Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners/Part II/VI

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3308604Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners — VI.—A BALD PEOPLE.George L. Bennett

VI.A BALD PEOPLE.

105.A race of men who are all bald, males and females alike, and snub-nosed, inhabits the spurs of the high mountains. They wear the Scythian dress, notwithstanding they support life on the fruit of trees. The name of the tree by which they are fed is Ponticum; it much resembles a fig tree. Now, it bears a fruit like a bean, having a kernel within. They keep the ripe fruit in cloths, and both lick up the thick black liquor which exudes from it, and drink it mixed with milk. Of the dregs they make cakes, on which they feed. They have not a great quantity of cattle. Each head of a family lives under a tree. In winter, indeed, they cover the tree with a covering made of wool. No one does harm to these people, for they are held sacred; nor have they any warlike arms; these same men also settle the disputes of their neighbours. They are called the Argipaei.