Histories

and they say that neither more nor less than a thousand years in all passed from the time of their first king Targitaüs to the entry of Darius into their country. The kings guard this sacred gold very closely, and every year offer solemn sacrifices of propitiation to it.

Whoever falls asleep at this festival in the open air, having the sacred gold with him, is said by the Scythians not to live out the year; for which reason[*](The “reason” is obscure; perhaps the gift of land is a compensation for his shortness of life.) (they say) as much land as he can ride round in one day is given to him. Because of the great size of the country, the lordships that Colaxaïs established for his sons were three, one of which, where they keep the gold, was the greatest.

Above and north of the neighbors of their country no one (they say) can see or travel further, because of showers of feathers;[*](See Hdt. 4.31 for Herodotus' explanation.) for earth and sky are full of feathers, and these hinder sight.