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f the river Hypanis； west of the Borysthenes。 Across the Borysthenes； the first country after you leave the coast is Hylaea （the Woodland）。 Above this dwell the Scythian Husbandmen； whom the Greeks living near the Hypanis call Borysthenites； while they call themselves Olbiopolites。 These Husbandmen extend eastward a distance of three days' journey to a river bearing the name of Panticapes； while northward the country is theirs for eleven days' sail up the course of the Borysthenes。 Further inland there is a vast tract which is uninhabited。 Above this desolate region dwell the Cannibals； who are a people apart； much unlike the Scythians。 Above them the country becomes an utter desert； not a single tribe； so far as we know； inhabits it。 Crossing the Panticapes； and proceeding eastward of the Husbandmen； we come upon the wandering Scythians； who neither plough nor sow。 Their country； and the whole of this region； except Hylaea； is quite bare of trees。 They extend towards the east a distance of fourteen' days' journey； occupying a tract which reaches to the river Gerrhus。 On the opposite side of the Gerrhus is the Royal district； as it is called： here dwells the largest and bravest of the Scythian tribes； which looks upon all the other tribes in the light of slaves。 Its country reaches on the south to Taurica； on the east to the trench dug by the sons of the blind slaves； the mart upon the Palus Maeotis； called Cremni （the Cliffs）； and in part to the river Tanais。 North of the country of the Royal Scythians are the Melanchaeni （Black…Robes）； a people of quite a different race from the Scythians。 Beyond them lie marshes and a region without inhabitants； so far as our knowledge reaches。 When one crosses the Tanais； one is no longer in Scythia； the first region on crossing is that of the Sauromatae； who； beginning at the upper end of the Palus Maeotis； stretch northward a distance of fifteen days' journey； inhabiting a country which is entirely bare of trees； whether wild or cultivated。 Above them； possessing the second region； dwell the Budini； whose territory is thickly wooded with trees of every kind。 Beyond the Budini； as one goes northward； first there is a desert； seven days' journey across； after which； if one inclines somewhat to the east； the Thyssagetae are reached； a numerous nation quite distinct from any other； and living by the chase。 Adjoining them； and within the limits of the same region； are the people who bear the name of Iyrcae； they also support themselves by hunting； which they practise in the following manner。 The hunter climbs a tree； the whole country abounding in wood； and there sets himself in ambush； he has a dog at hand； and a horse； trained to lie down upon its belly； and thus make itself low； the hunter keeps watch； and when he sees his game； lets fly an arrow； then mounting his horse； he gives the beast chase； his dog following hard all the while。 Beyond these people； a little to the east； dwells a distinct tribe of Scyths； who revolted once from the Royal Scythians； and migrated into these parts。 As far as their country； the tract of land whereof I have been speaking is all a smooth plain； and the soil deep； beyond you enter on a region which is rugged and stony。 Passing over a great extent of this rough country； you come to a people dwelling at the foot of lofty mountains； who are said to be all… both men and women… bald from their birth； to have flat noses； and very long chins。 These people speak a language of their own；。 the dress which they wear is the same as the Scythian。 They live on the fruit of a certain tree； the name of which is Ponticum； in size it is about equal to our fig…tree； and it bears a fruit like a bean； with a stone inside。 When the fruit is ripe； they strain it through cloths； the juice which runs off is black and thick； and is called by the natives 〃aschy。〃 They lap this up with their tongues； and also mix it with milk for a drink； while they make the lees； which are solid； into cakes； and eat them instead of meat； for they have but few sheep in their country； in which there is no good pasturage。 Each of them dwells under a tree； and they cover the tree in winter with a cloth of thick white felt； but take off the covering in the summer…time。 No one harms these people； for they are looked upon as sacred… they do not even possess any warlike weapons。 When their neighbours fall out； they make up the quarrel； and when one flies to them for refuge； he is safe from all hurt。 They are called the Argippaeans。 Up to this point the territory of which we are speaking is very completely explored； and all the nations between the coast and the bald…headed men are well known to us。 For some of the Scythians are accustomed to penetrate as far； of whom inquiry may easily be made； and Greeks also go there from the mart on the Borysthenes； and from the other marts along the Euxine。 The Scythians who make this journey communicate with the inhabitants by means of seven interpreters and seven languages。 Thus far； therefore； the land is known； but beyond the bald…headed men lies a region of which no one can give any exact account。 Lofty and precipitous mountains； which are never crossed； bar further progress。 The bald men say； but it does not seem to me credible； that the people who live in these mountains have feet like goats； and that after passing them you find another race of men； who sleep during one half of the year。 This latter statement appears to me quite unworthy of credit。 The region east of the bald…headed men is well known to be inhabited by the Issedonians； but the tract that lies to the north of these two nations is entirely unknown； except by the accounts which they give of it。 The Issedonians are said to have the following customs。 When a man's father dies； all the near relatives bring sheep to the house； which are sacrificed； and their flesh cut in pieces； while at the same time the dead body undergoes the like treatment。 The two sorts of flesh are afterwards mixed together； and the whole is served up at a banquet。 The head of the dead man is treated differently： it is stripped bare； cleansed； and set in gold。 It then becomes an ornament on which they pride themselves； and is brought out year by year at the great festival which sons keep in honour of their fathers' death； just as the Greeks keep their Genesia。 In other respects the Issedonians are reputed to be observers of justice： and it is to be remarked that their women have equal authority with the men。 Thus our knowledge extends as far as this nation。 The regions beyond are known only from the accounts of the Issedonians； by whom the stories are told of the one…eyed race of men and the gold…guarding griffins。 These stories are received by the Scythians from the Issedonians； and by them passed on to us Greeks： whence it arises that we give the one…eyed race the Scythian name of Arimaspi； 〃arima〃 being the Scythic word for 〃one；〃 and 〃spu〃 for 〃the eye。〃 The whole district whereof we have here discoursed has winters of exceeding rigour。 During eight months the frost is so intense that water poured upon the ground does not form mud； but if a fire be lighted on it mud is produced。 The sea freezes； and the Cimmerian Bosphorus is frozen over。 At that season the Scythians who dwell inside the trench make warlike expeditions upon the ice； and even drive their waggons across to the country of the Sindians。 Such is the intensity of the cold during eight months out of the twelve； and even in the remaining four the climate is still cool。 The character of the winter likewise is unlike that of the same season in any other country； for at that time； when the rains ought to fall in Scythia； there is scarcely any rain worth mentioning； while in summer it never gives over raining； and thunder； which elsewhere is frequent then； in Scythia is unknown in that part of the year； coming only in summer； when it is very heavy。 Thunder in the winter…time is there accounted a prodigy； as also are earthquakes； whether they happen in winter or summer。 Horses bear the winter well； cold as it is； but mules and asses are quite unable to bear it； whereas in other countries mules and asses are found to endure the cold； while horses； if they stand still； are frost…bitten。 To me it seems that the cold may likewise be the cause which prevents the oxen in Scythia from having horns。 There is a line of Homer's in the Odyssey which gives a support to my opinion：…
Libya too； where horns hud quick on the foreheads of lambkins。
He means to say what is quite true； that in warm countries the horns come early。 So too in countries where the cold is severe animals either have no horns； or grow them with difficulty… the cold being the cause in this instance。 Here I must express my wonder… additions being what my work always from the very first affected… that in Elis； where the cold is not remarkable； and there is nothing else to account for it； mules are never produced。 The Eleans say it is in consequence of a curse； and their habit is； when the breeding…time comes； to take their mares into one of the adjoining countries； and there keep them till they are in foal； when they bring them back again into Elis。 With respect to t