290 STRABO. CASAru. 194. of the river Seine. 1 The countries of the Morini, the Atre- bates, and the Eburones are similar to that of the Menapii. It consists of a forest filled with low trees ; of great extent, but not near so large as writers have described it, viz. 4000 stadia. 2 It is named Ar duenna. 3 In the event of warlike incursions the inhabitants^ would interweave the flexible brambly shrubs, thus stopping up the passages [into their country]. They also fixed stakes in various places, and then retreated with their whole families into the recesses of the forest, to smalLJslands surrounded by marshes. During the rainy season these proved secure hidinjr^places. but in times of drought they were easily taken. However, at the present time all the nations on this side the Rhine 4 dwell in peace under' the dominion of the Romans. The Parisii dwell along the river Seine, and inhabit an island formed by the river ; their city is Lucotocia. 5 The Meldi and Lexovii border on the ocean. The most considerable, however, of all these na- tions are the Remi. Duricortora, their metropolis, is well populated, and is the residence of the Roman prefects. CHAPTER IV. GAUL. THE BELG^E. 1. AFTER the nations mentioned come those of the Belgae, who dwell next the ocean. Of their number are the V enetl, 6 who fought a naval battle with Cassar. They had prepared to resistjiis passage into Britain, beingj)ossessed oi ihejggfl- merce |"of that island") themselves. But Caesar easily gained the victory^ not ^however Dy means of his beaks, (Tor their 1 Terouane was the principal city of the. Morini, Beauvais of the Bel- lovaci, Amiens of the Ambiani, Soissons of the Suessiones, and Lile- bonne of the Caleti. 2 Caesar (lib. vi. c. 29) describes the forest of Ardennes as 500 miles in extent. pgLldfiBnes. * West of the Rhine. ^Ptolemy names it Lucotecia ; Ceesar, Lutetia. Julian, who was pro- claimed emperor by his army in this city, names it Leucetia. 6 The inhabitants of Vannes and the surrounding country.
