its MELPOMENE.

lar proof that what I say is true." The principal
Scythians accordingly followed him, and by a secret
avenue were by him conducted to the citadel. When
they beheld Scyles approach with his thyrsus, and in
every other respect acting the Bacchanal, they deem­
ed the matter of most calamitous importance, and re­
turning, informed the army of all that they had seen.

LXXX. As soon as Scyles returned, an insurrection
was excited against him; and his brother Octomasades,
whose mother was the daughter of Tereus, was pro­
moted to the throne. Scyles having learned the par­
ticulars and the motives of this revolt, fled into Thrace;
against which place, as soon as he was informed of
this event, Octomasades advanced with an army. The
Thracians met him at the Ister; when they were upon
the point of engaging, Sitalces sent a herald to Oc­
tomasades, with this message : " A contest betwixt of
would be absurd, for you are the son of my sister.
My brother is in your power; if you will deliver him
to me, I will give up Scyles to you; thus we shall
mutually avoid all danger." As the brother of Sital­
ces had taken refuge with Octomasades, the above
overtures effected a peace. The Scythian king sur­
rendered up his uncle, and received the person of his
brother. Sitalces immediately withdrew his army,
taking with him his brother: but on that very day
Octomasades deprived Scyles of his head. Thus te­
nacious are the Scythians of their national customs,
and such is the fate of those who endeavour to intro­
duce foreign ceremonies amongst them.

LXXXI. On the populousness of Scythia I am not
able to speak with decision; they have been repre­
sented to me by some as a numerous people, whilst
others have informed me, that of real Scythians there
are but few. I shall relate, however, what has fallen
within my own observation. Betwixt the Borys-
thenes and the Hypanis, there is a place called Exara-
poeus: to this I have before made some allusion, when
speaking of a fountain which it contained, whose
waters were so exceedingly bitter, as to render the
Hypanis, into which it flows, perfectly impalatable.
In this place is a vessel of brass, six times larger than