BOOK VI. .wiii. 48-xLx. 51 



Zariasta from the river, but its name was afterwards 



changed to Balkh." This race occupies the oppo- 

 site side of the Hindu Kush over against the 

 sources of the Indus, and is enclosed by the river 

 Ochus. Beyond are the Sogdiani and the town of 

 Panda, and on the farthest confines of their territory 

 Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great. At 

 this place there are altars set up by Hercules and 

 Father Liber, and also l)y Cyrus and Samiramis and 

 by Alexander, all of whom found their Umit in tbis 

 region of the world, where they were shut in by the 

 river Syr Darya, which the Scythians call the Sihs 

 and which Alexander and his soldiers supposed to be 

 the Don. But this river was crossed by Demo- 

 damas, the general of King Seleucus and King 

 Antiochus, whom we are chiefly following in this part 

 of our narrative ; and he set up altars to Apollo 

 Didymaeus. 



XIX. Beyond are some tribes of Scythians. To seythian 

 these the Persians have given the general name 

 of Sacae, from the tribe nearest to Persia, but old 

 WTiters call them the Aramii, and tlie Scythians 

 themseh'es give the name of Chorsari to the Persians 

 and call Mount Caucasus Croucasis, which means 

 ' white with snow.' There is an uncountable 

 number of tribes, numerous enough to Hve on equal 

 terms with the Parthians ; most notable among 

 them are the Sacae, Massagetae, Dahae, Essedones, 

 Astacae, Rumnici, Pestici, Homodoti, Histi, Edones, 

 Camae, Camacae, Euchatae, Cotieri, Authusiani, 

 Psacae, Arimaspi, Antacati, Chroasai and Oetaei ; 

 among them the Napaei are said to have been 

 destroyed by the Palaei. Notable rivers in their 

 country are the Mandragaeus and the Caspasus. 



375 



