40 EVIDENCE OF HERODOTUS. 



the children take the name of their mothers, and 

 not that of their fathers." (b. i. c. 173.) 



The Lycians remained an independent nation 

 until Cyrus turned his armies against them after 

 the fall of Croesus. " The Carians were reduced 

 to servitude by Harpagus, the general of Cyrus, 

 without displaying any instances of valour ; hut 

 the Lycians, when Harpagus arrived in the plains 

 of Xanthus, came forth against him, and fighting 

 a few with many gave signal instances of valour ; 

 but, being defeated and driven into their city, 

 they brought into the citadel their wives, their 

 children, their goods, and slaves, and then setting 

 fire to the fortress consumed them all. Having 

 so done, they bound themselves by a tremendous 

 oath, and going forth fought till all were slain. 

 Those Lycians who now call themselves Xanthians 

 are, with the exception of forty families, strangers, 

 who have since settled in that place. Thus was 

 Xanthus taken by Harpagus, and in nearly the 

 same manner Caunus also, for the Caunians imi- 

 tated in great measure the Lycians. (b. i. 171, 

 174, 176.)" 



In the above account of the history of the 

 Lycians there are no grounds for supposing that a 

 language so distinct as that now found engraven 



