BOOK VI. IV. 11-14 



by a vast mountain range. Beyond Trebizond begins 

 the Armenochalybes tribe, and 30 miles fui-ther 

 Greater Armenia. On the coast before reaching 

 Trebizond is the river Pyxites, and beyond Trebizond 

 the Charioteer Sanni, and the river Absarrus with 

 the fortress of the same name in its gorge, 140 miles 

 from Trapezus. Behind the mountains of this dis- 

 trict is Hiberia, and on the coast the Charioteers, 

 the Ampreutae and the Lazi, the rivers Acampseon, 

 Isis, Mogrus and Batliys, the Colchian tribes, the 

 town of Matiimi, the River of Heracles and the cape 

 of the same name, and the Rion, the most celebrated 

 river of the Black Sea region. The Rion rises among vheriver 

 the Moschi and is navigable for ships of any size ^^' 

 for 38^ miles, and a long way further for smaller 

 vessels ; it is crossed by 120 bridges. It had a 

 considerable number of towns on its banks, the most 

 notable being Tyndaris, Circaeus, Cygnus, and at 

 its mouth Phasis ; but the most famous was Aea, 

 15 miles from the sea, wliere two very large tributaries 

 join the Rion from opposite directions, the Hippos 

 and the Cyaneos. At the present day the only town 

 on the Kion is Surium, which itself also takes its name 

 from a river that enters the Rion at the point up to 

 which we said that it is navigable for large vessels. 

 It also receives other tributaries remarkable for their 

 size and number, among them the Glaucus ; at its 

 mouth is an island with no name, 70 miles from the 

 mouth of the Absarnus. Then there is another river, 

 the Charieis, the Saltiae tribe called of old the 

 Pine-seed-eaters, and another tribe, the Sanni ; 

 the river Chobus flowing from the Caucasas through 

 the Suani territory ; then Rhoan, the Cegritic 

 district, the rivers Sigania, Thersos, Astelphus and 



347 



