Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/249

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Chap. 13.] ACCOUNT OF COUNTKIES, ETC. 215 CHAP. 13. SARDINIA. Leucothea comes next, and after it, but out of sight, as it lies upon the verge of the African Sea, Sardinia. It is situate somewhat less^ than eight miles from the nearest point of Corsica, and the Straits between them are even still more reduced by the small islands there situate, called the Cuni- culariae^ as also those of Phintonis^ and Fossse, from which last the Straits themselves have obtained the name of Taphros^. (7.) Sardinia extends, upon the east side, a distance of 188 miles, on the west 175, on the south 77, and on the north 125, being 565 miles in circumference. Its pro- montory of Caralis^ is distant from Africa 200, and from Grades 1400 miles. Off the promontory of Gordis^ it has two islands called the Isles of Hercules^, off that of Sulcis, the island of Enosis*^, and off that of Caralis, Ficaria^ Some "^Titers place Beleris not far from it, as also CaUodis, and the island known as Heras Lutra^". The most celebrated peoples of this island are the Bienses", the Balari, and the Corsi ; and among its eighteen towns, there are those of the Sulcitani'^, the A^alentini^^ the Neapoli- I The distance between is hardly five miles. ' These rocks appear at the present day to be nameless. The old name seems to mean, the " Eabbit Warrens." =» Pliintonis, according to Hardouin, is the modem Isola di Figo, ac- cording to Mannert, Caprcra. Cluver makes Fossae to be the present Isola Rossa, while Mannert considers it to be the same with Santa Maddalena. ^ Ta^pds being the Grreek for the Latin word "fossa," the ordinary meaning of which is an " excavation." 5 Probably the Cape of Carbonara, from which however Africa is distant only 121 miles, and the gulf of Grades or Cadiz 980. ^ Now Capo Falcone. 7 Now Asiaara or Zavara, and Isola Plana. 8 Now called Santo Antiocho, off La Punta dell' Llga. 5 According to Cluver, the modem Coltelalzo. ^0 The " Baths of Juno." The identity of these islands does not appear to have been ascertained. II Said by Pausanias to have been descended from persons who escaped on the fall of Troy under the command of lolaiis. 12 Of the town of Sulcis. Its ruins are probably those seen at the village of Sulci, near the port Palm a di Solo. 13 Their town was probably on the site of the present Iglcsias.