114 History of Nature . [BooK VI. 



from Artaxata : and as many from Ecbatana of the Medes, 

 some part of which the Atropateni hold. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

 Media, and the Gates Caspice. 



ECBATANA, the head of Media, was founded by King 

 Seleucus : and it is from Seleucia the Great 750 Miles : and 

 from the Caspian Gates 20. The other Towns of the Medes 

 are Phausia, Agamzua, and Apamia, named also Rhaphane. 

 The Straits there, (called the Caspian Gates,) have the same 

 reason for being so named as the other (by Caucasus) ; be- 

 cause the Mountains are broken through with so narrow 

 a Passage, that hardly a single line of Carts is able to pass 

 it for the Length of Eight Miles : and all done by the hand 

 of Man. The Cliffs that hang over on the right Side and on 

 the left are as if they were scorched : through a silent Tract 

 of 38 Miles ; for all the Moisture running together out of 

 those Cliffs, and pouring through the Straits, obstructs the 

 Passage. Besides, the Multitude of Serpents prevents Tra- 

 velling except in Winter. 



CHAPTER XV. 

 Nations about the Hircanian Sea. 



UNTO Adiabene are joined the Carduchi, so called in 

 Times past, and now Cordueni ; along which the Tigris 

 runneth ; and on them the Pratitse border, called also Pare- 

 doni, who hold the Caspian Gates. On the other side of 

 whom you meet with the Deserts of Parthia, and the Moun- 

 tains of Cithenus : and beyond these is the most pleasant 

 Tract of the same Parthia, called Choara. There stand two 

 Cities of the Parthians, formerly opposed against the Me- 

 dians : namely, Calliope ; and Issatis, situated in times past 

 upon another Rock. The Capital of Parthia itself, lleca- 

 tompylos, is from the (Caspian) Gates 133 Miles. Thus the 

 Kingdoms of the Parthians are shut up by Doors. When 



