8 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



earth, in Italy and Sicily ; " and very likely there they 

 might have existed, if we can bring ourselves to believe 

 the very plausible explanation that they were miners, 

 whose lanthorn, or candle, stuck in cap, was their one 

 eye. At all events we may consider Sluper's picture as 

 somewhat of a fancy portrait. 



Among the Scythians, inhabiting the country beyond 

 the Palus Maeotis, was a tribe which Herodotus (although 

 he has been christened " The father of lies ") did not 

 believe in, nor indeed in any one-eyed men, but Pliny, 

 living some 500 years after him, tells afresh the old 

 story respecting these wonderful human beings. " In the 

 vicinity also of those who dwell in the northern regions, 

 and not far from the spot from which the north wind 

 arises, and the place which is called its cave, and is 

 known by the name of Geskleithron, 1 the Arimaspi are 

 said to exist, a nation remarkable for having but one 

 eye, and that placed in the middle of the forehead. This 

 race is said to carry on a perpetual warfare with the 

 Griffins, 2 a kind of monster, with wings, as they are 

 commonly represented, for the gold which they dig out 

 of the mines, and which these wild beasts retain, and 

 keep watch over with a singular degree of cupidity, 

 while the Arimaspi are equally desirous to get possession 

 of it." 



Milton mentions this tribe in " Paradise Lost," Book 2. 

 " As when a Gryphon through the wilderness, 

 With winged course, o'er hill, or mossy dale, 

 Pursues the Arimaspian, who, by stealth, 

 Had from his wakeful custody purloin'd 

 The guarded gold." 



1 rnt K\ei6pov, meaning the limit or boundary of the earth. 

 * The Gryphon must not be confounded with the Griffin, as will be seen 

 later on. 



