BOOK VI.] History of Nature. 115 



passed out of these Gates, presently we enter on the Cas- 

 pian Nation, which reacheth as far as the Sea-shore, and 

 gave the Name to the Gates and the Sea. The left hand is 

 full of Mountains : and from this Nation backward to the 

 River Cyrus, is by report 220 Miles. From that River, if 

 you would go higher up to the Gates, it is 700 Miles. And 

 from this starting-place began Alexander to reckon his 

 Journeys : making from those Gates to the Entrance of 

 India, 15,680 Stadia : from thence to the Town of Bactra, 

 which they call Zariaspa, 3700, and thence to the River 

 Jaxartes five Miles. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

 Other Nations also. 



FROM the Caspian Country eastward, lieth the Region 

 called Zapanortene, 1 and in it Daricum, a place celebrated 

 for Fertility. Then come the Nations of the Tapyri, Anariaci, 

 Stauri, and Hircani, at whose Coasts the same Sea beginneth 

 to take the Name Hircanum, from the River Syderis. About 

 it are the Rivers Mazeras and Stratos, all issuing out of 

 Caucasus. Then follows the Region Margiana, famous for 

 its warm Sunshine, and the only place in all that quarter 

 which yieldeth Vines. It is environed with pleasant Moun- 

 tains, for the compass of 1500 Stadia: difficult of approach 

 by reason of the Sandy Deserts for the space of 120 Miles; 

 and it is situated over against the Tract of Parthia, wherein 

 Alexander had built Alexandria ; which being destroyed by 

 the Barbarians, Antiochus the Son ofSeleucus rebuilt it in the 

 same place, upon the River Margus, which runneth through 

 it, together with another River Zotale, and it was called 

 Syriana. 2 But he desired rather that it should be named 

 Antiochia. This City containeth in Circuit 70 Stadia: 

 and into it Orodes, after the Slaughter of Crassus and his 

 Army, brought his Roman Prisoners. Being past the high 

 Country (Margiana), you come to the Nation of the Mardi, 



1 Some copies read Zapauortene and Apauortene. Wern. Club. 



2 Or rather Seleucia. 



