sent times. (See his Introduction, Vol. i.) Many other instances could be adduced; and they absolutely appear to be an effect of geographical situation, combined with adventitious circumstances, on the human mind.

SECTION VI.

EXPEDITION OF DARIUS HYSTASPES TO WESTERN

SCYTHIA.

The march of DARIUS into Scythia may be traced in a general way-passes the Danube, and leaves the floating bridge in charge of the Tönians-Marches eastward to the Tanais, which he crosses, into Sarmatia; the Scythians retreating before him -advances to the Oarus, where he erects a chain of fortresses— the Oarus, (taken for the Wolga,) the term of his expedition, eastward-Scythians lead him to the northward and westward, into the territories of the Seceders, the Melanchlani, Androphagi, and Neuri, in order to save their own lands—The Agathyrsi, on whom the same is attempted, resist both Scythians and Persians-Losses and distresses of the Persian army-recover their bridge on the Danube; which the Scythians could not prevail on the Tönians to destroy-Sepulchres of the kings of Scythia-Barbarous funerals—Gold buried with the bodies— Expedition of Darius, compared with that of Cyrus, against the eastern Scythians—the former invasion of Media, by the Scythians, gave rise to the expedition of Darius-the Scythians, the Gog and Magog of the Scriptures-Idea of the time consumed in the expedition—Tönian and Æolian fleet attend Darius -Conjecture about the supply of provisions for the Persian army-Bridges of Darius and Xerxes, over the Bosphorus and Hellespont-more of vain-glory than use, in these works--Idea of the breadth of the two Straits-Difficulties in the description of Xerxes' Bridge, attempted to be solved.

THE march of DARIUS HYSTASPES through Scythia, cannot, for want of circumstantial detail, be accu

rately followed on the map. But it may, however, be done in a general way; and we shall endeavour to trace it by the aid of those circumstances which present themselves. The trace itself will be found on the Map, No. III. at page 66.

He crossed the Danube over a bridge of boats, at the place where it first begins to branch off, to form the several channels through which it enters the Euxine'; Melp. 89. The place, therefore, may be supposed to have been not far above the site of Ismail, and between that and the conflux of the Pruth with the Danube. The Iönian fleet, which was dispatched from the Bosphorus to perform the service of laying the bridge, sailed two days up from the sea, in order to arrive at the place; Melp. 89.

Having left the Iönians in charge of the bridge, he marched through Scythia, eastward to the Tanais ; the Scythian army, which was divided into two bodies, retiring regularly before him, at the distance of a day's march; filling up the wells, and destroying the produce of the fields; 120, 121, 122. Their families, together with such of their cattle as were not necessary to their immediate subsistence, were previously sent off to the northern frontier; 121.

Darius, crossing the Tanais, came into the territories of the Sauromatæ; and from thence into those of the Budini, 122; which having also crossed, he finally came to the desert of seven or eight journies

1 Mr. Bell says that it enters the Euxine, by a single channel only but this is contrary to every other report, ancient and modern.

in breadth, which, as we have seen, page 116, separated the country of the Budini from that of the Thyssagetæ; Melp. 22, 123: and here he halted on the banks of the river Oarus, where he constructed eight fortresses or redoubts, at the distance of about six miles from each other; the ruins of which, says our Author," have been visible to my time;" 124. And this was the most distant point of the expedition of Darius, eastward.

It has been shewn, that the Thyssagetæ lived beyond this desert; and that the river Tanais, as well as the Oarus, and two others, passed through, or by, their country; which, by circumstances, must have been very extensive. And on this ground we have supposed it to lie between the Tanais and the Wolga, concluding also this latter to be intended, by the Oarus; as by its course above Zaritzyn, it might be supposed, by an ordinary observer, to run towards the Mæotis, rather than towards the Caspian.

The Oarus then, was the utmost term of the march of Darius; and that Oarus we have taken for the Wolga. The desert, on the border of which he halted, we have supposed to begin below Saratow; as the territories of the Thyssagetæ were supposed to commence near that place; page 117; and hence we fix the term of Darius's expedition, about the great bend of the Wolga, near Saratow2.

A more than ordinary cause must have deter

There actually appears in Delisle's Map of Russia (see his Atlas, 2d sheet Russia,) a desert, said to be of 10 days' extent, near that part of the Wolga just mentioned.

mined the measure of erecting the chain of fortresses, extending a length of 420 stadia; that is, 40 or more English miles: but that object, whatsoever it was, cannot now be ascertained. Could one suppose that Herodotus was inaccurate, in his statement of the particulars of the march, or of the relative positions of the countries hereabouts, one might suspect that the chain of redoubts extended between the Wolga and Don, at the Isthmus of Zaritzyn; but by the text, we must look towards Saratow. It is probable, that at whatsoever point it was, the depth and rapidity of the Wolga opposed the farther progress both of the Persians and Scythians: and the retrograde movement of the Scythians, circuitously, by the higher parts of the country, into Scythia (we must suppose, by traversing the northern part of the Budians' territory,) seems to have determined the future line of march of the Persians; which was now towards the west, pursuing another division of the Scythians, who regulated their position, at the distance of one day's march before the Persians; Melpom. 124. It appears that they were enabled to do this, because their army consisted chiefly of horse; the Persian army, chiefly of infantry; 136.

In our discussion of the positions of the nations bordering on Scythia, it appeared, pages 115 and 117, that the Sauromatæ extended fifteen journies to the north, up the course of the Tanais. That the country of the Budini and Geloni began at that point; and these being each of them a great and numerous people, must have extended a great way