Kitap 11
5.6
The highest points of the actual Caucasus are the most southerly, and lie near Albania, Iberia, the Colchi, and Heniochi. They are inhabited by the people whom I have mentioned as assembling at Dioscurias. They resort thither chiefly for the purpose of procuring salt. Of these tribes some occupy the heights; others live in wooded valleys, and subsist chiefly on the flesh of wild animals, wild fruits, and milk. The heights are impassable in winter; in summer they are ascended by fastening on the feet shoes as wide as drums, made of raw hide, and furnished with spikes on account of the snow and ice. The natives in descending with their loads slide down seated upon skins, which is the practice in Media, Atropatia, and at Mount Masius in Armenia, but there they fasten circular disks of wood with spikes to the soles of their feet. Such then is the nature of the heights of Caucasus.
5.7
On descending to the country lying at the foot of these heights the climate is more northerly, but milder, for the land below the heights joins the plains of the Siraces. There are some tribes of Troglodytae who inhabit caves on account of the cold. There is plentyGroskurd reads ἀπορία, want, instead of εὐπορία, plenty. of grain to be had in the country.
5.7
Next to the Troglodytee are Chamaecoet,χαμαικαῖται. People who lie on the ground. and a tribe called Polyphagi (the voracious), and the villages of the Eisadici, who are able to cultivate the ground because they are not altogether exposed to the north.
5.8
Immediately afterwards follow shepherd tribes, situated between the Maeotis and the Caspian Sea, Nabiani, Pangani,Panxani, Paxani, Penzani. the tribes also of the Siraces and Aorsi.
5.8
The Aorsi and Siraces seem to be a fugitive people from parts situated above. The Aorsi lie more to the north.The text is here corrupt.
