SECTION X.

OF EASTERN SCYTHIA, OR THE COUNTRY OF THE

MASSAGETÆ.

Herodotus in doubt whether the MASSAGETE were to be classed as SCYTHIANS-regarded as such by succeeding Greek Writers -Distinction of Scythia, within, and beyond, IMAUS-Limits of both Countries respectively-The Imaus of Ptolemy recognized in modern Geography-Vast Error of Ptolemy, and the modern Geographers, in the Extent of hither Scythia-The ancient Geographers had a very limited Knowledge of Eastern Scythia; and of these, Herodotus, perhaps, the most limitedextended by the Expedition of Alexander; and still more by the Commerce with Serica, for Silk-Issedonians, the first Nation beyond Scythia-By the Massagetæ, Herodotus intended the Eastern Scythians, collectively-Opinions of different Authors, respecting the Tribes of Eastern Scythians; Arrian, Diodorus, Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy, Justin-It may be collected, that they reckoned three great Tribes; the Massagetæ, Sacæ, and Dahæ, besides many lesser ones-SACE, although the name of a particular Tribe, was extended by the Persians to ALL the Scythians-Geographers overcome by the Number and Names of Scythian Tribes.-Authorities for the geographical Positions of the several Tribes of Massagetæ, Sacæ, Dahæ, Jaxartæ, Abii, Pasiani, and Tochari-Conjectures respecting the Name of the Kossacks, and of the Names of the rivers Jaxartes and Oxus-Remarks on the Expedition of CYRUS against the Massageta-Justin more circumstantial than Herodotus.

IT has been stated in page 62, et seq. that Herodotus was in doubt whether to regard the MASSA

GETE as SCYTHIANS, but that the subsequent Greek writers universally reckoned them such. It may be added, that the people thus collectively denominated Massagetæ, by Herodotus, who had himself only heard of them in the gross, were in later times found to consist of many tribes, or nations, which had each of them a distinct appellation.

We propose to treat the subject, not merely according to the ideas of our Author, but rather according to those of the ancients at large; in which disquisition, however, the ideas of Herodotus will be made fully to appear.

EASTERN SCYTHIA, which is the country of the Massagetæ, according to Herodotus, was formed into Two natural divisions by the chain of mount Imaus.

Scythia intra Imaum commenced on the west, either at the river Daix (Jaik, or Daek), or at the mountains of Rhymnicus (Ural), and extended eastward to the great chain that divides in the first instance the Two BUCHARIAS; and in its course farther northward, the countries of Ferganah and Western Turkestan, from Kashgur; it being, in effect, the Imaus in question; concerning which, as well as the adjacent countries and levels, we have fully spoken in page 239, et seq. Accordingly, Scythia within Imaus, contained the countries since known by the names of Desht Kipzak, Western Turkestan, and the northern part of Ferganah. The Caspian and Aral seas, and the river Sirr (Sirt, or Jaxartes) formed its general boundary on the south. Northwards its boundary is not clearly ascertained; but Scythia pro

bably extended very far into the Steppe; and may be conceived to have been bounded by the continuation of the Imaus of Ptolemy, on the north-west. Hence it will appear, on a reference to Mr. Tooke's Russia, Vol. ii. that Scythia within Imaus is at present in the possession of the tribes of the KIRgees, the KIPZAKS, and the KARAKalpaks.

The Imaus of Ptolemy just mentioned is extended northward beyond the parallel of 60°, and from it two different branches, namely, Ascatancas and Anarei, are described to strike off to the NW, the one from about the parallel of 43°, the other from that of 50°. There appear also in the Map of the Russian empire, two chains of mountains, the most extensive of which runs through the Steppe to the NW, and seems to represent the Imaus in question. These mountains, moreover, inclose the great lake of the Kalmucs (or Palkati Nor), and adjoin on the east to mount Altai. (See above, pages 233, and 239.)

The description of Ptolemy is less exact; and, indeed, it is unlikely that he should have known its line of direction critically, since the information communicated to him, may be supposed to relate rather to the line of progress of the caravans; that is, of the course of trade between Sogdia and Serica', than to the bearing of the mountains. The hither Scythia of Ptolemy then extended eastward to the neighbourhood of the Palkati Nor, and the

That is, the country between Kashgur and China; as Oigur, Tangut, &c.

mountains of Kashgur, in our geography; and northward, to the great chain of mountains, in the Steppe. But the space allowed by him between the head of the Jaxartes and mount Imaus (independent of his faulty scale of longitude), is prodigiously exaggerated; and this error has been copied into the modern maps, even those of M. D'Anville, as we have shewn in the Memoir of the Map of Hindoostan 2.

Scythia beyond Imaus, extended eastward, according to Ptolemy, to the neighbourhood of the Echarda, which we have recognized in the Oigurs or Yugures of the present times; southward to mount Emodus, the great ridge of Thibet; and northward to the parallel of 55°. These limits, however, must needs have been very vague; but taken as they are, they include generally the country usually called Eastern Turkestan, comprehending Kashgur, Koten, Acsou, &c. And herein Ptolemy agrees generally with Herodotus; who says, that the Massageta (who are our Eastern Scythians) extended to the neighbourhood of the Issedones, since these may unquestionably be taken for the Oigurs or Echardæ. It is proper to remind the reader, that the further Scythia must of course be situated on the high level mentioned in page 239, et seq.; so that the two Scythias occupied very different degrees of level; and, of course, were widely different, in respect of temperature and productions."

See that Memoir, pages 91, and 191, et seq.

2

3

See above, page 173.

Towards the north, Ptolemy places the Hippophagi, who seem to have been a nation of Tartars, situated near the Palkati Nor. The name, doubtless, will suit the Tartar nations in general. Beyond these again, northward, were the Abii Scythæ (of the same name with those so much celebrated by Homer, and other writers), and who may possibly have been the same with the Ablai; a tribe of such note, as to give name to that part of the Steppe, which borders on the SW of the river Irtish, though not altogether in the relative position that Ptolemy places them. But it may be conceived, that he knew little in detail concerning this quarter, beyond the regions of Kashgur and Acsou; that is, Casia and Auxacia. See his Asia, Tab. vii. and viii.

It appears pretty clearly, that neither the Greeks, nor the Romans, knew many particulars respecting the geography, or division, of the tribes belonging to the Scythians; at least, such discriminations are not expressed in their writings. This being the case, we can only treat the subject in a general way; or, according to Mr. Pinkerton, "estimate ancient geography, by ancient opinions +."

In the time of Herodotus, the knowledge of the Greeks respecting Eastern Scythia, even as a general subject, was exceedingly limited; being derived either from the report of the Persians, or from Greeks who had visited Persia. Their sphere of knowledge was enlarged by the expedition of Alex

225.

See his excellent dissertation on the Scythians, or Goths, p.