long the shore to the
borders of Media which are nearest to the Caspian gates, the distance is
two thousand two hundred furlongs.

71. Next to them, among the hills, are the Drangiani, whose chief river
is the Arabis, so called because it rises in Arabia; and their two
principal towns are Prophthasia and Aniaspe, both wealthy and well
known.

72. Next to them is Arachosia, which on the right extends as far as
India. It is abundantly watered by a river much smaller than the Indus,
that greatest of rivers, which gives its name to the surrounding
regions; in fact their river flows out of the Indus, and passes on till
it forms the marsh known as Arachotoscrene. Its leading cities are
Alexandria, Arbaca, and Choaspa.

73. In the most inland districts of Persia is Gedrosia; which on its
right touches the frontier of India, and is fertilized by several
rivers, of which the greatest is the Artabius. There the Barbitani
mountains end, and from their lowest parts rise several rivers which
fall into the Indus, losing their own names in the greatness of that
superior stream. They have several islands, and their principal cities
are Sedratyra and Gynaecon.

74. We need not detail minutely every portion of the sea-coast on the
extremity of Persia, as it would lead us into too long a digression. It
will suffice to say that the sea which stretches from the Caspian
mountains along the northern side to the straits above mentioned, is
nine thousand furlongs in extent; the southern frontier, from the mouth
of the Nile to the beginning of Carmania, is fourteen thousand furlongs.

75. In these varied districts of different languages, the races of men
are as different as the places. But to describe their persons and
customs in general terms, they are nearly all slight in figure, swarthy
or rather of a pale livid complexion; fierce-looking, with goat-like
eyes, and eyebrows arched in a semicircle and joined, with handsome
beards, and long hair. They at all times, even at banquets and
festivals, wear swords; a custom which that excellent author Thucydides
tells us the Athenians were the first of the Greeks to lay aside.

76. They are generally amazingly addicted to amatory pleasures; each man
scarcely contenting himself with a multitude of concubines: from
unnatural vices they are free. Each man marries many or few wives, as he
can afford them, so that natural affection is lost among them because of
the numerous objects of their licence.