144 History of Nature. [ BOOK VI. 



Town is Dibitach. Chalonitis is joined with Ctesiphon, noble 

 not only with Date-trees, but also with Olive, Apple, and 

 Pear-trees, and generally with all sorts of Fruit. Unto this 

 Country extendeth the Mountain Zagrus, coming out of Ar- 

 menia, between the Medes and Adiabeni, above Paraetacene 

 and Persis. Chalonitis is distant from Persis 480 Miles. 

 Some write, that by the nearest Way it is so much from the 

 Caspian Sea to Assyria. Between these Nations and Mesene 

 lieth Sittacene, the same that is called Arbelitis and Pales- 

 tine. The Towns therein are Sittace of the Graecians, toward 

 the east, and Sabata ; but on the West, Antiochia, between 

 two Rivers, Tigris and Tornadotus. Also Apamia, which 

 Antiochus so called after his Mother's Name. This City 

 is environed with the River Tigris, and divided by the River 

 Archous. Somewhat lower is Susiane, wherein (is) Susa, 

 the ancient Region of the Persians, founded by Darius, the 

 Son of Hystaspes ; and from Seleucia Babylonia, it is distant 

 450 Miles ; and as much from Ecbatana of the Medes, 

 through the Mountain Charbanus. Upon that Channel of 

 the Tigris which taketh its Course northward, standeth the 

 Town Babytace : and from Susa it is 135 Miles. The People 

 of this Country are the only Men in the World that hate 

 Gold : and they bury it, that it may serve for no use to any 

 one. To the Susiani eastward are joined the Cossiaei Rob- 

 bers, and forty Nations of the Mizsei, free and wild. Above 

 these lie the Parthusi, Mardi, Saitae, and Hyi, who are 

 spread abroad above Elemais, which joineth to the maritime 

 Coasts of Persis, as is above said. Susa is from the Persian 

 Sea 250 Miles. On that Side where the Fleet of Alexander 

 came up the Pasitigris, there standeth a Village upon the 

 Lake Chaldais, named Aphle : from which to Susa is 65| 

 Miles by Water. The next that border upon the Susiani 

 eastward are the Cossaei ; and above the Cossaei northward 

 lieth Mesobatene, under the Mountain Cambiladus, which is 

 a Branch of the Caucasus : and from thence is the most easy 

 Passage to the Bactri. The River Eulaeus maketh a Parti- 

 tion between Elimais and Susiane. This River riseth in the 

 Country of the Medi, and in the midst of its Course loseth 



