shores of the Caspian Sea to the Caspian gates is a distance
of 1040 furlongs.

44. The inhabitants of all the countries in that district are fierce and
warlike, and they are so fond of war and battle that he who is slain in
battle is accounted the happiest of men, while those who die a natural
death are reproached as degenerate and cowardly.

45. These tribes are bounded on the east and the south by Arabia Felix,
so called because it abounds equally in corn, cattle, vines, and every
kind of spice: a great portion of that country reaches on the right down
to the Red Sea, and on its left extends to the Persian Gulf; so that the
inhabitants reap the benefits of both.

46. There are in that country many havens and secure harbours, and
well-frequented marts; many spacious and splendid abodes for their
kings, and wholesome springs of water naturally warm, and a great number
of rivers and streams; the climate is temperate and healthy, so that if
one considers the matter rightly, the natives seem to want nothing to
perfect their happiness.

47. There are in it very many cities both on the coast and inland; many
fertile hills and valleys. The chief cities are Geapolis, Nascon,
Baraba, Nagara, Mephra, Taphra, and Dioscurias. And in both seas it
possesses several islands lying off the coast, which it is not worth
while to enumerate. But the most important of them is Turgana, in which
there is said to be a magnificent temple of Serapis.

48. Beyond the frontier of this nation is the greater Carmania, lying on
high ground, and stretching to the Indian Sea; fertile in fruit and
timber trees, but neither so productive nor so extensive as Arabia. With
rivers it is as well supplied, and in grass and herbage scarcely
inferior.

49. The most important rivers are the Sagareus, the Saganis, and the
Hydriacus. The cities are not numerous, but admirably supplied with all
the necessaries and luxuries of life; the most celebrated of them all
are Carmania the metropolis, Portospana, Alexandria, and Hermopolis.

50. Proceeding inland, we next come to the Hyrcanians, who live on the
coast of the sea of that name. Here the land is so poor that it kills
the seed crops, so that agriculture is not much attended to; but they
live by hunting, taking wonderful pleasure in every kind of sport.
Thousands of tigers are found among them, and all kinds of wild beasts;
we have already mentioned the various devices by which they are caught.

51. Not i