Histories

Next to them are the Giligamae, who inhabit the country to the west as far as the island of +Geyve [30.3,40.533] (inhabited place), Sakarya, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Aphrodisias; in between lies the island of Platea, which the Cyrenaeans colonized, and on the mainland is the harbor called Menelaus, and the Aziris which was a settlement of the Cyrenaeans. Here the country of silphium begins,

which reaches from the island of Platea to the entrance of the Golfe de Gabes [10.417,34.000] (gulf), Tunis, AfricaSyrtis. This people is like the others in its customs.

The next people west of the Giligamae are the Asbystae, who live inland of Shahhat [21.866,32.833] (inhabited place), Al Jabal al Akhdar, Libya, AfricaCyrene, not coming down to the coast, for that is Cyrenaean territory. These drive four-horse chariots to a greater extent than any other Libyans; it is their practice to imitate most of the Cyrenaean customs.

Next west of the Asbystae are the Auschisae, dwelling inland of +Al Marj [20.833,32.5] (inhabited place), Al Jabal al Akhdar, Libya, Africa Barce, and touching the coast at Euhesperidae. About the middle of the land of the Auschisae lives the little tribe of the Bacales, whose territory comes down to the sea at +Tukrah [20.583,32.533] (inhabited place), Banghazi, Libya, Africa Tauchira, a town in the Barcaean country; their customs are the same as those of the dwellers inland of Shahhat [21.866,32.833] (inhabited place), Al Jabal al Akhdar, Libya, AfricaCyrene.

Next west of these Auschisae is the populous country of the Nasamones, who in summer leave their flocks by the sea and go up to the land called +Awjilah [21.2,29.15] (inhabited place), Banghazi, Libya, Africa Augila to gather dates from the palm-trees that grow there in great abundance and all bear fruit. They hunt locusts, which they dry in the sun, and after grinding sprinkle them into milk and drink it.

It is their custom for every man to have many wives; their intercourse with women is promiscuous, as among the Massagetae; a staff is placed before the dwelling, and then they have intercourse. When a man of the Nasamones weds, on the first night the bride must by custom lie with each of the whole company in turn; and each man after intercourse gives her whatever gift he has brought from his house.