Histories

These were the governments and appointments of tribute. The Persian country is the only one which I have not recorded as tributary; for the Persians live free from all taxes.

As for those on whom no tribute was laid, but who rendered gifts instead, they were, firstly, the Ethiopians nearest to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, whom Cambyses conquered in his march towards the long-lived Ethiopians; and also those who dwell about the holy +Nysa [28.1667,37.8667] (Perseus) Nysa,[*](Probably the mountain called +Barkal [92.433,22.75] (inhabited place), Chittagong, Bangladesh, Asia Barkal in Upper +Nubia [34,22] (region (general)), Africa Nubia; this is called “sacred” in hieroglyphic inscriptions.) where Dionysus is the god of their festivals. These Ethiopians and their neighbors use the same seed as the Indian Callantiae, and they live underground.

These together brought every other year and still bring a gift of two choenixes[*](The choenix was a measure of about the capacity of a quart.) of unrefined gold, two hundred blocks of ebony, five Ethiopian boys, and twenty great elephants' tusks.

Gifts were also required of the Colchians and their neighbors as far as the +Bol'soj Kavkaz [46.833,42] (mountain range), Asia Caucasus mountains (which is as far as the Persian rule reaches, the country north of the +Bol'soj Kavkaz [46.833,42] (mountain range), Asia Caucasus paying no regard to the Persians); these were rendered every four years and are still rendered, namely, a hundred boys and as many maids.

The Arabians rendered a thousand talents' weight of frankincense yearly. Such were the gifts of these peoples to the king, besides the tribute.