Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/199

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Chap. 4.] ACCOUNT OF COIINTEIES, ETC. 165 Clunia of Asturica-, of Lucus^, and of the Bracari^. To these are to be added the islands, which will be described on another occasion, as also 293 states which are dependent on others ; besides which the province contains 179 towns. Of these, twelve are colonies, thirteen, towns with the rights of Boman citizens, eighteen Avith the old Latian rights, one confederate, and 135 tributary. The first people that we come to on the coast are the Bastuli ; after whom, proceeding according to the order which I shall follow, as we go inland, there are the Mentesani, the Oretani, and the Carpetani on the Tagus, and next to tbem the Yaccsei, the Vectones, and the Celtiberian Arevaci. The towns nearest to the coast are Urci, and Barea^ included in Baetica, the district of Mavitania, next to it Deitania, and then Contestania, and the colony of Carthago Nova ; from the Promontory of which, known as the Promontorium Sa- turni^, to the city of Caesarea^ in Mauritania, the passage is a distance of 187 miles. The remaining objects worthy of mention on the coast are the river Tader^, and the free colony of Ilici^, whence the Ilicitanian Grulf ° derives its name ; to this colony the Icositani are subordinate. We next have Lucentum^ holding Latian rights; Dianium^', a tributary town; the river Sucre ^^, and in former times a town of the same name, forming the frontier of Contestania. 1 This was the most remote place of any consideration in Celtiberia, on the west. Its ruins are still to be seen on the summit of a hill surrounded with rocks, forming a natm'al wall between Corunna del Conde and Pen- nalda de Castro. 2 This was Asturica Augusta, the chief city of the nation of the Astures, and situate on one of the tributaries of the Astura, now Esta. On its site is situate the present Astorga : its ruins are very extensive. 3 Now Lugo.

  • Or Bracara Augusta, now Braga. Among the ruins of the ancient

city there are the remains of an aqueduct and ampliitheatre. 5 Probably the present town of Vera near Muxacra. 6 The " Promontory of Saturn," now Oabo de Palos, 7 D' Anvillc takes tliis place to be the port of Vacur ; if so, the distance from Cape Palos is exactly 170 miles. * Now Sogura.

  • The modem town of Elche was probably built from the ruins of

this place. ^° Now called the Gulf of Ahcant. " With the Arabian El prefixed, this has formed the name of the famous port of Ahcant. ^ Now Denia, a thriving town. ^3 Now called the Xucar.