CHAPTER III.
NEXT in order after Aquitaine and the Narbonnaise,
is that portion [of Gaul] extending as far as the Rhine from
the river Loire, and the Rhone, where it passes by Lugdunum:
1
in its descent from its source. The upper regions of this
district from the sources of the Rhine and Rhone, nearly to
the middle of the plains, pertain to Lugdunum; the remainder,
with the regions next the ocean, is comprised in another division which belongs to the Belgæ. We will describe the two
together.
[
2]
Lugdunum itself, situated on
2 a hill, at the confluence
of the Saone
3 and the Rhone, belongs to the Romans. It is the
most populous city after Narbonne. It carries on a great
commerce, and the Roman prefects here coin both gold and
silver money. Before this city, at the confluence of the
rivers, is situated the temple dedicated by all the Galatæ in
common to Cæsar Augustus. The altar is splendid, and has
inscribed on it the names of sixty people, and images of them,
one for each, and also another great altar.
4
This is the principal city of the nation of the Segusiani who
lie between the Rhone and the Doubs.
5 The other nations
who extend to the Rhine, are bounded in part by the Doubs,
and in part by the Saone. These two rivers, as said before,
descend from the Alps, and, falling into one stream, flow into
the Rhone. There is likewise another river which has its
sources in the Alps, and is named the Seine.
6 It flows
parallel with the Rhine, through a nation bearing the same
name as itself,
7 and so into the ocean. The Sequani are
bounded on the east by the Rhine, and on the opposite side
by the Saone. It is from them that the Romans procure
the finest salted-pork. Between the Doubs and Saone dwells
the nation of the Ædui, who possess the city of Cabyllinum,
8
situated on the Saone and the fortress of Bibracte.
9 The
Ædui
10 are said to be related to the Romans, and they were
the first to enter into friendship and alliance with them. On
the other side of the Saone dwell the Sequani, who have for
long been at enmity with the Romans and Ædui, having
frequently allied themselves with the Germans in their incursions into Italy. It was then that they proved their strength,
for united to them the Germans were powerful, but when
separated, weak. As for the Ædui, their alliance with the
Romans naturally rendered them the enemies of the Sequani,
11
but the enmity was increased by their contests concerning the
river which divides them, each nation claiming the Saone exclusively for themselves, and likewise the tolls on vessels
passing. However, at the present time, the whole of it is under
the dominion of the Romans.
[
3]
The first of all the nations dwelling on the Rhine are
the Helvetii, amongst whom are the sources of that river in
Mount Adula,
12 which forms part of the Alps. From this
mountain, but in an opposite direction, likewise proceeds the
Adda, which flows towards Cisalpine Gaul, and fills lake
Larius,
13 near to which stands [the city of] Como; thence it
discharges itself into the Po, of which we shall speak afterwards. The Rhine also flows into vast marshes and a great
lake,
14 which borders on the Rhæti and Vindelici,
15 who dwell
partly in the Alps, and partly beyond the Alps. Asinius
says that the length of this river is 6000 stadia, but such is
not the case, for taken in a straight line it does not much
exceed half that length, and 1000 stadia is quite sufficient to
allow for its sinuosities. In fact this river is so rapid that it
is difficult to throw bridges across it, although after its descent
from the mountains it is borne the remainder of the way
through level plains; now how could it maintain its rapidity
and vehemence, if in addition to this level channel, we suppose
it also to have long and frequent tortuosities? Asinius like-
wise asserts that this river has two mouths, and blames those
who say that it has more.
16 This river and the Seine embrace
within their tortuosities a certain extent of country, which
however is not considerable. They both flow from south to
north. Britain lies opposite to them; but nearest to the
Rhine, from which you may see Kent, which is the most easterly
part of the island. The Seine is a little further. It was here
that divus Cæsar established a dock-yard when he sailed to
Britain. The navigable portion of the Seine, commencing
from the point where they receive the merchandise from the
Saone, is of greater extent than the [navigable portions] of
the Loire and Garonne. From Lugdunum
17 to the Seine is [a
distance of] 1000 stadia, and not twice this distance from the
outlets of the Rhone to Lugdunum. They say that the Helvetii,
18 though rich in gold, nevertheless devoted themselves to
pillage on beholding the wealth of the Cimbri,
19 [accumulated
by that means;] and that two out of their three tribes perished
entirely in their military expeditions. However, the multitude
of descendants who sprang from this remainder was proved in
their war with divus Cæsar, in which about 400,000 of their
number were destroyed; the 8000 who survived the war,
being spared by the conqueror, that their country might not
be left desert, a prey to the neighbouring Germans.
20
[
4]
After the Helvetii, the Sequani
21 and Mediornatrici
22
dwell along the Rhine, amongst whom are the Tribocchi,
23 a
German nation who emigrated from their country hither.
Mount Jura, which is in the country of the Sequani, separates
that people from the Helvetii. To the west, above the Helvetii and Sequani, dwell the Ædui and Lingones; the
Leuci
and a part of the Lingones dwelling above the Mediomatrici.
The nations between the Loire and the Seine, and beyond the
Rhone and the Saone, are situated to the north near to the
Allobroges,
24 and the parts about Lyons. The most celebrated
amongst them are the Arverni and Carnutes,
25 through both
of whose territories the Loire flows before discharging itself
into the ocean. The distance from the rivers of Keltica to
Britain is 320 stadia; for departing in the evening with the
ebb tide, you will arrive on the morrow at the island about
the eighth hour.
26 After the Mediomatrici and Tribocchi,
the Treviri
27 inhabit along the Rhine; in their country the
Roman generals now engaged in the German war have constructed a bridge. Opposite this place on the other bank of
the river dwelt the Ubii, whom Agrippa with their own consent brought over to this side the Rhine.
28 The Nervii,
29
another German nation, are contiguous to the Treviri; and last
the Menapii, who inhabit either bank of the river near to its
outlets; they dwell amongst marshes and forests, not lofty,
but consisting of dense and thorny wood. Near to these dwell
the Sicambri,
30 who are likewise Germans. The country next
the whole [eastern] bank is inhabited by the Suevi, who are
also named Germans, but are superior both in power and
number to the others, whom they drove out, and who have
now taken refuge on this side the Rhine. Other tribes have
sway in different places; they are successively a prey to the
flames of war, the former inhabitants for the most part being
destroyed.
[
5]
The Senones, the Remi, the Atrebates, and the Eburones dwell west of the Treviri and Nervii.
31 Close to the
Menapii and near the sea are the Morini, the Bellovaci, the
Ambiani, the Suessiones, and the Caleti, as far as the outlet
of the river Seine.
32 The countries of the Morini, the Atre-
bates, and the Eburones are similar to that of the Menapii.
It consists of a forest filled with low trees; of great extent,
but not near so large as writers have described it, viz. 4000
stadia.
33 It is named Arduenna.
34 In the event of warlike
incursions the inhabitants would interweave the flexible
brambly shrubs, thus stopping up the passages [into their
country]. They also fixed stakes in various places, and then
retreated with their whole families into the recesses of the
forest, to small islands surrounded by marshes. During the
rainy season these proved secure hiding-places, but in times
of drought they were easily taken. However, at the present
time all the nations on this side the Rhine
35 dwell in peace
under the dominion of the Romans. The Parisii dwell along
the river Seine, and inhabit an island formed by the river;
their city is Lucotocia.
36 The Meldi and Lexovii border on
the ocean. The most considerable, however, of all these nations are the Remi. Duricortora, their metropolis, is well
populated, and is the residence of the Roman prefects.