98 PLINY'S NA.TUEAL HISTOET. [Book VI. 



town of Tacompsos, 16 by some called Thatice, as also Aramasos, 

 Sesamos, Sanduma, Masindomacam, Arabeta and Boggia, 

 Leupitorga, Tantarene, Mecindita, Noa, Gloploa, Gystate, Me- 

 gada, Lea, Kemri, Nups, Direa, Patiga, Bacata, Dumana, 

 Rhadata, at which place a golden cat was worshipped as a 

 god, Boron, in the interior, and Mallos, near Meroe ; this is 

 the account given by Bion. 



Juba, however, gives another account ; he says that there 

 is a city on Mount Megatichos, 17 which lies between Egypt 

 and ./Ethiopia, by the Arabians known as Myrson, after which 

 come Tacompsos, Aramus, Sesamos, Pide, Mamuda, Orambis, 

 situate near a stream of bitumen, Amodita, Prosda, Parenta, 

 Mama, Tesatta, Gallas, Zoton, Graucome, Emeus, the Pidi- 

 botae, the Hebdomecontacometse, 18 Pomades, who dwell in 

 tents, Cyste, Macadagale, Proaprimis, JSTups, Detrelis, Patis, 

 the Ganbreves, the Magasnei, Segasmala, Crandala, Denna, 

 Cadeuma, Thena, Batta, Alana, Mascoa, the Scammi, Hora, 

 situate on an island, and then Abala, Androgalis, Sesecre, 

 the Malli, and Agole. 



On the African side 1& we find mentioned, either what is 

 another place with the same name of Tacompsos, or else a part 

 of the one before-mentioned, and after it Moggore, Ssea, Edos, 

 Plenarise, Pinnis, Magassa, Buma, Linthuma, Spintum, Sydop, 

 the Censi, Pindicitora, Acug, Orsum, Sansa, Maumarum, 

 Urbim, the town of Molum, by the Greeks called Hypaton, 20 

 Pagoarca, Zmanes, at which point elephants begin to be found, 

 the Mambli, Berressa, and Acetuma; there was formerly a 

 town also called Epis, over against Meroe, which had, however, 

 been destroyed before Bion wrote. 



These are the names of places given as far as Meroe ; but 

 at the present day hardly any of them on either side of 

 the river are in existence ; at all events, the praetorian troops 



16 This place was also called in later times Contrapselcis. It was 

 situate in the Dodecaschoenus, the part of ^Ethiopia immediately above 

 Egypt, on an island near the eastern bank of the river, a little above 

 Pselcis, which stood on the opposite bank. It has been suggested that this 

 may have been the modern island of Derar. The other places do not 

 appear to have been identified, and, in fact, in no two of the MSS. do the 

 names appear to agree. 



17 Or the " Great Wall.'' 



8 Meaning, " the people who live in seveniy villages." 

 | 9 ^Or western side of the Nile, between Syene and Meroe. 

 'YTraroi/, the " supreme," or perhaps the " last." 



