Shoar adjoins a Mountain roof'd over with craggy Rocks of a stupendious height and at the foot are many sharp Shelves which lye under water and behind them many winding Hollows worn wide by the raging Waves dashing one upon another and the Sea being very deep when a Storm beats upon them and the Water rebounds they make a noise like a mighty Thunder and part of the Waves dashing against those huge Rocks mount up in a Curl and foam to admiration and part being swallow'd up within these Caverns cause such a terrible Whirlpool that they that are driven against their wills near to these Places are ready to dye for Fear The Arabians call'd Thamudenians inhabit this Coast Next adjoining to this Perilous Sea is a mighty great Gulf which washes many Islands disper'd in it here and there to the view not much unlike to the * Little Islands near Acarnania in Greece Echinades All along this Coast which is very long and broad lye high Heaps of black Sand. Thence sailing forward is
they lay up all their Stores They command all their Subjects once a Year to take an Oath of Allegiance Those that are obedient and observant of them they protect as Friends and Associates Those that refuse to submit they condemn to dye and prosecute them with Fire and Sword as Thieves and Robbers Their Arms are suitable to the nature of their Country and their own Disposition for being nimble and inhabiting a Country for the most part Champain they go to the Field in times of War each with their Darts and a Bag fill'd with Stones But they use neither Sword nor Helmet nor any other Arms but make it chiefly their Business to be quick and nimble in pursuing and retreating and therefore are very active in running and slinging of Stones Care and continual Exercise improving natural Habits They are neither just nor faithful to Strangers in any of their Compacts The Country about Cyrene is a fat Soyl and very Fertile It not only abounds in Corn but in Wine and Oyl Fruit-Trees and Pastures and is water'd with many Rivers But those Parts that lye far South are barren and dry without Water and look like the Sea where there 's no variety of Objects but all on every side Waste and Desert over which there 's no possibility of passing and therefore there 's neither Bird nor Four-footed Beast to be seen except it be Deer or Oxen Neither is there so much as any Plant or any thing else for the Eye to fix upon for the Parts further up into the Land for a long way together are all full of Heaps of Sand. And as it 's destitute of all things for the support of Man's Life so it abounds as much in Serpents of all shapes and sizes especially those which they call Cerestes whose Bites are Mortal and they themselves of the same colour with the Sand and therefore not being discern'd or distinguish'd from the Soyl many treading upon them unawares run the hazard of losing their Lives It 's reported that this sort of Serpents once enter'd Egypt and depopulated a great part of the Country There 's likewise a strange and wonderful thing often happens in this Country both in the Deserts and that part lying near to the Syrtes For some time and most commonly in calm Weather there appear in the Air the shapes of divers living Creatures some standing still others moving some flying others pursuing and are of that monstrous bigness that they greatly terrify such as are ignorant of the nature of them Some of them pursue Men and when they take hold of them a Chilness with a Trembling seizes upon all parts of their Bodies and therefore Strangers unaccustom'd to such things are ready to fall down dead with fear but the Natural Inhabitants being us'd to them regard them P. 129. not Some Natural Philosophers endeavour to give a Reason of these strange Apparitions which look indeed like meer invented Fables They say that there are never any Winds in this Country and if there be any they are very small and inconsiderable and that the Air is often so wonderfully serene that it 's altogether without the least motion in regard that near those Parts there are neither Woods deep Valleys nor swelling Hills neither are there any great Rivers that run through the Country nor any sort of Grain or other Fruits that grow there and therefore there 's nothing from whence any Vapours can arise which are the Productive matter of Winds The Air therefore being thick in this dry and sandy Region the same things happen here in Lybia as do upon Rainy Days elsewhere where in the Clouds various Shapes and Forms may be observ'd Because the Air being concreted transforms it self into many Shapes which being wasted up and down with gentle Gales and with often brushing one upon another are consolidated and carry'd about hither and thither At length when the Air is serene and calm these Phaenomena by their weight fall to the Earth in that shape that each have accidentally before receiv'd and being that there is nothing at hand to dissolve it what sort of Living Creature soever it meets with it cleaves to it And as for that motion to and fro which they seem to have they say it is not directed by any voluntary faculty for that it is impossible any inanimate things should have a Will either to fly or pursue but the Living Creatures to which they adhere are the secret Causes of their several Motions For in their going forward they drive the Air before them and therefore the Spectrum which is made up of Air seems gradually to go forward and resemble one that flies and by the Rule of Contraries when the Body to which it approaches goes back the Resemblances appear as if they pursu'd for as much as being but empty and airy Images they are attracted by the more solid Bodies for by the force of the attraction the other way they move again towards the fore-parts of the Body attracting and whether the flying animated Bodies turn or stand still the Spectrum is still with it and then 't is no strange thing or unreasonable for the Image to dissolve when it joins to a solid animate Body and so by diffusing it self to affect it with a chilling Cold. CHAP. IV. Of the Amazons of Africa Their Acts Rooted out by Hercules and the Gorgonians by Perseus The Atlantides and the Gods among them The Original of the Titanes The Acts of Basilea or Cybele said to be born in Phrygia The Original of Atlas and Saturn A long Account given of Bacchus and the several Bacchus's there were A Description of the Grota in Nysa where he was brought up The Building of the Temple of Hammon by him The several Hercules's The Monsters Aegides and Campes kill'd by Minerva and Bacchus HAving now run over those things before mention'd it will be pertinent in Amazons this place to relate what is reported concerning the ancient Amazons of Africa For many have been persuaded into this Error as to believe that there never were any but those that inhabited upon the Banks of Thermodon in Pontus but in truth it is quite otherwise for those in Africa were far more ancient and famous than any of the rest Though we are not ignorant that the Account to be given of these will seem very strange and a meer Novelty to the Readers being that the Race of those Amazons were extinct long before the Trojan War but these Virago's about the River Thermodon flourish'd not long before these our Days For what wonder is it that the latter the knowledge of whom is so fresh should seem more renown'd than the more ancient who are altogether unknown through length of Time to the greatest part of Mankind For as much therefore as many things are reported of them both by the ancient Poets and Historians and also by many later Authors we shall likewise endeavour to give a distinct and orderly Account of
Fishermen of later time have brought up with their Nets the Heads of Stony Pillars certain Signs of the Cities being overflow'd and ruin'd by the Waters The Inhabitants that escap'd they say fled to the higher parts of the Island but the Sea rising still higher they made their Addresses to their Gods and thereupon being deliver'd from the imminent Danger they were in they compass'd in the Bounds of those Places wherein they were preserv'd throughout the whole Island and there erected Altars where they sacrifice to their Gods at this Day Whence it 's apparent that they inhabited Samothracia before the last Deluge Afterwards one Saon an Islander the Son as some say of Jupiter and Nympha but as others of Mercury and Rhena gather'd the Inhabitants before living scatter'd and dispers'd into a Body and made Laws for their better Government and divided them into Five Tribes calling them after the Names of his Sons but nam'd himself Saon after the Name of the Island The Government being thus setled it 's said that Dardanus Jasion and Harmonia the Children of Jupiter and Electra one of the Daughters of Atlas were born among them Of these Dardanus being a bold and brave Spirited Man pass'd over in a Pinnace into Asia and first built the City Dardanus and erected the Kingdom of Troy so call'd from Troy built afterwards and call'd the People Dardanians He Reign'd they say over many other Nations besides in Asia and that the Dardanians above Thrace were a Colony setled there by him It 's further said that Jupiter desiring likewise to advance his other Son to a high degree of Honour and Reputation discover'd to him the Rites of the Sacred Mysteries anciently observ'd in that Island but then newly reviv'd which it was not lawful for any to hear but those that are initiated But he seems to be the first that initiated Strangers whence these Rites and Ceremonies became more noted and famous About this time Cadmus the Son of Agenor came thither to seek after Europa Cadmus and being initiated into these Sacred Mysteries married Harmonia the Sister of Jasion not the Daughter of Mars as the Greeks report They say that this was the first Marriage that was celebrated in the presence of the Gods where Ceres in love with Jasion presented him with Corn Mercury with a Harp Minerva bestow'd that famous Necklace Vail and Pipe Electra taught him to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries of the great Mother of the Gods with Cymbals Timbrels and Dancing Apollo play'd upon his Harp and the Muses upon wind Instruments and the rest of the Gods celebrated the Nuptials with joyful Acclamations Cadmus afterwards as he was commanded by the Oracle built Thebes in Beotia and Jasion marry'd Cybele of whom they say he begat Coxybas after Jasion was receiv'd into the Number of the Gods Dardanus Cybele and Coripas travelling into Phrygia brought over the sacred Mysteries of the Mother of the Gods into Asia then Cybele Marry'd Olympus the first and bore Alces and call'd this Godess Cybele after her own Name Corybas call'd those that celebrated the sacred Mysteries of his Mother in a furious Rage like Madmen after his own Name Corybantes and marry'd Thebe the Daughter of * Cilix the Son of Phelix whence Celicid Cilix and thus Pipes were brought over into Phrygia and Mercury's Harp into Lyrnesus which when the City was taken was carry'd away by Achilles It 's reported likewise that Pluto was the Son of Jasion and Ceres which rose from this real Truth that Ceres at the Marriage of Haermonia bestowed upon Jasion upon the account of her Familiarity with him †Plutos is rich in Greek rich Presents P. 224. of Corn But what are particularly acted in the Celebration of these sacred Mysteries it 's granted are only known by those that are initiated It 's commonly said that these Gods are always present and afford their help and assistance to those that are Initiated and call upon them when they fall into any suddain and unexpected Distress and that these Worshipers grow more and more Pious and Righteous and still exceed themselves in Goodness and therefore the most famous of the Ancient Heroes and Demygods greatly coveted to be initiated into these sacred Rites and Ceremonies For it 's believ'd that Jasion Dioscurus Hercules and Orpheus who were Members of this Society through the favour of these Gods prosper'd in all their Wars Having now finish'd what concerns Samothracia the Course of the History leads us to Naxus This Island was formerly call'd Strongyle The Thracians were the first that Naxus setl'd here upon the occasion following It 's said that Boreas had two Sons Butes and Lycurgus of several Mothers Butes the younger Plotted to Murther his Brother which being plainly discover'd the Father appointed no greater a Punishment to be Executed upon his Son but only commanded him with his Accomplices to take Shipping and be gone and seek out for themselves some other Habitations Upon which Butes with a Number of Thrasians his fellow Criminals went aboard and in a direct Course made their way through the Cyclade Islands and arriv'd at Strongyle and thus possess'd of the Island robb'd all by their Piracies that pass'd that way But being in want of Women they rov'd about here and there and forcibly carry'd them away where ever they could find them Some of the Ciclade Islands at that time were wholly desolate and others of them but very thinly inhabited Running out therefore a long way off and being repuls'd at Eubaea they arriv'd at Thessaly and there landing they met with the Nurses of Bacchus at the Mountain call'd Diros Celebrating the Mysteries of the Gods in Achaia Phthiotis being then ready to seize upon the Women some of them cast away their Offerings and fled to the Sea and others to the Mountain before mention'd But Butes seiz'd upon Coronides and Ravish'd her which dishonour she bore so hainously that she call'd upon Bacchus to revenge her Disgrace and thereupon he struck Butes with Madness who in his Mad mood cast himself into a Pit and so perish'd The rest of the Thracians seiz'd upon other Women amongst whom were two Noble Ladies Iphimedia the Wife of Aloeas and his Daughter Pancratis with these they return'd to Strongyle In the room of Butes they Created Agassamenus King of the Island and Marry'd him to Pancratis the Daughter of Aloeas a Lady of an admirable Beauty For before whom he took her to be his Wife Siculus and Hecaterus two of the most eminent Commanders fought a Duel and Wounded one another Agassamenus bestow'd Iphimedia upon one of his intimate Friends whom he had made General of his Army In the mean time Aloeas sent his two Sons Otus and Ephialtes to seek after his Wife and Daughter who invading Strongyle fought with the Thracians routed 'em and took the City by Storm Not long after Pancratis dy'd Otus and Ephialtes possess'd themselves of the Island and ousted the
had revolted after Submission Sâ—e Curtius Lib. 9 Territories of Sambus razing many of the Cities and selling the Citizens for Slaves and put to the Sword above Fourscore thousand Barbarians These were the Plagues the Brachmans suffer'd All the rest who submitted except such as were the Authors and Ring-leaders of the Defection he Pardon'd In the mean time King Sambus got away with Thirty Elephants into the furthest Parts beyond the River Indus and so escap'd Amongst the Brachmans the last City attempted was †Harmatelia See Strabo Lib. 15. p. 723. Ant. Ch. 325. Harmatelia which greatly confided in the Valour of its Inhabitants and the Strength of its Situation Here the King commanded some few of his Party to go up near to the Place and provoke the Citizens to fall upon them and then to make as if they fled thereupon Five hundred approach'd to the very Walls who for their inconsiderable Number were contemn'd by the Enemy Three thousand therefore made a Sally out of the Town upon them whhreupon they took to their Heels as if they had been in a great Fright But the King with some few of his Troops fell upon the Backs of the Pursuers upon which there was a smart Engagement and many of the Barbarians were kill'd and taken But a great number of those that were kill'd and wounded on the King's side were in a desperate Condition for the Barbarians had poyson'd the Heads of their Weapons with a deadly Poyson which made Poyson'd Weapons them more Courageous and forward to Engage with the King This strong Poyson is made of certain Serpents taken by Hunting which after they are kill'd they lay out and expose to the Heat of the Sun where the Heat does so fry their Flesh as if it were melting away from which distills a sweaty Moisture wherein the Poyson of the Beast is convey'd and may be discern'd The Working of this Poyson is such that a Benumm'dness and Stupidity presently seizes upon the Body of him that is wounded and in a short time after follows most tormenting Pains Convulsions and Trembling wrecking every Member of the Body The Skin grows excessive Cold and Black and the Party vomits black Choler Moreover a black frothy Matter flows from the Wound which causes Putrefaction and presently spreads all over the principal Parts of the Body and so the Party dies in a most Miserable manner And hence it was that he that was never so Ant. Ch 32â— slightly touch'd was as much tormented as he that had the greatest Wounds After all that were thus wounded were dead the King griev'd for none so much as he did for the Misfortune of Ptolemy who Reign'd afterwards and whom at that time he dearly lov'd There happen'd at this time something extraordinary remarkable in reference to Ptolemy which some ascribe to the special Providence of God He was a Man that was belov'd of all both for his Valour and his wonderful obliging Carriage to every one and therefore met with a Cureworthy * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his kind and gracious Disposition The King dreamt that he saw a Serpent with an Herb in his Mouth which told him the Nature and Efficacy The King's Dream of the Plant and where it grew When he awoke he presently search'd for the Herb and found it and when he had bruis'd it made a Pultice of it and apply'd it to Ptolemy's Body and gave him a Potion of the Juice of the Plant and so restor'd him to perfect Health Others also when they came to know the Sovereign Use of the Herb were cur'd by the same means But when Alexander now began to apply himself to the Siege of Harmotelia a strong and well fenc'd City the Inhabitants came all forth to him and begg'd his Pardon and deliver'd up themselves and their City into his Hands and so escap'd Punishment Then sailing with his familiar Friends into the Main Ocean he found two Islands where he offer'd most magnificent Sacrifices and threw many Golden Cups of a great Value together with the Drink-Offerings into the Sea At length having rear'd up Altars to the Honour of Tethys and Oceanus supposing now he had finish'd the Voyage he intended he return'd with the Fleet up his * Indus River and arriv'd at the famous City ** City Hyala at the Mouth of the River Indus Ant. Ch. 325. Hyala This City is under the same form of Government with that of Lacedaemon For there were two Kings of two several Families succeeding in a time who had the Management and Administration of their Wars But the chief Authority in Civil Affairs resided in the Senate Here Alexander burnt all the Ships that were Leaky and Defective and deliver'd the rest of his Fleet into the Hands of * This Navigation describ'd by Arrian lib. 6 p. 143. and Pliny Nat. Hist lib. 6 c 23 They set forth from the Island Patalene and City Xunilopolis as by Arrian Lib. 6. cap. 23. Vid. Ush Ann. 266. and 269. Nearchus and some other of his Friends with a Command to sail all along the Sea-coast and diligently observe every Place till they came to the Entrance into the River Euphrates He himself rais'd his Camp and march'd a long way into the Country subduing all that oppos'd him and using them kindly that submitted to him For the Inhabitants of Abitra and Gedrosia he brought to Submission without any Hazard or Difficulty Afterwards marching through many Tracts of Land destitute of Water and as many Desarts he came to the Borders of Neoridis There he divided his Army into three Brigades the one he gave to Ptolemy the other to Leonatus the former he comanded to harrass the Sea Coasts and the other the Midland and Champian part of the Country He himself wasted and spoiled the Hill Country and Mountanous Parts and the Places thereunto adjoyning So that many Countries being Invaded all at one and the same time all Places were fill'd with Rapine Fire and Sword whence the Soldiers were loaded with rich Booty and many Thousands perish'd by the Sword The bordering Nations being terrify'd by this Destruction of People all deliver'd themselves up into the Power of the King * In Rambacia Here the King having a desire to build a City near to the Sea and having found a safe Harbour and a convenient Place near to it built one accordingly and call'd it Alexandria Then he entred through ways made Alexandria in India built by his Pioneers into the Country of the * Oritans Neoritans and presently forc'd them all to submit These People are like all the rest of the Indians both for Laws and Manners except in one thing which is almost Incredible For the Kindred and Relations of those that Ant. Ch. 325. are Dead all stark Naked with their Lances in their Hands carry forth the Dead Bodies Burials of the Neoritans into some Wood or other belonging to the Country and there strip the
Water is very bitter and stinking so that neither Fish nor any other thing us'd to the Water can live in it And though many remarkable Rivers of very sweet Water empty themselves into it yet it remains as corrupt and unsavory both as to Tast and Smell as ever it did before Every Year rises out of the middle of it great massy pieces of Bitumen and Pitch sometimes bigger then Three * Every Plethra is 100 Foot Plethras and sometimes a little less then one And upon that account the Barbarous Inhabitants call the larger pieces Bulls and the less Calves These pieces of Pitch and Brimstone floating upon the Water seem at a distance to be as so many Islands There are evident Signs that sorgoe and give notice of the casting up of this Bituminous Matter at least Twenty Days before For a horrid smell of Brimstone and Pitch infects the Air round about the Lake at many Furlongs distance and all Metals whether of Gold Silver or Copper near the place change their natural Colour which presently returns again as soon as the Brimstone is exhal'd The places bordering upon it are so burning hot by reason of the Sulphur and Brimstone under ground and cast forth such an horrible stench that the Inhabitants are very unhealthy and short liv'd yet the Country thereabouts being water'd with many pleasant Rivers and refreshing Springs bears abundance of Palm-Trees and in a certain Vale near to this place grows that they call * The Balm of Gilead P. 725. Balm from which they raise a great Revenue inasmuch as this Plant grows in no other part of the World beside and is of excellent use amongst Physitians for the healing and curing of Wounds and other Distempers The Inhabitants on both sides this Lake are so earnest to carry away this Brimstone that they fight one with nother and they bring it off in a strange manner without Shipping For they cast in huge Bundles of Butrushes fastned close together upon which Three or more of them place themselves two of which ply the Oars that are fastn'd to the Bulrushes and the third carrys a Bow and Arrows to defend themselves against such as attempt to make up upon them from the other side or that offer them any violence Assoon as they come to the Brimstone they get upon it and hew it in pieces with Axes as pieces of stone out of a soft Rock and so loading the Bulrish Boat they row back If any fall into the Water through the deficiency of the Boat yet he never sinks as in other waters tho' he knows not how to swim but lies upon the water as if he were the best swimmer in the World For this Lake naturally bears any thing that has either a vegetative or an animal Life except such things as are solid and seem to be without Pores as Silver Gold Lead or the like and these likewise are much longer and slower in sinking than when they are cast into other waters And this profit and advantage the Barbarians reap from it they Transport this Pitch into Egypt and there sell it for the use of embalming of the Dead for if they do not mix this with other Aromatick Spices the Bodies cannot be preserv'd long from putrefaction Antigonus at the Reign of Demetrius having heard the Relation of his Voiage blam'd him for his making Peace with the Nabatheans saying that those barbarous people having so escapt would thereupon grow more insolent than before concluding that they were not favour'd out of love or compassion of the Conqueror but in dispair of the Conquest but he commended him for discovering the Lake Asphaltes seeing that from thence he Ant. Ch. 310. might raise some yearly Revenue to himself and made Hieronimus Cardianus the Historian his Treasurer for that Revenue and commanded him to build Ships and gather together all the Bitumen or liquid Brimstone that could be gotten out of that Lake But Antigonus in the event was frustrated of his hope for the Arabians coming together to the number of Six thousand Men set upon them as they were in their Ships gathering this Brimstone and shot them almost all to death with their Arrows whereby Antigonus lost all hopes of making any standing Revenue that way and forbore all further prosecution of that design both upon the account of the miscarriage already and likewise for that he had matters of greater weight and concern then in his head For about that time a Courrier came and brought Letters to him from Nicanor Governor of Media and others how Seleucus was return'd and prosper'd in those parts Whereupon Antigonus being much concern'd for the upper Provinces sent his Son Demetrius with Five thousand Macedonian Foot and Ten thousand Mercenaries and Four thousand Horse with charge that he should march to the very Walls of Babylon and having recover'd that Province should from thence march down to the Sea Demetrius hereupon departed from Damascus in Syria and went vigorously on to fulfil his Fathers Command But Patrocles whom Celeucus had made President of Babylon so soon as he heard that Demetrius was falling into Mesopotamia not daring to stay his coming because he had but a smal power about him commanded the rest to leave the City and that passing the Euphrates they should flee some into the Deseart others over the Tigris into the Province of Susa and to the * The Red Sea in the Greek but mistook Ant. Ch. 310. Persian Sea and he himself with a company which he had about him trusting in the Barrs of the Rivers and Dikes of the Country thereabouts instead of so many Fortresses and Bulwarks for his defence kept himself still within the Bounds of his own Government and cast about how to intrap his Enemy sending ever and anon Tidings to Seleucus in Media how how things went with him and desiring aid to be speedily sent to him Demetrius when he came to Babylon and found the City it self void of Inhabitants fell P. 726. presently to besiege the Forts and Castles that were therein and having taken one of them gave the spoil thereof to his Soldiers But having besieg'd the other for some days together in hast he departed leaving Archelaus one of his trusty friends to maintain the Siege with Five thousand Foot and a Thousand Horse and himself seeing the time run out which his Father had appointed him to finish his work in return'd with the rest of the Army into the lesser Asia While those things were acting the Wars between the Romans and the Samnites continu'd still in Italy wherein there were daily excursions into one anothers Territories Besieging of Cities and Incamping of Armies on both sides For the Contest between the most warlike Nations of Italy was which should gain the Empire and Sovereign Wars in Italy Command of the whole upon which account many great Battles were fought At length the Consuls of Rome with a part of their Forces Incampt in the
of the Cross And thus some suffer'd as Fortune order'd it by the hands of their near Relations and Friends Extremity and Necessity not allowing any Consideration of natural Relation Agathocles perceiving the Townsmen to defie all danger and throw off all Regard and Affection to their Countrymen begirt the City round and made a violent Assault upon a part of the Wall where it was weakest and there broke through into the City upon which some fled into their Houses and others into the Temples Agathocles being enrag'd fill'd all places with Blood and Slaughter Some were kill'd in heat of Fight others that were taken pris'ners were hang'd up afterwards and those that fled to the Temples and Altars were altogether frustrated of their hopes After he had rifl'd and plunder'd the Town he left a Garrison in it and march'd to the Cittadel call'd the Horse-Castle naturally defended by a Lough adjoyning to it But he took it by Storm after a close Siege and a sharp Fight with the Inhabitants upon the Water with his Gallies Thus having subu'd the Cities he brought most of the Sea Coasts and those that inhabited Ant. Ch. 305. in the heart of the Country under his own Power except the Numidians part of whom made Peace with him and the rest were in continual expectation to fight it out to the last Africa was at that time divided into four sorts of Inhabitants That is to say The Poeni Sorts of People in Africa who inhabited Carthage The Libyan Poeni who had many Cities upon the Tracts lying to the Sea Shoar who being conjoyn'd in Affinity by Marriages with the Carthaginians were call'd by this Name that imported the Denomination of both People The most Ancient Inhabitants and most numerous of all the rest were call'd Africans who hated the Carthaginians to the death by reason of the severity of their Government The last are the Numidians who hold a vast Tract of Lybia as far as to the very Desarts But Agathocles tho' he was now by the help of his Confederates and the Valour of his own Army Conqueror over the Carthaginians yet being much concern'd for the Affairs of Sicily he built some open Vessels and Skiffs row'd with Fifty Oars apiece and put on board Two thousand Soldiers and loos'd from Africa with his whole Fleet towards Sicily leaving his Son Archagathus Chief Commander and Governor of Lybia While these things were acting Xenodocus General of the Agrigentines having freed Xenodocus routed in Sicily Ant. Ch. 305. many of the Cities and rais'd the hopes of the Sicilians that they should all be restor'd to their Ancient Liberties throughout the whole Island led out his Forces against Agathocles his Captains having with him above Ten thousand Foot and almost a Thousand Horse Leptines and Demophilus on the other hand having got together as great an Army as possibly they could out of Syracuse and the neighbouring Garrisons encamp'd against him with Eight thousand and Two hundred Foot and Twelve hundred Horse At length there was a sharp Engagement between the two Armies in which Xenodocus was routed and lost Fifteen hundred of his Men and was forc'd to fly to Agrigentum The Agrigentines weaken'd by this loss left off their Honourable Design and frustrated the hopes wherewith they had fill'd the Hearts of the Confederates Presently after the Battle Agathocles landed at Selinunt in Sicily and shortly forc'd the Heracleots who had regain'd their Liberty to stoop again to his Government Thence marching into another part of the Island he brought under the Thermites whose City was held by a Carthaginian Garrison and receiv'd Hostages of them Then he took Cephaloedium and made Leptines P. 763. Governor Then marching up into the heart of the Country he attempted to have enter'd Centorippa in the night by the help of a Faction he had in the City But the Treachery being discover'd the Garrison Soldiers fell in upon him and drave him out of the Town with the loss of above Five hundred of his Men. After this some of the Apolloniats sent to him and promis'd to deliver up their City whereupon he forthwith made thither But the Traitors being apprehended and punished he made nothing of it the Ant. Ch. 305. first Day but the next after many hardships and the loss of many of his Men he at length with much ado gain'd the place and putting multitudes of the Apelloniats to the Sword he gave the Town up to the plunder of his Soldiers While Agathocles was thus imploy'd Dinocrates the Captain of the Exiles reviv'd the prosecution of the former design of the Agrigentines and declar'd himself Protector of the Common Liberty and got together great numbers who came flocking in to him from all parts Some out of a natural love of Liberty and others out of fear of Agathocles were at his Devotion Having Agathocles 〈◊〉 in Sicily therefore now an Army of Twenty thousand Foot and Fifteen hundred Horse who were all accustom'd to the hadships and toils of Exiles he took the Field and dar'd Agathocles to a Battel But Agathocles being much inferior in number made a running Fight of it but Dinocrates still pressing close at his heels often gain'd several advantages * without D 〈…〉 Archagathus in Africa without any difficulty From this time forward things began to go backwards with Agathocles not only in Sicily but also in Africa For Archagathus left General there after his Father was gone sent a part of the Army into the Upper Countries under the Command of Eumachus and at first was successful for Eumachus took the great City Tocas and subdu'd many of the neighbouring Numidians Then he took another Town Ant. Ch. 305. call'd Phellina and subdu'd the bordering Inhabitants call'd Asphodelodians who are as black as the Aethiopians He gain'd likewise Maschala an exceeding large City anciently inhabited by the Greeks that planted there in their return from Troy as we have before related in the Third Book Afterwards he brought under the Citadel call'd the Troy Horse-Castle formerly taken by Agathocles The last Town he gain'd was Acris a Free City the Plunder of which he gave to his Soldiers and sold the Inhabitants for Slaves and so loaden with spoil return'd to Archagathus to the Camp His Name being now up for a brave and valiant Man he undertook another Expedition into the Higher Africa and passing by the places he had before lately taken he inconsiderately broke into the City call'd Mittines But the Barbarians coming upon him in a full Body in the Streets they so far prevail'd that unexpectedly they drave him out of the Town again with the loss of a great number of his Men. Thence he march'd away over an high Mountain Two hundred Furlongs in length full of Wild Cats there no kind of Birds bred either in Trees Holes or elsewhere because of the greedy nature of these Beasts Having pass'd over these Mountains he enter'd into a Country abounding
the Cities generally came flocking in to him insomuch that Ambassadors came to him from all Cities inviting him by their publick Decrees to come in to them calling him their God and Deliverer And upon notice of the Kings approach the People came hudling out of the several Cities in white Garments to to Salute him and receiv'd him with great joy and acclamation 6. Mithridates his Party sweeping all before them in Asia as they went without Controul all the Cities strangely Revolted from the Romans And as for the Lesbians they resolv'd not only to yield up themselves to the King but to deliver up Aquilius also Mithridates cited by Ush An. ibidem who flew away to Mitilene and lay there to be Cur'd of a Disease Whereupon they sent to his Lodgings a Company of choice Youths Stout and Resolute who came rushing into the Room where Aquilius was and took him and bound him supposing he would be a most rare Present and very acceptable to Mithridates But Aquilius tho' he was but as yet a Youth perform'd a most Noble and Heroick Act for preferring Death before Disgrace and the punishments of a Slave he prevented them that were ready to hurry him away and kill'd himself With which desperate Act those that came to take him along with them were so Terrifi'd that they durst not approach him * But Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 33 c. 3. says Mithridates pour'd melted Gold down his Throat for his Covetousness Ush An. 518. Ant. Ch. 88. This was in the War between Mithridates and tue Romans His Valour and Resolution therefore was cry'd up every where who by the putting an end to his own Life had rescu'd himself with an undaunted Courage from the Torments design'd to be Executed upon him 7. In order to a Sea Fight the Rhodians were overmatcht in nothing but in the number of Ships and in all other respects they were far Superiour as being the better Pilots knew better how to order their Ships ply the Oars had the more sprightly Soldiers and the more expert Commanders whereas on the contrary the Cappadocians were but Fresh water Soldiers seldom exercis'd at Sea Fights and which commonly proves the Bane of all did all Tumultuously and without any Order It 's true indeed they were as cheerful and ready to Ingage as the Rhodians because they were to Fight just under the King's Eye and therefore desir'd to approve their Loyalty and Affection to him and in regard they only overpowr'd their Enemies in number of Ships they us'd all the Arts and Contrivances they could devise to Surround and Hem them in 8. Caius Marius was the most renown'd Person of any of his time when he was young he was ambitious of Honour and Glory free from Covetousness and perform'd many Caius Marius occasion'd great troubles in Rome noble Acts both in Europe and Africa so that his Name was famous and cry'd up in all Places But when he grew old and coveted the Riches of King Mithridates and the Wealth of the Cities of Asia and sought against the Laws to have the Province which was allotted to Cornelius Sulla to be transferr'd to him he fell justly into many Calamities for he not only miss'd those Riches which he Coveted but lost all that were his own the Quaestors by reason of his extraordinary Covetousness being sent to seize upon all his Goods for the publick Use He was moreover by the Judgment of the People condemn'd to die but escap'd that punishment by flight and wander'd Solitarily and alone up and down Italy and at length got into Numidia poor and destitute of all things Afterwards when the Civil Wars broke out in Rome he join'd with those that were judg'd Enemies to the Romans and being Victorious he was not contented with his Return into his own Country but rais'd great Commotions in the Commonwealth But at length having gain'd the Seventh Consulship and by his own Misfortunes learn'd the inconstancy of Fortune he was unwilling to put things to a hazard any more And therefore foreseeing the dreadful War Sylla was bringing upon his Country he Murder'd himself but leaving behind him the Seeds of a most grievous War he involv'd his Son and Country in most dreadful Calamities For his Son being forc'd to contest with an Enemy more Potent than himself he most miserably perisht upon taking of the City in a Vault whither he fled to hide himself And the People of Rome and Cities of Italy having been now long ingag'd in a cruel War fell under most dreadful Calamities For two principal Men of the City Scaevola and Crassus without any Course of Legal proceedings were Murder'd in the Senate whose cruel Murder plainly evidenc'd the greatness of those Miseries that then threatned both the City and all Italy For the greatest part of the Senate and the most eminent Men of the City were slaughter'd by Sylla and no less than 100000 Soldiers were slain either in Mutinies or Battles and all these Miseries were at first occasion'd by the Covetousness only of Marius 9. Lucius Cornelius Merula who was chosen Consul in the room of Cinna when Cinna agreed to Peace upon Condition he might be restored to the Consulship approv'd himself a good Citizen and evidenc'd his extraordinary love to his Country For addressing himself to the Senate and People and Discoursing concerning what might most tend to the publick good he promis'd he would be the Procurer of Peace and whereas he was chosen Consul much against his Will he declar'd he would now freely of his own accord give up his Authority into the hands to Cinna upon which he forthwith surrendred his Consulship and became a private Man The Senate hereupon sent Ambassadors to Cinna and having agreed with him upon the Terms of Peace introduc'd him into the City 10. Lucius Sylla being greatly straiten'd for want of Money rifled Three Temples Lucius Sylla that were full of devoted Gold and Silver that is the Temple of Apollo at Delphos of Aesculapius at Epidaurus and the famous Temple of Jupiter at Olympus out of which last he carry'd away a vast Treasure for that it had never been before violated But as to the Temple at Delphos the Phocians in the time of the sacred War had drain'd it of its Wealth When Sylla therefore had thus heap'd up a mighty mass of Gold and Silver and other Treasure he was sufficiently furnish'd with Money to carry on the War in Italy But having without all Fear or Sense of Religion thus robb'd the Temples he consecrated a piece of Land to the Gods for the maintaining of yearly Sacrifices in lieu of the Money And would often in a Joke and Jest say That he was sure to be Victorious in all Encounters who had the Gods for his Assistants and for that end had help'd him with Money 11. Fimbria having out-ran Flaccus and gotten a long way before him in his March Fimbria his Soldiers spoil the Country by License Cited Ush
approach to the brink of the Fountain All the Land about for Two Hundred Furlongs round is consecrated to the Gods and the Revenues bestow'd in maintaining the publick Sacrifices and Service of the Gods Beyond these consecrated Lands is an high Mountain dedicated likewise to the Gods which they call the Throne of Celus and Triphylius Olympus for they report that †Call'd Caelum in Latin Vranus when he govern'd the whole World pleasantly diverted himself in this Place and from the top of the Mount observ'd the motion of the Heavens and Stars and that he was call'd Triphylius Olympus because the Inhabitants were compos'd of Three several Nations Panchaeans Oceanites and Doians who were afterwards expell'd by Ammon for it 's said that he not only rooted out this Nation but utterly destroy'd all their Cities and laid Doia and Asterusia even with the Ground The Priests every Year solemnize a Sacred Festival in this Mountain with great Devotion Behind this Mount in other Parts of Panchaea they say there are abundance of wild Beasts of all kinds as Elephants Lions Leopards Deer and many other wonderful Creatures both for Strength and Proportion In this Island there are Three chief Cities Hyracia Dalis and Oceanis The whole Country is very Fertile and especially in the production of all sorts of Wine in great Plenty The Men are Warlike and use Chariots in Battles after the ancient manner The whole Nation is divided into Three Parts The First Class is of the Priests with whom are joyn'd the Artificers The other Tribe consists of the Husband-men and the Third are the Militia and the Shepherds The Priests govern all and are the sole Arbitrators in every matter for they give Judgment in all Controversies and have the Power and Authority in all publick Transactions of State The Husbandmen Till the Land but the Fruit is brought into the Common Treasury and who is judg'd the most skilful in Husbandry receives the largest share of the Fruits for a Reward in the First Place and so the Second and the rest in order to the Tenth as every one merits less or more receives his Reward by the Judgment of the Priests In the same manner the Shepherds and Herdsmen carefully bring into the publick Stock the Victims and other things both by number and weight as the nature of the things are for it 's not lawful for any to appropriate any thing to themselves particularly except a House and a Garden For all the young Breed of Cattel and other things and all the Revenues are receiv'd by the Priests and they justly distribute to every one as their necessity does require only the Priests have a double Proportion P. 222. They wear soft and fine Garments for their Sheeps Wooll is much finer here than any where else both Men and Women likewise deck themselves with Golden Ornaments for they wear Necklaces of Gold and Bracelets about their Arms and like the Persians have Rings hanging in their Ears Their Shooes are such as others wear but richly beautify'd with divers sorts of Colours Their Soldiers for ordinary Pay defend the Country fortifying themselves within Camps and Bulwarks for there 's a part of the Island infested with most daring Thieves and Robbers who often lurch and surprize the Husband-men To conclude these Priests for Delicacy State and Purity of Life far exceed all the rest of the Inhabitants Their Robes are of white Linen and sometimes of pure soft Wooll They wear likewise Miters imbroider'd with Gold Their Shoes are Sandals curiously wrought with exquisite Workmanship and in their Ears hang Golden Ear-rings like to the Womens They attend chiefly upon the Service of the Gods singing melodious Songs in their Praises setting forth their glorious Acts and Benefits bestow'd upon Men. The Priests say they came originally from Crete and were brought over into Panchaea by Jupiter when he was upon Earth and govern'd all the World and alledge their Language for a Confirmation of this Assertion in as much as they retain many Words of the Cretian Speech among them And further say that they deriv'd from their Ancestors that Civility and kindness wherewith they entertain the Cretians the Fame and report of their ancient Consanguinity descending continually in a perpetual Succession to their Posterity They shew likewise a Record written as they say by Jupiter's own Hand at the time when he was on Earth and laid the Foundation of the Temple There are in this Island likewise Mines of Gold Silver Brass and Iron but not lawful for any to export them Nay it 's not lawful for any of the Priests to go out of the Verge of the Consecrated Ground and if any do it 's lawful for any Man that finds 'em to kill ' em They have under their Charge innumerable vast Vessels and other Consecrated things both of Gold and Silver which have been laid up there in honour of the Gods for many Ages The Gates of the Temple are of admirable Workmanship beautify'd with Gold Silver Ivory and Thyne Wood. The * Whereon he lay at Meals Bed of the God is Six Cubits long and Four broad of massy Gold most curiously wrought in every part and near adjoyning stands the Table as large and of the like Materials and Workmanship with the other in every respect In the middle of the Bed is plac'd a great Golden Pillar whereon are Letters inscrib'd call'd by the Egyptians Sacred Writing expressing the famous Actions of Vranus Jupiter Diana and Apollo written they say by Mercury himself Celus But this may suffice concerning the Islands lying in the Ocean over against Arabia We shall now speak of those in the Aegaean Sea near to Greece beginning Samothracia with Samothracia It 's said this Island was anciently call'd Samos and afterwards Samothracia to distinguish from one near to it call'd Samos built by Samus The Inhabitants are those that have ever been originally there so that there 's nothing certain handed down to Posterity concerning the first Inhabitants and Governors of this Place Some there are notwithstanding that report that it was anciently call'd Samos and afterwards Samothracia from Colonies that settl'd there out of Samos and Thrace The natural Inhabitants had anciently a peculiar kind of Speech some Marks P. 223. whereof remain in the Worship of their Gods at this Day The Samothracians themselves report that before there was any Flood in any other Nations there was a great one amongst them The first Irruption was at the Mouth of the * Two Rocks in the Thracian Bosphorus Cyneae and the other made through the Hellespont For they say that the Pontick Sea being once a standing Pool was so swell'd by the falling in of Rivers that being overcharged with Water it empty'd it self into the Hellespont and overflow'd a great part of the Coasts of Asia and laid a considerable part of the Champain Country of Samo-thracia under Water And as a manifestation of this some