Histories

Beyond these and somewhat to the east live Scythians again, who revolted from the Royal Scythians and came to this country.

As for the countryside of these Scythians, all the land mentioned up to this point is level and its soil deep; but thereafter it is stony and rough.

After a long journey through this rough country, there are men inhabiting the foothills of high mountains, who are said to be bald from birth (male and female alike) and snub-nosed and with long beards; they speak their own language, and wear Scythian clothing, and their food comes from trees.

The tree by which they live is called “Pontic”; it is about the size of a fig-tree, and bears a fruit as big as a bean, with a stone in it. When this fruit is ripe, they strain it through cloth, and a thick black liquid comes from it, which they call “aschu”;[*](The fruit of the “Prunus Padus” is said to be made by the Cossacks into a drink called “atschi.”) they lick this up or drink it mixed with milk, and from the thickest lees of it they make cakes, and eat them.