BOOK VI. xxxi. 134-136 



Cambalidus, which is a spur of the Caucasus range ; 

 from this point is the easiest route across to the 

 country of the Bactri. 



The territory of Susa is separated from Elymais Susa. 

 by the river Karun, which rises in the country of 

 the Medes, and after running for a modcrate distance 

 underground, comes to the surface again and flows 

 through Massabatene. It passes round the citadel 

 of Susa and the temple of Diana, which is regarded 

 viiih tlie greatest reverence by the races in those 

 parts ; and the river itself is held in great veneration, 

 inasmuch as the kings drink water drawn from it 

 only, and consequently have it conveyed to places 

 a long distance away. Tributaries of the Karun 

 are the Hedyphos, which flows past the Persian 

 town of Asylum, and the Aduna coming from the 

 territory of the Susiani. On the Karun lies the 

 town of Magoa, 15 miles from Charax — thougli 

 some people locate Magoa at the extreme edge of 

 the territory of Susa, close to the desert. Below 

 the Kariin on the coast is Elj^mais, which marches 

 with Farsistan and extends from the river 

 Oratis to the Charax, a distance of 240 miles ; its 

 towTis are Seleucia and Sostrate, situated on the 

 flank of Mount Chasirus. The coast lying in front, 

 as we have stated above, is rendered inaccessible § 99. 

 by mud, Hke the Lesser Syrtes, as the rivers Brixa 

 and Ortacia bring do^^Ti a quantity of sediment, and 

 the Elymais district is itself so marshy that it is only 

 possible to reach Farsistan by making a long dctour 

 round it. It is also infested with snakes carried down 

 by the streams. A particularly inaccessiblc part of 

 it is called Characene, from Charax, a town of Arabia 

 that marlcs the frontier of these kingdoms ; about 



441 



