130 MELPOMENE.

and of the extent of a seven days'journey, without I
single inhabitant. Farther on are the Thyssagete,
from whose country four great rivers, after wateris"
the intermediate plains, empty themselves into the
Palus Mteotis. The names of these rivers are tie
Lycus, the Oarus, the Tanais, and the Syrgis. jjl

CXXIV. As soon as Darius arrived at the abore
solitude, he halted, and encamped his army upon tie
banks of the Oarus: he then constructed eight large
forts, at the distance of sixty stadia from each other,
the ruins of which have been visible to my time.
Whilst he was thus employed, that detachment of the
enemy which he had pursued, making a circuit by the
higher parts of the country, returned into Scythie,
When these had disappeared, and were no more to be
discovered, Darius left his forts in an unfinished state,
and directed his march westward, thinking that the
Scythians whom he had pursued were the whole of
the nation, and had fled towards the west: accele­
rating therefore his march, he arrived in Scythia, and
met with two detachments of Scythians; these also
he pursued, who took care to keep from him at the
distance of one day's march.

CXXV. Darius continued his pursuit, and the Scy­
thians, as had been previously concerted, led him
into the country of those who had refused to accede
to their alliance, and first of all into that of the Me-
lanchlteni. When the lands of this people had been
effectually harassed by the Scythians, as well as the
Persians, the latter were again led by the former into
the district of the Androphagi. Having in like manner
distressed these, the Persians were allured on to the
Neuri: the Neuri being also alarmed and harassed,
the attempt was made to carry the Persians amongst
the Agathyrsi. This people however had observed,
that before their own country had suffered any injury
from the invaders, the Scythians had taken care to
distress the lands of their neighbours; they accord­
ingly despatched to them a messenger, forbidding
their nearer approach, and threatening that any at­
tempt to advance should meet with their hostile
resistance: with this determination, the Agathyrsi