HERODOTUS.

BOOK IV.

3KBLPOMEE1IB.

CHAPTER I.

Darius, after the capture of Babylon, undertook
an expedition against Scythia. Asia was now both
populous and rich, and he was desirous of avenging
on the Scythians, the injuries they had formerly com­
mitted, by entering Media, and defeating those who
opposed them. During a period of twenty-eight years,
the Scythians, as I have before remarked, retained the
sovereignty of the Upper Asia; entering into which,
when in pursuit of the Cimmerians, they expelled the
Medes, its ancient possessors. After this long ab­
sence from their country, the Scythians were desirous
to return, but here as great a labour awaited them,
as they had experienced in their expedition into Me­
dia ; for the women, deprived so long of their hus­
bands, had connected themselves with their slaves,
and they found a numerous body in arms ready to
dispute their progress.

II. It is a custom with the Scythians to deprive all
their slaves of sight, on account of the milk, which is
their customary drink. They have a particular kind
of bone, shaped like a flute: this is applied to the pri­
vate parts of a mare, and blown into from the mouth.
It is one man's offioe to blow, another's to milk the
mare. Their idea is, that, the veins of the animal
being thus inflated, the dugs are proportionably filled.
When the milk is thus obtained, they place it in deep
wooden vessels, and the slaves are directed to keep it
in continual agitation. Of this, that which remains
at top is most esteemed, what subsides is of inferior