148 History of Nature. [BooK VI. 



named Forath, situated upon the Bank of the Pasitigris, and 

 subject to the King of the Caraceni : to which they resort 

 from Petra; and from thence to Charax they sail with a 

 favourable Tide for the Space of twelve Miles. But they 

 that come by Water out of the Parthian Kingdom, meet with 

 a Village called Teredon, below the Place where Euphrates 

 and Tigris meet. The Chaldaeans inhabit the left Bank of 

 the River, and the Nomades called Scenitse, the right. Some 

 affirm, that as you sail on the Tigris, you pass by two other 

 Towns, distant from each other : the one called formerly 

 Barbatia, and afterwards Thumata, which our Merchants 

 report to be ten Days' Sail from Petra, and to be subject to 

 the King of the Characeni : and the other named Apamia, 

 situated in the Place where the Overflowing of Euphrates 

 joineth with the Tigris ; and therefore they prevent the In- 

 vasion of the Parthians, by breaking up the Banks and so 

 procure an Inundation of the Waters. Now being past Cha- 

 rax, we will discourse of the Coast first explored by Epi- 

 phanes. The Place where the Mouth of the Euphrates was. 

 A River of Salt Water ; the Promontory Chaldone, where the 

 Sea is more like a Whirlpool than a Sea, for 50 Miles. The 

 River Achana ; Deserts for 100 Miles, until you come to the 

 Island Ichara : the Bay Capeus, which the Gaulopes and 

 Chateni inhabit : the Bay Gerraicus, and the Town Gerra, 

 five Miles in extent ; and fortified with Towers made of square 

 Masses of Salt. Fifty Miles from the Sea-side is the Region 

 Attene : and overagainst it the Island Tylos, as many Miles 

 from the Shore, with a Town bearing the Name of the Island, 

 much celebrated for Abundance of Pearls : and not far from 

 it is another somewhat less, twelve Miles from the Cape of 

 the aforesaid Tylos. Beyond these there are discovered by 

 Report some great Islands ; but they have not been visited 

 by our Merchants. This last Island is 112 Miles and a half 

 in Circuit, and is far from Persis ; and Access to it is only 

 by one narrow Channel. The Island Asgilia ; the Nations 

 Nocheti, Zurachi, Borgodi, Catarsei, and Nomades : the 

 River Cynos. Beyond that, Juba saith, there is no more 

 Navigation discovered on that Side, by reason of the Rocks. 

 He hath made no mention of the Town Batrasabe of the 



