BOOK VII. I. 8-II. II 



art could sup]>ly by counterfeit in so sniall a number 

 of specimens ! Nevertheless in most instances of 

 these I shall not niyself pledge my own faith, and 

 shall preferably ascribe the facts to the authorities 

 who will be quoted for all doubtful points : only do 

 not let us be too proud to foUow the Greeks, because 

 of their far greater industry or older devotion to study. 



II. We have pointed out that some Scythian tribes, Cannibais 

 and in fact a good many, feed on human bodies — a <in<i ^>^vages 

 statement that perhaps may seem incredible if we iv. 88, 

 do not reflect that races of this portentous character 

 have existed in the central rcgion of the world," 

 named Cyclopes and Laestrygones, and that quite 

 rccentlv the tribes of the parts beyond the Alps 

 habituallv practised human sacrifice, which is not 

 far removed from eating human flesh. But also a 

 tribe is reported next to these, towards the Nortli, 

 not far from the actual quarter whence the North 

 Wind rises and the cave that bears its name, the 

 place called the Karth's Door-bolt'' — the Arimaspi 

 whom we have spoken of already, people remarkable iv. 88, 

 for having one eye in the centre of the forehead. " "' 

 Many authorities, the most distinguished being 

 Herodotus'^ and Aristeas of Proconnesus, write that 

 these people wage continual war around their niines 

 with the griflins, a kind of wild beast with wings, as 

 commonly reported, that digs gold out of mines, 

 which the creatures guard and the Arimaspi try to 

 take from them, both with remarkable covetousness. 



But beyond the other Scythian cannibals, in a 

 certain large valley in the Himalayas, there is a 

 region called Abarimon where are some people dwell- 

 ing in forests who have their feet turned backward 

 behind their legs, who run extremely fast and range 



513 



