fusing, they reduce it to metal; and when they have
formed it into cubical shapes they convey it to certain islands lying
off Britain, named Ictis; for at the low tides, the intervening space
being laid dry, they carry thither in waggons the tin in great
abundance. A singular circumstance happens with respect to the
neighbouring islands lying between Europe and Britain; for, at the high
tides, the intervening passage being flooded, they seem islands; but at
the low tides, the sea retreating and leaving much space dry, they
appear peninsulas. From hence the merchants purchase the tin from the
natives, and carry it across into Gaul; and finally journeying by land
through Gaul for about thirty days, they convey their burdens on horses
to the outlet of the river Rhone."--v. 21, 22.

So is Strabo's.--"The Cassiterides are ten in number, and lie near each
other in the ocean, towards the north from the haven of the Artabri. One
of them is a desert, but the others are inhabited by men in black
cloaks, clad in tunics reaching to the feet, and girt about the breast.
Walking with staves, and bearded like goats; they subsist by their
cattle, leading for the most part a wandering life. And having metals of
tin and lead, these and skins they barter with the merchants for
earthenware, and salt, and brazen vessels. Formerly the Ph[oe]nicians
alone carried on this traffic from Gadeira, concealing the passage from
every one; and when the Romans followed a certain ship-master, that they
also might find the mart, the ship-master, out of jealousy, purposely
ran his vessel upon a shoal, and leading on those who followed him into
the same destructive disaster, he himself escaped by means of a fragment
of the ship, and received from the State the value of the cargo he had
lost. But the Romans, nevertheless, making frequent efforts, discovered
the passage; and as soon as Publius Crassus, passing over to them,
perceived that the metals were dug out at a little depth, and that the
men being at peace were already beginning, in consequence of their
leisure, to busy themselves about the sea, he pointed out this passage
to such as were willing to attempt it, although it was longer than that
to Britain."--Lib. iii. p. 239.

Pliny is, to a great degree, in the same predicament with Strabo and
Diodorus. Some of the statements which are not common to him and Caesar,
are undoubtedly referrible to the information which the conquest of
Britain under Claudi