Book 3
1.6
The sea-coast next the Sacred Promontory forms on one side the commencement of the western coast of Spain as far as the outlet of the river Tagus; and on the other forms the southern coast as far as the outlet of another river, named the Guadiana.̓́ανας. Both of these rivers descend from the eastern parts [of Spain]; but the former, which is much larger than the other, pursues a straight course towards the west, while the Guadiana bends its course towards the south.The Tagus, the Guadiana, and the Guadalquiver, pursue a course nearly parallel to each other, and all incline towards the south before discharging themselves into the sea; the inclination of the Tagus is not equal to that of the other rivers. They enclose an extent of country peopled for the most part by Kelts and certain Lusitanians,Lusitania occupied the greater part of the present kingdom of Portugal. It was from the countries north of the Tagus that the Romans caused certain of the inhabitants to emigrate to the south side of that river. whom the Romans caused to settle here from the opposite side of the Tagus. Higher up, the country is inhabited by the Carpetani,The Carpetani occupied a portion of New Castile, where the cities of Madrid, Toledo, etc. are now situated. the Oretani,These people inhabited the southern portions of New Castile, now occupied by the cities of Calatrava, Ciudad-real, Alcaraz, etc. They also possessed a part of the Sierra-Morena. and a large number of Vettones.The Vettones inhabited that part of Estremadura, where the cities of Alcantara, Truxillo, etc. are now situated. This district is moderately fertile, but that which is beyond it to the east and south, does not give place in superiority to any part of the habitable earth with which it may be compared, in the excellence of its productions both of land and sea. This is the country through which the river GuadalquiverBaetis. flows. This river takes its rise from the same parts as the GuadianaAnas. and the Tagus, and is between these two in size.The course of the Guadiana is longer than that of the Guadalquiver. Like the Guadiana, the commencement of its course flows towards the west, but it afterwards turns to the south, and discharges itself at the same side of the coast as that river.
