MELPOMENE.

XXXVII. The region occupied by the Persians ex-
ends southward to the Red Sea; beyond these to
he north are the Medes, next to them are the Sapi-
ians. Contiguous to the Sapirians, and where the
'hasis empties itself into the Northern Sea, are the

)olchians. These four nations occupy the space be-
ween the two seas.

XXXVIII. From hence to the west two tracts of
and stretch themselves towards the sea, which I shall
describe : the one on the north side commences at the
Phasis, and extends to the sea along the Euxine and
the Hellespont, as far as the Sigeum of Troy. On the
south side it begins at the bay of Margandius, con­
tiguous to Phoenicia, and is continued to the sea as
far as the Triopian promontory; this space of country
is inhabited by thirty different nations.

XXXIX. The other district commences in Persia,
and is continued to the Red Sea. Besides Persia, it
comprehends Assyria and Arabia, naturally termi­
nating in the Arabian Gulf, into which Darius in­
troduced a channel of the Nile. The interval from
Persia to Phoenicia is very extensive. From Phoenicia
it again continues beyond Syria of Palestine, as far
as Egypt, where it terminates. The whole of this
region is occupied by three nations only. Such is
the division of Asia from Persia westward.

XL. To the east beyond Persia, Media, the Sapi­
rians and Colchians, the country is bounded by the
Red Sea; to the north by the Caspian and the river
Araxas, which directs its course towards the east. As
far as India, Asia is well inhabited; but from India
eastward the whole country is one vast desert, un­
known and unexplored.

XLI. The second tract comprehends Libya, which
begins where Egypt ends. About Egypt the country
is very narrow. One hundred thousand orgyiae, or
one thousand stadia, comprehend the space between
this and the Red Sea. Here the country expands,
and takes the name of Libya.

XLII. I am much surprised at those who have di­
vided and defined the limits of Libya, Asia, and
Europe, betwixt which the difference is far from small.