BOOK V.] History of Nature. 71 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

 Decapolis. 



THERE is joined to it on the side of Syria the Region 

 Decapolis, 1 so called from the number of Towns ; in which 

 all Men observe not the same. Nevertheless most Men 

 speak of Damascus and Opotos, watered by the River Chry- 

 sorrhoa, and also of the fruitful Philadelphia arid Raphana, 

 all lying within Arabia. Moreover, of Scythopolis, so named 

 from the Scythians there planted : and formerly Mysa, so 

 named of Father Liber, because his Nurse was buried there. 

 Gadara, with the River Hieromiax running before it, and 

 the before-named Hippos Dios. Pella, enriched with 

 Waters, Galaza and Canatha. The Tetrarchies lie between 

 and about these Cities ; every one resembling a Region : and 

 they are reduced into several Kingdoms : Trachonitis, Panias, 

 wherein standeth Caesarea, with the Fountain abovesaid ; 

 Abila, Area, Ampeloessa, and Gab&. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

 Tyrus* and Sidon. 



WE must return to the Sea-coast of Phcenic, where a 

 River runneth called Crocodilon, on which stood a Town 

 bearing the same Name. Also there are the Memorials of 

 the Cities, Dorum, Sycaminon, the Promontory Carmelum ; 

 and a Town on the Mountain so named, but in old Time 

 called Ecbatana. Near this is Getta and Jebba : the River 

 Pagida or Belus, mixing on its little Shore the Sands fertile 

 in Glass. This River floweth out of the stagnant pond Ceu- 

 devia, from the foot of Carmel. Near it is the City Ptole- 



1 Josephus mentions the following cities as contained within this 

 region : Pella, Gerasa, Gadara, Hippos Dios, Damascus, Philadelphia, 

 Otopos, Raphana, and Scythopolis. Wern. Club. 



2 There were two cities of this name ; one on the Syrian coast of the 

 Continent (vide Bishop Newton), and the other on an adjacent island, 

 which, in our author, are both spoken of together. Tyre has been called 

 the daughter of Sidon, because " The merchants of Sidon replenished 

 it." (Isaiah, xxiii. 2.) Wern. Club. 



