Greek Texts & Translations

-- 206 --

through their country, which brings down gold-dust, but they are ignorant how to make any use of it. They are called Debae; ^note some of them are Nomades, others husbandmen.

I do not mention the greater part ^note of the names of these nations, on account of the obscurity of the people, and because the pronunciation of them is strange ^note [and uncouth].

Near these people is a nation more civilized, who inhabit a district with a more temperate climate ; for it is well watered, and has frequent showers. ^note Fossil gold is found there, not in the form of dust, but in lumps, which do not require much purification. The least pieces are of the size of a nut, the middle size of a medlar, the largest of a walnut. These are pierced and arranged alternately with transparent stones strung on threads and formed into collars. They are worn round the neck and wrists. They sell the gold to their neighbours at a cheap rate, exchanging it for three times the quantity of brass, and double the quantity of iron, ^note through ignorance of the mode of working the gold, and the scarcity of the commodities received in exchange, which are more necessary for the purposes of life. 19

The country of the Sabaei, ^note

a very populous nation, is contiguous, and is the most fertile of all, producing myrrh, frank-