BOOK VI. XXXI. 126-128 



is Digba. But some statement about the Tigris 

 itself may also be suitable here. The source 

 of the Tigris is in a region of Greater Armenia, 

 and is clearly visible, being on level ground ; the 

 name of the place is Elegosine, and the stream 

 itself in its comparatively sluggish part is named 

 DigUtus, but where its flow accelerates, it begins 

 to be called the Tigris, o^ing to its swiftness — 

 tigris is the Persian word for an arrow. It flows 

 into Lake Aretissa, heavy objects thrown into which 

 always float on the surface, and which gives oiF 

 nitrous vapours. The lake contains a single species 

 of fish, which never enters the current of the Tigris 

 floAving through the lake, as hkev\ise the fish of the 

 river do not swim out of its stream into the water 

 of the lake ; but the riveir travels on in a distinct 

 course and v\ith a difFerent colour, and when after 

 traversing the lake it comes against Mount Taurus, 

 it plunges into a cave, gHdes underground, and 

 bursts out again on the other side of the moxmtain. 

 The name of the place where it emerges is Zoaranda ; 

 and the identity of the stream is proved by the fact 

 that objects thrown into it are carried through the 

 tunnel. Then it crosses a second lake called Thes- 

 pites, and again burrows into underground passages, 

 re-emerging 22 miles further on in the neighbourhood 

 of Xymphaeum. According to Claudius Caesar, the 

 course of the Tigris in the Archene district is so close 

 to that of the Arsanias that when they are in flood 

 they flow together, although without intermingHng 

 their waters ; that of the Arsanias being of less 

 specific gravity floats on the surface for a distance 

 of nearly four miles, after which the two rivers 

 separate, and the Arsanias discharges into the 



435 



