Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/350

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816 plii^y's natueal iiistoet. [Book lY. left are lulis and Carthaea^ ; Coresus^ and Poeeessa^ have perished. Varro informs us, that from this pLice there used to come a cloth of very fine texture, used for women's dresses. CHAP. 21. EUBCEA. Euboea'* itself has also been rent away from Boeotia; the channel of the Euripus, which flows between them, being so narrow as to admit of the opposite shores being united by a bridge^. At the south, this island is remarkable for its two promontories, that of Grersestus^, which looks towards Attica, and that of Caphareus^, which faces the Hellespont ; on the north it has that of Censeum^. In no part does this island extend to a greater breadth than forty miles, while it never contracts to less than two. In length it runs along the whole coast of Boeotia, extending from Attica as far as Thessaly, a distance of 150 miles 9. In circumference it measures 365, and is distant from the Hellespont, on the side of Caphareus, 225 miles. The cities for which it was formerly famous were, Pyrrha, Porthmos, Nesos, Cerinthos^*^, Oreum, Dium, ^depsos^ Ocha, and (Echalia; at present it is ennobled by those of Chalcis^^ 1 There are considerable remains of this town, called by the inhabit- ants Stais Palais. 2 Or Coresia. It was the harbour of luHs, to which place we learn from Strabo that its inhabitants were transferred. 3 On the S.W. side of the island. Its ruins are inconsiderable, but retain their ancient name.

  • Now called Euboea, as also Egripo, or IN'egropont, — a corruption of

the former word and " pont," " a bi'idge." ^ Ilardouin speaks of tliis as existing in liis time, 1670, and being 250 feet m length. It is supposed to have been fu'st constructed about B.C. 411, for the pin*pose of uninterrupted communication with Boeotia. 6 Now Capo Mandili, ^ Now Kavo Doro, or Xylofago. 8 Now Lithadha, with a mountain 2837 feet above the sea. 3 These measurements are not exactly correct. The length from north to south is about ninety miles ; the extreme breadth across, thu'ty, and in one part, not more than four miles. ^0 Still extant ui the time of Strabo, who speaks of it as an incoii- siderable place. ^^ Its site is now called Lipso. It contained warm baths sacred to Ilercules, and used by the Dictator Sylla. They are still to be seen. ^2 Now Egripo, or Negropont, having given name to the rest of the island. The Euripus is here only forty yards across, being crossed by a