The custom of the hide is this: When a man has received an injury and wishes to revenge himself on some one, but sees that his unaided strength will not suffice him, he sacrifices an ox, cuts the flesh in pieces and boils it, stretches the hide on the ground and seats himself on it, drawing his hands behind his back as if his arms were tied at the elbow. This is our most urgent form of supplication. The flesh of the ox lies alongside, and kinsmen, and any one else who will, take a morsel, and, setting the right foot on the hide, promise aid according to the ability of each, one agreeing to furnish five horsemen, found and paid, another ten, another yet more, another hoplites or foot-soldiers as many as he is able, and the poorest offering himself alone. Sometimes a great throng gathers about the hide, and a force of this sort is most sure to hang together and most irresistible in battle because they are upon oath, for stepping upon the hide constitutes an oath. In this way Arsakomas occupied himself, and about five thousand horsemen joined him, and hoplites and foot-soldiers to the number of twen. ty thousand.

Lonchates made his way to the Bosporos incognito, and presented himself before the king, who was engaged in affairs of state, saying that he came as a public emissary from Scythia, but brought also private news of great moment to the king. When he was bidden speak, he said: "The Scythians make this public and open demand: that your herdsmen will not cross over into our plains, but pasture their flocks only to the end of the rocky ground. And they deny that the plunderers of whose incursions into your country you complain were sent out with the general consent, but declare that each of them carries on his robbery for his own private advantage; and that if one of them should be caught you are authorized to punish him. This is their communication.