Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/310

296 STRABO. CASATJB. 199. these goddesses after the same fashion that they do in Samo- thrace. The following is also credible, that a tree grows" in Keltica similar to a fig, which produces a fruit resembling a Corinthian capital, and which, being cut, exudes a poison- ous juice which they use for poisoning their arrows. It is well known that all the Kelts are fond of disputes ; and that amongst them paederasty is not considered shameful. Ephorus extends the size of Keltica too far, including within it most of what we now designate as Iberia^ as far as Gades. He states that the people are great admirers of the Greeks, and relates many particulars concerning them not applicable to their present state. This is one : That they take great are noj to become fat or big-bellied, and that if any young man exceeds the measure of Ifcertain girdle, he is punished. 1 Such is our account of Keltica beyond the Alps. 2 CHAPTER V. BRITAIN. 1. BRITAIN is triangular in form ; its longeaL-flide lies parallel to Keltica, in length neither exceeding nor falling short oi' it ; for each of them extends as much as 4300 or 4400 stadia : the side of Keltica extending from the mouths of the Rhine to the northern extremities 'of thej^cejiees to- wards Aquitaine ; and that of Britain, which commences at Kent, its most eastern point, opposite the mouths of the "Rhine, extending to the western extremity of thej^land, which lies oyeragainst Aquitaine and the Pyrenees. This is the shortest Imelrom the Pyrenees to the Khine ; the longest is said to be 5000 stadia ; but it is likely that there is some 1 A similar custom existed amongst the Spartans ; the young people were obliged to present themselves from time to time before the Ephori, and if of the bulk thought proper for a Spartan, they were praised, if on the contrary they appeared too fat, they were punished. Athen. 1. xii. p. 550. JElian, V. H. 1. xiv. c. 7. At Rome likewise it was the duty of the censor to see that the equites did not become too fat ; if they did, they were punished with the loss of their horse. Aulus Gellius, Noct. Att. 1. vii. c. '22. 2 Transalpine Gaul.