CHAPTER I.
NEXT in order [after Iberia] comes Keltica beyond the
Alps,
1 the configuration and size of which has been already
mentioned in a general manner; we are now to describe it
more particularly. Some divide it into the three nations of
the Aquitani, Belge, and Kelte.
2 Of these the Aquitani differ
completely from the other nations, not only in their language
but in their figure, which resembles more that of the Iberians
than the Galatæ. The others are Galatæ in countenance,
although they do not all speak the same language, but some
make a slight difference in their speech; neither is their
polity and mode of life exactly the same. These writers give
the name of Aquitani and Keltæ to the dwellers near the
Pyrenees, which are bounded by the Cevennes. For it has
been stated that this Keltica is bounded on the west by the
mountains of the Pyrenees, which extend to either sea, both
the Mediterranean and the ocean; on the east by the Rhine,
which is parallel to the Pyrenees; on the north by the ocean,
from the northern extremities of the Pyrenees to the mouths
of the Rhine; on the south by the sea of Marseilles, and
Narbonne, and by the Alps from Liguria to the sources of
the Rhine. The Cevennes lie at right angles to the Pyrenees, and traverse the plains for about 2000 stadia, terminating
in the middle near Lugdunum.
3 They call those people Aquitani who inhabit the northern portions of the Pyrenees, and
the Cevennes extending as far as the ocean, and bounded by
the river Garonne; and Keltæ, those who dwell on the other
side of the Garonne, towards the sea of Marseilles and Narbonne, and touching a portion of the Alpine chain. This is
the division adopted by divus Cæsar in his Commentaries.
4
But Augustus Cæsar, when dividing the country into four
parts, united the Keltæ to the Narbonnaise; the Aquitani
he preserved the same as Julius Cæsar, but added thereto
fourteen other nations of those who dwelt between the Garonne and the river Loire,
5 and dividing the rest into two
parts, the one extending to the upper districts of the Rhine
he made dependent upon Lugdunum, the other [he assigned]
to the Belgæ. However, it is the duty of the Geographer to
describe the physical divisions of each country, and those which
result from diversity of nations, when they seem worthy of
notice; as to the limits which princes, induced by a policy
which circumstances dictate, have variously imposed, it will
be sufficient for him to notice them summarily, leaving others
to furnish particular details.
[
2]
The whole of this country is irrigated by rivers descending from the Alps, the Cevennes, and the Pyrenees, some of
which discharge themselves into the ocean, others into the
Mediterranean. The districts through which they flow are
mostly plains interspersed with hills, and having navigable
streams. The course of these rivers is so happily disposed in relation to each other, that you may traffic from
one sea to the other,
6 carrying the merchandise only a
small distance, and that easily, across the plains; but for the
most part by the rivers, ascending some, and descending
others. The Rhone is pre-eminent in this respect, both because it communicates with many other rivers, and also because it flows into the Mediterranean, which, as we have said,
is superior to the ocean,
7 and likewise passes through the
richest provinces of Gaul. The whole of the Narbonnaise
produces the same fruits as Italy. As we advance towards the
north, and the mountains of the Cevennes, the plantations of the
olive and fig disappear, but the others remain. Likewise the
vine, as you proceed northward, does not easily mature its
fruit. The entire of the remaining country produces in
abundance corn, millet, acorns, and mast of all kinds. No
part of it lies waste except that which is taken up in marshes
and woods, and even this is inhabited. The cause of this,
however, is rather a dense population than the industry of
the inhabitants. For the women there are both very prolific
and excellent nurses, while the men devote themselves rather
to war than husbandry. However, their arms being now laid
aside, they are compelled to engage in agriculture. These
remarks apply generally to the whole of Transalpine Keltica.
We must now describe particularly each of the four divisions,
which hitherto we have only mentioned in a summary manner. And, first, of the Narbonnaise.
[
3]
The configuration of this country resembles a parallelogram, the western side of which is traced by the Pyrenees,
the north by the Cevennes; as for the other two sides, the
south is bounded by the sea between the Pyrenees and Marseilles, and the east partly by the Alps,
8 and partly by a line
drawn perpendicularly from these mountains to the foot of the
Cevennes, which extend towards the Rhone, and form a right
angle with the aforesaid perpendicular drawn from the Alps.
To the southern side of this parallelogram we must add the
sea-coast inhabited by the Massilienses
9 and Salyes,
10 as far as
the country of the Ligurians, the confines of Italy, and the river
Var. This river, as we have said before,
11 is the boundary of the
Narbonnaise and Italy. It is but small in summer, but in winter
swells to a breadth of seven stadia. From thence the coast
extends to the temple of the Pyrenæan Venus,
12 which is the
boundary between this province and Iberia. Some, however, assert that the spot where the Trophies of Pompey stand
is the boundary between Iberia and Keltica. From thence
to Narbonne is 63 miles; from Narbonne to Nemausus,
13 88;
from Nemausus through Ugernum
14 and Tarusco, to the hot
waters called Sextiæ
15 near Marseilles, 53;
16 from thence to
Antipolis and the river Var, 73; making in the total 277
miles. Some set down the distance from the temple of Venus
to the Var at 2600 stadia; while others increase this number
by 200 stadia; for there are different opinions as to these
distances. As for the other road, which traverses the [coun-
tries of the] Vocontii
17 and Cottius,
18 from Nemausus
19 to
Ugernum and Tarusco, the route is common; from thence [it
branches off in two directions], one through Druentia and
Caballio,
20 to the frontiers of the Vocontii and the commencement of the ascent of the Alps, which is 63 miles; the other
is reckoned at 99 miles from the same point to the other extremity of the Vocontii, bordering on the state of Cottius, as
far as the village of Ebrodunum.
21 The distance is said to be
the same by the route through the village of Brigantium,
22
Scingomagus,
23 and the passage of the Alps to Ocelum,
24 which
is the limit of the country of Cottius. However, it is considered to be Italy from Scingomagus. And Ocelum is 28
miles beyond this.
[
4]
Marseilles, founded by the Phocæans,
25 is built in a stony
region. Its harbour lies beneath a rock, which is shaped
like a theatre, and looks towards the south. It is well surrounded with walls, as well as the whole city, which is of
considerable size. Within the citadel are placed the Ephesium and the temple of the Delphian Apollo. This latter
temple is common to all the Ionians; the Ephesium is the
temple consecrated to Diana of Ephesus. They say that
when the Phocæans were about to quit their country, an oracle
commanded them to take from Diana of Ephesus a conductor
for their voyage. On arriving at Ephesus they therefore inquired how they might be able to obtain from the goddess
what was enjoined them. The goddess appeared in a dream
to Aristarcha, one of the most honourable women of the city,
and commanded her to accompany the Phocæans, and to take
with her a plan of the temple and statues.
26 These things
being performed, and the colony being settled, the Phocæans
built a temple, and evinced their great respect for Aristarcha
by making her priestess. All the colonies [sent out from
Marseilles] hold this goddess in peculiar reverence, preserving
both the shape of the image [of the goddess], and also every
rite observed in the metropolis.
[
5]
The Massilians live under a well-regulated aristocracy.
They have a council composed of 600 persons called timuchi,
27 who enjoy this dignity for life. Fifteen of these preside
over the council, and have the management of current
affairs; these fifteen are in their turn presided over by three
of their number, in whom rests the principal authority; and
these again by one. No one can become a timuchus who has
not children, and who has not been a citizen for three generations.
28 Their laws, which are the same as those of the
Ionians, they expound in public. Their country abounds in
olives and vines, but on account of its ruggedness the wheat
is poor. Consequently they trust more to the resources of
the sea than of the land, and avail themselves in preference of
their excellent position for commerce. Nevertheless they
have been enabled by the power of perseverance to take in
some of the surrounding plains, and also to found cities: of
this number are the cities they founded in Iberia as a rampart against the Iberians, in which they introduced the worship of Diana of Ephesus, as practised in their father-land, with
the Grecian mode of sacrifice. In this number too are Rhoa
29
[and] Agatha,
30 [built for defence] against the barbarians
dwelling around the river Rhone; also Tauroentium,
31 Olbia,
32
Antipolis
33 and Nicæa,
34 [built as a rampart] against the
nation of the Salyes and the Ligurians who inhabit the Alps.
They
35 possess likewise dry docks and armouries. Formerly
they had an abundance of vessels, arms, and machines, both
for the purposes of navigation and for besieging towns; by
means of which they defended themselves against the bar-
barians, and likewise obtained the alliance of the Romans, to
whom they rendered many important services; the Romans
in their turn assisting in their aggrandizement. Sextius, who
defeated the Salyes, founded, not far from Marseilles, a city
36
which was named after him and the hot waters, some of
which they say have lost their heat.
37 Here he established a
Roman garrison, and drove from the sea-coast which leads
from Marseilles to Italy the barbarians, whom the Massilians
were not able to keep back entirely. However, all he accomplished by this was to compel the barbarians to keep at a distance of twelve stadia from those parts of the coast which
possessed good harbours, and at a distance of eight stadia
where it was rugged. The land which they thus abandoned,
he presented to the Massilians. In their city are laid up
heaps of booty taken in naval engagements against those who
disputed the sea unjustly. Formerly they enjoyed singular
good fortune, as well in other matters as also in their amity
with the Romans. Of this [amity] we find numerous signs,
amongst others the statue of Diana which the Romans dedicated on the Aventine mount, of the same figure as that of the
Massilians. Their prosperity has in a great measure decayed
since the war of Pompey against Cæsar, in which they sided
with the vanquished party. Nevertheless some traces of their
ancient industry may still be seen amongst the inhabitants,
especially the making of engines of war and ship-building.
Still as the surrounding barbarians, now that they are under the dominion of the Romans, become daily more civilized, and leave the occupation of war for the business
of towns and agriculture, there is no longer the same
attention paid by the inhabitants of Marseilles to these
objects. The aspect of the city at the present day is a
proof of this. For all those who profess to be men of taste,
turn to the study of elocution and philosophy. Thus this city
for some little time back has become a school for the barbarians, and has communicated to the Galatæ such a taste for
Greek literature, that they even draw contracts on the
Grecian model. While at the present day it so entices the
noblest of the Romans, that those desirous of studying resort
thither in preference to Athens. These the Galatæ observing, and being at leisure on account of the peace, readily
devote themselves to similar pursuits, and that not merely
individuals, but the public generally; professors of the arts
and sciences, and likewise of medicine, being employed not
only by private persons, but by towns for common instruction. Of the wisdom of the Massilians and the simplicity of
their life, the following will not be thought an insignificant
proof. The largest dowry amongst them consists of one hundred gold pieces, with five for dress, and five more for golden
ornaments. More than this is not lawful. Cæsar and his
successors treated with moderation the offences of which they
were guilty during the war, in consideration of their former
friendship; and have preserved to the state the right of
governing according to its ancient laws. So that neither
Marseilles nor the cities dependent on it are under submission to the governors sent [into the Narbonnaise]. So much
for Marseilles.
[
6]
The mountains of the Salyes incline gently from west
to north in proportion as they retire from the sea. The coast
runs west, and extending a short distance, about 100 stadia,
from Marseilles, it begins to assume the character of a gulf at
a considerable promontory near to certain stone quarries, and
extending to the Aphrodisium, the headland which terminates
the Pyrenees,
38 forms the Galatic Gulf,
39 which is also called the
Gulf of Marseilles: it is double, for in its circuit Mount Setium
40
stands out together with the island of Blascon,
41 which is situated close to it, and separates the two gulfs. The larger of these
is properly designated the Galatic Gulf, into which the Rhone
discharges itself; the smaller is on the coast of Narbonne, and
extends as far as the Pyrenees. Narbonne is situated above the
outlets of the Aude
42 and the lake of Narbonne.
43 It is the
principal commercial city on this coast. On the Rhone is
Arelate,
44 a city and emporium of considerable traffic. The
distance between these two cities is nearly equal to that which
separates them from the aforesaid promontories, namely,
Narbonne from the Aphrodisium, and Arelate from the cape
of Marseilles. There are other rivers besides which flow on
either side of Narbonne, some from the Cevennes, others
from the Pyrenees. Along these rivers are situated cities
having but little commerce, and that in small vessels. The
rivers which proceed from the Pyrenees, are the Tet
45 and the
Tech;
46 two cities
47 are built on them, which bear respectively
the same name as the rivers. There is a lake near to Ruscino,
48 and a little above the sea a marshy district full of salt-
springs, which supplies ‘dug mullets,’ for whoever digs two
or three feet and plunges a trident into the muddy water,
will be sure to take the fish, which are worthy of consideration on account of their size; they are nourished in the mud
like eels. Such are the rivers which flow from the Pyrenees
between Narbonne and the promontory on which is built the
temple of Venus. On the other side of Narbonne the following rivers descend from the Cevennes into the sea. The
Aude,
49 the Orbe,
50 and the Rauraris.
51 On one of these
52 is
situated the strong city of Bætera,
53 near to Narbonne; on
the other Agatha,
54 founded by the people of Marseilles.
[
7]
Of one marvel of this sea-coast, namely the ‘dug mullets,’ we have already spoken; we will now mention another,
even more surprising. Between Marseilles and the outlets of
the Rhone there is a circular plain, about 100 stadia distant
from the sea, and about 100 stadia in diameter. It has
received the name of the Stony Plain, from the circumstance of its being covered with stones the size of the fist,
from beneath which an abundant herbage springs up for
the pasturage of cattle. In the midst of it are water, salt-
springs, and salt. The whole both of this district and that
above it is exposed to the wind, but in this plain the black
north,
55 a violent and horrible wind, rages especially: for they
say that sometimes the stones are swept and rolled along, and
men hurled from their carriages and stripped both of their
arms and garments by the force of the tempest. Aristotle
tells us that these stones being cast up by the earthquakes
designated
brastai,56 and falling on the surface of the earth, roll
into the hollow places of the districts; but Posidonius, that
the place was formerly a lake, which being congealed during
a violent agitation, became divided into numerous stones,
like river pebbles or the stones by the sea-shore, which
they resemble both as to smoothness, size, and appearance.
Such are the causes assigned by these two [writers]; however,
neither of their opinions is credible,
57 for these stones could
neither have thus accumulated of themselves, nor yet have
been formed by congealed moisture, but necessarily from the
fragments of large stones shattered by frequent convulsions.
Æschylus having, however, learnt of the difficulty of accounting for it, or having been so informed by another, has explained it away as a myth. He makes Prometheus utter the
following, whilst directing Hercules the road from the Caucasus to the Hesperides:
“‘There you will come to the undaunted army of the Ligurians, where,
resistless though you be, sure am I you will not worst them in battle; for
it is fated that there your darts shall fail you; nor will you be able to
take up a stone from the ground, since the country consists of soft mould;
but Jupiter, beholding your distress, will compassionate you, and overshadowing the earth with a cloud, he will cause it to hail round stones,
which you hurling against the Ligurian army, will soon put them to
flight!’
58”
Posidonius asks, would it not have been better to have
rained down these stones upon the Ligurians themselves, and
thus have destroyed them all, than to make Hercules in need
of so many stones? As for the number, they were necessary
against so vast a multitude; so that in this respect the writer
of the myth seems to me deserving of more credit than he
who would refute it. Further, the poet, in describing it as
fated, secures himself against such fault-finding. For if you
dispute Providence and Destiny, you can find many similar
things both in human affairs and nature, that you would
suppose might be much better performed in this or that
way; as for instance, that Egypt should have plenty of rain
of its own, without being irrigated from the land of Ethiopia. That it would have been much better if Paris had suffered shipwreck on his voyage to Sparta, instead of expiating
his offences after having carried off Helen, and having been
the cause of so great destruction both amongst the Greeks
and Barbarians. Euripides attributes this to Jupiter:
“‘Father Jupiter, willing evil to the Trojans and suffering to the
Greeks, decreed such things.’”
[
8]
As to the mouths of the Rhone, Polybius asserts that
there are but two, and blames Timæus
59 for saying five. Artemidorus says that there are three. Afterwards Marius,
observing that the mouth was becoming stopped up and difficult of entrance on account of the deposits of mud, caused a
new channel to be dug, which received the greater part of the
river into it.
60 This he gave to the people of Marseilles in
recompense for their services in the war against the Ambrones
and Toygeni.
61 This canal became to them a source of much revenue, as they levied a toll from all those who sailed up or down it: notwithstanding, the entrance [to the river] still
continues difficult to navigate, on account of its great impetuosity, its deposits, and the [general] flatness of the country,
so that in foul weather you cannot clearly discern the land
even when quite close. On this account the people of Marseilles, who wished by all means to inhabit the country, set up
towers as beacons; they have even erected a temple to Diana
of Ephesus on a piece of the land, which the mouths of the
rivers have formed into an island. Above the outlets of the
Rhone is a salt-lake which they call Stomalimnè.
62 It abounds
in shell and other fish. There are some who enumerate this
amongst the mouths of the Rhone, especially those who say
that it has seven
63 mouths. But in this they are quite mistaken; for there is a mountain between, which separates the
lake from the river. Such then is the disposition and extent
of the coast from the Pyrenees to Marseilles.
[
9]
The [coast] which extends from this [last city] to the
river Var, and the Ligurians who dwell near it, contains the
Massilian cities of Tauroentium,
64 Olbia,
65 Antipolis,
66 Nicæa,
67
and the sea-port of Augustus Cæsar, called Forum Julium.
68
which is situated between Olbia and Antipolis, and distant
from Marseilles about 600 stadia. The Var is between Antipolis and Nicæa; distant from the one about 20 stadia, from
the other about 60; so that according to the boundary now
marked Nicæa belongs to Italy, although it is a city of the people of Marseilles, for they built these cities [as a defence]
against the barbarians who dwelt higher up the country, in
order to maintain the sea free, as the barbarians possessed the
land. For this [region] is mountainous and fortified by nature,
leaving however a considerable extent of plain country near
Marseilles; but as you proceed towards the east the country is
so hemmed in by the mountains, as scarcely to leave a sufficient
road for passage by the sea-shore. The former districts are
inhabited by the Salyes,
69 the latter by the Ligurians, who
border on Italy, of whom we shall speak afterwards. It should
here be mentioned, that although Antipolis is situated in
the Narbonnaise, and Nicæa in Italy, this latter is dependent on Marseilles, and forms part of that province; while
Antipolis is ranked amongst the Italian cities, and freed from
the government of the Marseillese by a judgment given against
them.
[
10]
Lying off this narrow pass along the coast, as you commence your journey from Marseilles, are the Stœchades islands.
70
Three of' these are considerable, and two small. They are
cultivated by the people of Marseilles. Anciently they contained a garrison, placed here to defend them from the attacks
of pirates, for they have good ports. After the Stœchades
come [the islands of] Planasia
71 and Lero,
72 both of them in-
habited. In Lero, which lies opposite to Antipolis, is a
temple erected to the hero Lero. There are other small
islands not worth mentioning, some of them before Marseilles,
others before the rest of the coast which I have been describing.
As to the harbours, those of the seaport [of Forum-Julium]
73
and Marseilles are considerable, the others are but middling.
Of this latter class is the port Oxybius,
74 so named from the
Oxybian Ligurians.—This concludes what we have to say of
this coast.
[
11]
The country above this is bounded principally by the
surrounding mountains and rivers. Of these the Rhone is
the most remarkable, being both the largest, and capable of
being navigated farther than any of the others, and also receiving into it a greater number of tributaries; of these we
must speak in order. Commencing at Marseilles, and proceeding to the country between the Alps and the Rhone, to
the river Durance, dwell the Salyes for a space of 500 stadia.
From thence you proceed in a ferry-boat to the city of Caballio;
75 beyond this the whole country belongs to the Cavari
as far as the junction of the Isère with the Rhone; it is here
too that the Cevennes approach the Rhone. From the Durance
to this point is a distance of 700 stadia.
76 The Salyes occupy
the plains and mountains above these. The Vocontii, Tricorii, Icomi, and Medylli, lie above the Cavari.
77 Between
the Durance and the Isère there are other rivers which flow
from the Alps into the Rhone; two of these, after having
flowed round the city of the Cavari, discharge themselves by
a common outlet into the Rhone. The Sulgas,
78 which is the
third, mixes with the Rhone near the city of Vindalum,
79
where Cnæus Ænobarbus in a decisive engagement routed
many myriads of the Kelts. Between these are the cities of
Avenio,
80 Arausio,
81 and Aëria,
82 which latter, remarks Artemidorus, is rightly named aërial, being situated in a very lofty
position. The whole of this country consists of plains abounding in pasturage, excepting on the route from Aëria to Avenio,
where there are narrow defiles and woods to traverse. It was
at the point where the river Isère and the Rhone unite near
the Cevennes, that Quintus Fabius Maximus Æmilianus,
83 with
scarcely 30,000 men, cut to pieces 200,000 Kelts.
84 Here he
erected a white stone as a trophy, and two temples, one to
Mars, and the other to Hercules. From the Isère to Vienne,
the metropolis of the Allobroges, situated on the Rhone, the
distance is 320 stadia. Lugdunum
85 is a little above Vienne
at the confluence of the Saone
86 and the Rhone. The distance
by land [from this latter city] to Lugdunum, passing through
the country of the Allobroges, is about 200 stadia, and rather
more by water. Formerly the Allobroges engaged in war,
their armies consisting of many myriads; they now occupy
themselves in cultivating the plains and valleys of the Alps.
They dwell generally in villages, the most notable of them inhabiting Vienne, which was merely a village, although
called the metropolis of their nation; they have now improved
and embellished it as a city; it is situated on the Rhone. So
full and rapid is the descent of this river from the Alps, that
the flow of its waters through Lake Leman may be distinguished for many stadia. Having descended into the plains
of the countries of the Allobroges, and Segusii, it falls into
the Saone, near to Lugdunum, a city of the Segusii.
87 The
Saone rises in the Alps,
88 and separates the Sequani, the Ædui,
and the Lincasii.
89 It afterwards receives the Doubs, a navi-
gable river which rises in the same mountains,
90 still however
preserving its own name, and consisting of the two, mingles
with the Rhone. The Rhone in like manner preserves its
name, and flows on to Vienne. At their rise these three
rivers flow towards the north, then in a westerly direction,
afterwards uniting into one they take another turn and flow
towards the south, and having received other rivers, they
flow in this direction to the sea. Such is the country situated between the Alps and the Rhone.
[
12]
The main part of the country on the other side of the
Rhone is inhabited by the Volcæ, surnamed Arecomisci. Their
naval station is Narbonne, which may justly be called the
emporium of all Gaul, as it far surpasses every other in the
multitude of those who resort
91 to it. The Volcæ border on
tile Rhone, the Salyes and Cavari being opposite to them on
tile other side of the river. However, the name of the Cavari
has so obtained, that all the barbarians inhabiting near now
go by that designation; nay, even those who are no longer
barbarians, but follow the Roman customs, both in their
speech and mode of life, and some of those even who have
adopted the Roman polity. Between the Arecomisci and the
Pyrenees there are some other small and insignificant nations.
Nemausus
92 is the metropolis of the Arecomisci; though far
inferior to Narbonne both as to its commerce, and the number
of foreigners attracted thither, it surpasses that city in the
number of its citizens; for it has under its dominion four and
twenty different villages all well inhabited, and by the same
people, who pay tribute; it likewise enjoys the rights of the
Latin towns, so that in Nemausus you meet with Roman
citizens who have obtained the honours of the ædile and quæstorship, wherefore this nation is not subject to the orders
issued by the prætors from Rome. The city is situated on
the road from Iberia to Italy; this road is very good in
the summer, but muddy and overflowed by the rivers during
winter and spring. Some of these streams are crossed
in ferry-boats, and others by means of bridges constructed
either of wood or stone. The inundations which destroy the
roads are caused by the winter torrents, which sometimes
pour down from the Alps even in summer-time after the
melting of the snows. To perform the route before mentioned,
the shortest way is, as we have said, across the territory of the
Vocontii direct to the Alps; the other, along the coast of
Marseilles and Liguria, is longer, although it offers an easier
passage into Italy, as the mountains are lower. Nemausus
is about 100 stadia distant from the Rhone, situated opposite
to the small town of Tarascon, and about 720 stadia from
Narbonne. The Tectosages,
93 and certain others whom we
shall mention afterwards, border on the range of the Cevennes,
and inhabit its southern side as far as the promontory of
the Volcæ. Respecting all the others we will speak hereafter.
[
13]
But the Tectosages dwell near to the Pyrenees, bordering for a small space the northern side of the Cevennes;
94 the
land they inhabit is rich in gold. It appears that formerly
they were so powerful and numerous, that dissensions having
arisen amongst them, they drove a vast multitude of their
number from their homes; and that these men associating
with others of different nations took possession of Phrygia, next
to Cappadocia, and the Paphlagonians. Of this those who
are now called the Tectosages afford us proof, for [Phrygia contains] three nations, one of them dwelling near to the city of
Ancyra,
95 being called the Tectosages; the remaining two, the
Trocmi and Tolistobogii.
96 The resemblance these nations bear
to the Tectosages is evidence of their having immigrated from
Keltica, though we are unable to say from which district they
came, as there does not appear to be any people at the present
time bearing the name of Trocmi or Tolistobogii, who in-
habit either beyond the Alps, the Alps themselves, or on this
side the Alps. It would seem that continual emigration has
drained them completely from their native country, a circumstance which has occurred to many other nations, as some
say that the Brennus, who led an expedition to Delphi,
97 was a
leader of the Prausi; but we are unable to say where the Prausi
formerly inhabited. It is said that the Tectosages took part in
the expedition to Delphi, and that the treasures found in the city
of Toulouse by the Roman general Cæpio formed a portion of
the booty gained there, which was afterwards increased by
offerings which the citizens made from their own property, and
consecrated in order to conciliate the god.
98 And that it was
for daring to touch these that Cæpio terminated so miserably
his existence, being driven from his country as a plunderer of
the temples of the gods, and leaving behind him his daughters,
who, as Timagenes informs us, having been wickedly violated,
perished miserably. However, the account given by Posidonius is the more credible. He tells us that the wealth found
in Toulouse amounted to somewhere about 15,000 talents, a part
of which was hidden in the chapels, and the remainder in the
sacred lakes, and that it was not coined [money], but gold and
silver in bullion. But at this time the temple of Delphi was
emptied of these treasures, having been pillaged by the
Phocæans at the period of the Sacred war and supposing any
to have been left, it would have been distributed amongst
many. Nor is it probable that the Tectosages returned home,
since they came off miserably after leaving Delphi, and owing
to their dissensions were scattered here and there throughout
the country; there is much more likelihood in the statement
made by Posidonius and many others, that the country
abounding in gold, and the inhabitants being superstitious,
and not living expensively, they hid their treasures in many
different places, the lakes in particular affording them a hiding-
place for depositing their gold and silver bullion. When the
Romans obtained possession of the country they put up these
lakes to public sale, and many of the purchasers found therein
solid masses of silver. In Toulouse there was a sacred temple,
held in great reverence by the inhabitants of the surrounding
country, and on this account loaded with riches, inasmuch as
there were many who offered gifts, and no one dared to touch
them.
[
14]
Toulouse is situated upon the narrowest part of the
isthmus which separates the ocean from the sea of Narbonne;
the breadth of the [isthmus], according to Posidonius, being
less than 3000 stadia. The perfect similarity maintained
throughout this country both in respect to its rivers, and to
the exterior and interior sea,
99 appears to us worthy of especial
notice, as we have said before. This, on reflection, will prove to
be one main cause of the excellence of this country, since the
inhabitants are enabled mutually to communicate, and to procure from each other the necessaries of life; this is peculiarly
the case at the present time, when on account of their leisure
from war they are devoting themselves to agriculture and the
pursuits of social life. In this we are persuaded that we behold the work of Providence; such a disposition of these regions not resulting from chance, but from the thought of some
[intelligence]. The Rhone, for instance, is navigable to a
considerable distance for vessels of heavy burden, which it is
capable of transmitting through various districts of the country by means of other rivers which fall into it, and are likewise fitted for the navigation of large vessels. To the Rhone
succeeds the Saone,
100 and into this latter river falls the Doubs;
thence the merchandise is carried by land to the river Seine;
whence it is transported to the ocean and the [countries of
the] Lexovii and Caleti,
101 the distance thence to Britain being
less than a day's journey. The navigation of the Rhone being
difficult on account of the rapidity of its current, the merchants
prefer to transport in waggons certain of their wares, which
are destined for the Arverni,
102 and the river Loire,
103 notwith-
standing the vicinity of the Rhone in some places, but the
road being level and the distance not far, (about 800 stadia,)
they do not make use of water carriage on account of the
facility of the transport by land, from thence the merchandise is
easily conveyed by the Loire. This river flows from the Cevennes into the ocean. From Narbonne the voyage to the
Aude
104 is short, but the journey by land to the river Garonne
longer, being as much as 700 or 800 stadia. The Garonne likewise flows into the ocean. Such is what we have to say concerning the inhabitants of the Narbonnaise, who were formerly named Kelts. In my opinion the celebrity of the
Kelts induced the Grecians to confer that name on the whole
of the Galatæ; the vicinity of the Massilians may also have
had something to do with it.
105