142 History of Nature. [BooK VI. 



Nomades occupy the circuit of the Euphrates, as far as to the 

 Deserts of Syria : from which place we said that it turned 

 into the South, abandoning the Deserts of Palmyra. 1 From 

 the beginning of Mesopotamia to Seleucia, by sailing on the 

 Euphrates, is 1125 Miles ; and from the Red Sea, if you go 

 by the Tigris, 320 Miles ; from Zeugma 527 Miles ; and to 

 Zeugma from Seleucia in Syria, upon the Coast of our Sea, 

 is 175 Miles. This is the Breadth there of the Land between 

 the two Seas. The Kingdoms of Parthia contain 944 Miles. 

 Finally, there is a Town of Mesopotamia on the Bank of the 

 Tigris, near where the Rivers meet, which they call Digba. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

 The River Tigris. 



IT is also convenient to say somewhat of the River Tigris 

 itself. It beginneth in the Region of Armenia the Greater, 

 issuing out of a great Source in the Plain. The place beareth 

 the Name of Elongosine. The River itself, so long as it run- 

 neth slowly, is named Diglito ; but when it beginneth to be 

 rapid, it is called Tigris, which in the Median language sig- 

 nifieth a Dart. It runneth into the Lake Arethusa, which 

 beareth up all that is cast into it; and the Vapours that arise 

 out of it carry Clouds of Nitre. In this Lake there is but 

 one kind of Fish, and that entereth not into the Channel of 

 the Tigris as it passeth through ; as likewise the Fishes of 

 the Tigris do not swim out into the Water of the Lake. In 

 its Course and Colour it is unlike the other : and when it is 

 past the Lake and meeteth the Mountain Taurus, it loseth 

 itself in a Cave, and so runneth under, until on the other 



1 This is Tadmor in the wilderness, built by Solomon, king of Israel, 

 and further illustrious from being the city where the critic Longinus was 

 the prime minister of the Queen Zenobia. It is now truly in a wilder- 

 ness, but is still celebrated for its remains of antiquity : chiefly of Greek 

 construction. There are many streams coming down from the adjacent 

 mountains, and there can be no doubt that if a settled tribe fixed 

 themselves there, the tract would become as fine an oasis as ever. 

 Wern. Club. 



