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Chap 14.]

ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, ETC.

217

mentioned, is called Pelorus, faces Scylla and juts out towards Italy, while Pachynum[1] extends in the direction of Greece, Peloponnesus being at a distance from it of 440 miles, and Lilybæum[2], towards Africa, being distant 180 miles from the promontory of Mercury[3], and from that of Caralis in Sardinia 190. These promontories and sides are situate at the following distances from each other: by land it is 186 miles from Pelorus to Pachynum, from Pachynum to Lilybæum 200, and from Lilybæum to Pelorus 170[4].

In this island there are five colonies and sixty-three cities or states. Leaving Pelorus and facing the Ionian Sea, we have the town of Messana[5], whose inhabitants are also called Mamertini and enjoy the rights of Roman citizens; the promontory of Drepanum[6], the colony of Tauromenium[7], formerly called Naxos, the river Asines[8], and Mount Ætna, wondrous for the flames which it emits by night. Its crater is twenty stadia in circumference, and from it red-hot cinders are thrown as far as Tauromenium and Catina, the noise being heard even at Maroneum[9] and the Gemellian Hills. We then come to the three rocks of the Cyclopes[10], the Port of Ulysses[11], the colony of Catina[12], and the rivers Symæthus[13] and Terias; while more inland lie the Læstrygonian Plains.

To these rivers succeed the towns of Leontinum[14] and Megaris, the river Pantagies[15], the colony of Syracuse[16], with the fountain of Arethusa[17], (the people in the Syracusan ter-

  1. ↑ Now Capo di Passaro
  2. ↑ The present Capo di Boco Marsala.
  3. ↑ Now Cape Bon. The real distance is but seventy-eight miles.
  4. ↑ The following are more probably the correct distances: 150, 210, and 230 miles.
  5. ↑ Now Messina.
  6. ↑ The modern Capo di Santo Alessio.
  7. ↑ Now called Taormini; the remains of the ancient town are very considerable.
  8. ↑ Probably the present Alcantara.
  9. ↑ The present Madonia and Monte di Mele.
  10. ↑ Now called I Fariglioni.
  11. ↑ In modern times called "Lognina Statione," according to Hardouin.
  12. ↑ The modern city of Catania stands on its site.
  13. ↑ The Fiume di Santo Leonardo, according to Hardouin, but Mannert says the river Lentini. Ansart suggests the Guarna Lunga.
  14. ↑ Now Lentini. The ruins of Megaris are still to be seen, according to Mannert.
  15. ↑ Now the Porcaro.
  16. ↑ The modern city of Siracosa.
  17. ↑ See B. xxxi. c. 30, for particulars of this fountain.
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