MELPOMENE. 159

either to Asia or Europe. Cinyps is totally unlike
the rest of Libya, but is equal to any country in the
world for its corn. It is of a black soil, abounding in
springs, and never troubled with drought. It rains in
this part of Africa, but the rains, though violent, are
never injurious. The produce of corn is not exceeded
by Babylon itself. The country also of the Eues-
peridae is remarkably fertile; in one of its plentiful
years it produces a hundred fold; that of Cinyps
three hundred fold. .

CXCIX. Of the part of Libya possessed by the
Nomades, the district of Cyrene is the most elevated.
They have three seasons, which well deserve admira­
tion : the harvest and the vintage first commence upon
the sea-coast; when these are finished, those imme­
diately contiguous, advancing up the country, are
ready; this region they call Buni. When .the re­
quisite labour has been here finished, the corn and the
vines in the more elevated parts are found to ripen in
progression, and will then require to be cut. By the
time therefore that the first produce of the earth is
consumed, the last will be ready. Thus for eight
months in the year the Cyreneans are employed in
reaping the produce of their lands.

CC. The Persians who were sent by Aryandes to
avenge the cause of Pheretiine, proceeding from Egypt
to Barce, laid siege to the place, having first demand­
ed the persons of those who had been accessary to
the death of Arcesilaus. To this the inhabitants,
who had all been equally concerned in destroying
him, paid no attention. The Persians, after continu­
ing nine months before the place, carried their mines
to the walls, and made a very vigorous attack. Their
mines were discovered by a smith, by means of a bra­
zen shield. He made a circuit of the town; where
there were no miners beneath, the shield did not re­
verberate, which it did wherever they were at work.
The Barceans therefore dug countermines, and slew
the Persians so employed. Every attempt to storm
the place was vigorously defeated by the besieged.

CCI. After a long time had been thus consumed
with considerable slaughter on both sides (as many