152 History of Nature. [BooK VI. 



Esca, Magusurn, Tammacum, Labecia, and the above-named 

 Marieba, in Circuit Six Miles : likewise Caripeta, the furthest 

 that he went to. The other matters he made report of were, 

 that the Nomades live on Milk and Wild Animals ; the rest 

 express Wine, as the Indians do, out of Dates ; and Oil of 

 Sesama. That the Homerites are the most Populous ; the 

 Minaei have Fruitful Fields, full of Palm-trees and Vine- 

 yards, but their Riches is in Cattle. The Cembani and 

 Arii excel in Arras, but chiefly the Chatramotitae. The 

 Caraeans have the largest Territories and most Fertile 

 Fields. The Sabaei are Richest in the Fertility of their 

 Woods, that bring forth Aromatic Gums : also in Mines of 

 Gold ; having Water to refresh their Lands, and plenty of 

 Honey and Wax. Of the Spices that come from thence we 

 will speak in a Book by itself. The Arabians wear Mitres, 1 

 or go with their Hair long ; their Beards they shave, except 

 on the upper Lip ; and yet some there are that suffer their 

 Beards to grow long. But one thing is surprising, that out 

 of such a very great number of People, the one-half live by 

 Robbery, and the other by Merchandise. On the whole 

 they are exceedingly rich ; for with them the Romans and 

 Parthians leave very large Sums, for the Commodities out 

 of their Woods and Seas which they sell them ; and them- 

 selves buy nothing of them in return. Now will we speak of 

 the other Coast opposite to Arabia. Timosthenes hath set 

 down, that the whole Gulf was from one End to the other 

 Four Days' Sailing : and from Side to Side, Two Days' ; the 

 Breadth of the Straits being Seven Miles over. Eratosthenes 

 saith, that taking the Measure at the very Mouth, it is every 

 way 1300 Miles. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



The Gulf of the Red Sea : likewise of the Trogloditic and 

 ^Ethiopian Seas. 



ARTEMIDORUS saith, that the Red Sea toward the side of 

 Arabia is 1450 Miles : but on the Coast of the T rogloditse 1 1 82, 



1 It is a question whether these are not rather turbans, as at present 

 extensively worn through Asia. Wern. Club. 



