BOOK III.] History of Nature. 189 



the Insubri : likewise Spina, before-named. Also, Melpum, 

 a Town remarkable for Wealth ; which, as Nepos Cornelius 

 hath written, was by the tnsubres, Boii, and Senones, razed 

 on that very Day on which Camillus took Veii. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

 Venetia, the tenth Region. 



Now followeth the tenth Region of Italy, Venetia, lying 

 upon the Adriatic Sea : the River whereof, Silis, cometh from 

 the Mountains Taurisani : also the Town Altinum, the River 

 Liquentia, issuing from the Mountains Opitergeni ; and a 

 Harbour of the same Name; the Colony Concordia. Rivers 

 and Havens : Romatinum, Tilaventum, the greater and the 

 less : Anassum, by which Varranus runneth down : Alsa, 

 Natiso, with Turrus, running by Aquileia, a Colony situated 

 12 Miles from the Sea. This is the Region of the Carni, 

 joining that of Japides : the River Timavus, and the Castle 

 Pucinum, famous for good Wine. The Bay Tergestinus, the 

 Colony Tergeste, 23 Miles from Aquileia : beyond which six 

 Miles, is the River Formio, 189 Miles from Ravenna: the 

 ancient Limit of Italy enlarged, but at this Day of Istria, 

 which they report, was so named of the River Ister, flowing 

 out of the River Danubius into Adria : and over against the 

 same Ister, the Mouth of Padus : by the contrary rushing 

 Streams of which two Rivers, the Sea between beginneth to 

 be more mild ; as many Authors have reported, but untruly ; 

 and Cornelius Nepos, also, although he dwelt just by Padus : 

 for there is no River that runneth out of Danubius into the 

 Adriatic Sea. They were deceived (1 suppose), because the 

 Ship Argos 1 went down a River into the Adriatic Sea, not far 



1 The Argonauts embarked at Jolcos, in Thessaly, and steered first to 

 Lemnos : from whence, after many adventures, they reached the Phasis, 

 which flows through Colchis into the Black Sea. It would be no easy 

 task to point out the course they took on their return. Pindar, in the 

 Fourth Pythian Ode, makes them pass the Erythraean Sea 

 " Then mingling in the ocean deep, 

 The Erythraean Sea they sweep." 

 By the Erythraean Sea the Indian Ocean is to be understood, through 



