168 TERPSICHORE.

XVI. The people in the vicinity of mount P»n-
gaeus, with the Dobera, the Agrianse, Odomanti, and
those of the Frasian lake, Megabyzus was not able to
subdue. They who lived upon the lake, in dwellings
of the following construction, were the objects of his
next attempt. In this lake, strong piles are driven
into the ground, over which planks are thrown, con­
nected by a narrow bridge with the shore. These
erections were in former times made at the public
expense; but a law afterwards passed, obliging a
man for every wife whom he should marry (and they
allow a plurality) to drive three of these piles into
the ground, taken from a mountain called Orbelus.
Upon these planks each man has his hut, from every
one of which a trap-door opens to the water. To pre­
vent their infants from falling into the lake, they
fasten a string to their legs. Their horses and cattle
are fed principally with fish, of which there is such
abundance, that if any one lets down a basket into
the water, and steps aside, he may presently after
draw it up full of fish. Of these they have two par­
ticular species, called papraces and tilones.

XVII. Such of the Paeonians as were taken cap­
tive, were removed into Asia. After the conquest of
this people, Megabyzus sent into Macedonia seven
Persians of his army, next in dignity and estimation
to himself, requiring of Amyntas, in the name of Da­
rius, earth and water. From the lake Prasis to Ma­
cedonia there is a very short passage; for upon the
very brink of the lake is found the mine, which in
after-times produced to Alexander a talent every
day. Next to this mine is the Dysian mount; which
being passed, you enter Macedonia.

XVIII. The Persians on their arrival were admitted
to an immediate audience of Amyntas; when they de­
manded of him, in the name of Darius, earth and wa­
ter. This was not only granted, but Amyntas receiv­
ed the messengers hospitably into his family, gave
them a splendid entertainment, and treated them with
particular kindness. When after the entertainment
they began to drink, one of the Persians thus address­
ed Amyntas: " Prince of Macedonia, it is a custom