The histories of Herodotus;

266 HERODOTUS—BOOK IV, MELPOMENE [172-179
out of his hand, and drinks in turn from the other's hand
and if they have no liquid, they take up some dust from the
ground and lick it.
The Psylli border on the Nasamonians ; these perished in
the following manner: The south wind blowing upon them
dried up all their water tanks, and the whole country within
the Syrtis was dry ; they therefore, having consulted together,
with one consent determined to make war against that wind
(I only repeat what the Libyans say) ; and when they arrived
at the sands, the south wind blowing covered them over :
when they had perished the Nasamonians took possession of
their territory. Above these to the north, in a country abounding
with wild beasts, live the Garamantes, who avoid all men
and the society of any others: they do not possess any warlike
weapon, nor do they know how to defend themselves.
These, then, live above the Nasamonians ; and the Macae adjoin
them on the sea-coast westward ; these shave their heads
so as to leave a tuft, and allowing the middle hair to grow,
they shave both sides close to the skin ; in war they wear the
skins of ostriches for defensive armour. The river Cinyps,
flowing through their country from a hill called the Graces,
discharges itself into the sea. This hill of the Graces is thickly
covered with trees, though all the rest of Libya above mentioned
is bare. From the sea to this hill is a distance of two
hundred stades. The Gindanes adjoin these Macae ; their
women wear bands of leather around their ankles, each several
on the following account, as is said : she binds round a band
for every man that has intercourse with her ; and she who has
the most is most esteemed, as being loved by the greatest
number of men. The Lotophagi occupy the coast that projects
to the sea in front of these Gindanes ; they subsist only
on the fruit of the lotus ; and the fruit of the lotus is equal in
size to the mastic berry, and in sweetness it resembles the fruit
;
and
of the palm tree. The Lotophagi make wine also from this
fruit.
The Machlyes, who also use the lotus, but in a less degree
than those before mentioned, adjoin the Lotophagi on the
sea-coast. They extend as far as a large river called Triton
and this river discharges itself into the great lake Tritonis:
and in it is an island named Phla. They say that the Lacedaemonians
were commanded by an oracle to colonize this
island. The following story is also told : That Jason, when
the Argo was finished building at the foot of Mount Pelion,
having put a hecatomb on board, and moreover a brazen tripod,
sailed round the Peloponnesus, purposing to go to Del-