6 History of Nature. [BooK IV. 



Prince Caius, and Domitius Nero, endeavoured to cut 

 through the narrow portions, and make a navigable Channel : 

 but the attempt was unhappy, as appeared by the issue of 

 them all. In the midst of this narrow Strait which we 

 have called Isthmos, the Colony Corinthus, formerly called 

 Ephyra, situated on a little Hill, is inhabited, three score 

 Stadia from each Shore : which from the top of its Citadel, 

 which is named Acrocorinthus, wherein is the Fountain 

 Pirene, hath a prospect into both those opposite Seas. 

 Through the Corinthian Gulf is a Passage from Leucas to 

 Patrae, of 87 Miles. Patrse, a Colony, built upon the Pro- 

 montory of Peloponnesus that shooteth furthest into the 

 Sea, over against ./Etolia and the River Evenus, of less dis- 

 tance, as hath been said, than a Mile, in the very entrance, 

 sendeth out the Corinthian Gulf 85 Miles in Length, even 

 as far as Isthmos. 



CHAPTER V. 

 Achaia. 



ACHAIA, the name of a Province, beginneth at the 

 Isthmus : formerly it was called .ZEgialos, because of the 

 Cities disposed in order upon the Strand. The first there is 

 Lecheae above named, a Port of Lechese of the Corinthians. 

 Next to it Oluros, a Castle of the Pellensei. The Towns, 

 Helic, Bura, and (into which the Inhabitants retired when 

 these before-named were swallowed up in the Sea) Sicyon, 

 JSgira, -ZEgion, and Erineos. Within, Cleone and Hysiae. 

 Also the Port Panhormus, and Rhium, described before : 

 from which Promontory, five Miles off, standeth Patrse, 

 above mentioned, and the Place called Pherae. Of nine 

 Mountains in Achaia, Scioessa is most known ; also the 

 Spring Cymothoe. Beyond Patrae is the Town Olenum, the 

 Colony Dymae. Places called Buprasium and Hirmene : 

 and the Promontory Araxum. The Bay of Cyllene, the 

 Cape Chelonates : from whence to Cyllene is two Miles. 

 The Castle Phlius. The Tract also by Homer named 

 Arethyrea, and afterwards Asophis : then the Country of 



