Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/502

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488 STRABO. CASAUB. 317. the east close to the Scordisci, who live near the Macedonian and Thracian mountains. 11. The Autariatae were the most populous and the bravest tribe of the Illyrians. Formerly, there were continual dis- putes between them and the Ardiaei respecting the salt which was spontaneously formed on the confines of their respective territories, in the spring season, from water which flows through a valley. The salt concreted five days after the water was drawn and deposited in reservoirs. The right of collecting salt was, by agreement, to be exercised alternately by each party, but the compact was broken and war was the consequence. After the Autariatse had subdued the Triballi, a people whose territory extended a journey of fifteen days, from the Agrianae to the Danube, they became masters of the Thracians and Illyrians. The Autariatae were first conquered by the Scordisci, and afterwards by the Romans, who over- powered the Scordisci, for a long time a powerful nation. 12. This people inhabited the country on the banks of the Danube, and were divided into two tribes, the Great and the Little Scordisci. 1 The former occupied the space between two rivers, which empty themselves into the Danube, the Noarus, ? which runs beside Segestica, and the Margus, or, as some call it, Bargus. The Little Scordisci lived beyond this river close to the Triballi and Mysi. 3 The Scordisci possessed some of the islands also. They increased so much in strength and numbers as to advance even to the Illyrian, Paeonian, and Thracian confines. Most of the islands on the Danube fell into their hands, and they possessed the cities Heorta and Capedunum. 4 Next to the territory of the Scordisci, lying along the banks of the Danube, is the country of the Triballi and Mysi, whom we have before mentioned ; we have also spoken of the 1 The Agrianse occupied the neighbourhood of Mount Pangaeus on the confines of Thrace and Macedonia. The Triballi, at the time alluded to by Strabo, possessed nearly the whole of the country included between the Adriatic and the Euxine. The Scordisci, who were at first confined to the territory situated between the Drave and the Save, in their turn took possession of all this country. It is not possible, in consequence of the continual wars which existed amongst these people, to determine with exactness the places which they successively occupied. 6. 2 Probably the Save. G. 3 Maedi.

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