CHAPTER VII.
CONTIGUOUS to these, among other tribes of the Pisidians,
are the Selgeis, the most considerable tribe of the nation.
The greater part of the Pisidians occupy the summits of
Taurus, but some tribes situated above Side
1 and Aspen-
dus,
2 which are Pamphylian cities, occupy heights, all of which
are planted with olives. The parts above these, a mountainous country, are occupied by the Catennenses, who border upon
the Selgeis and the Homonadeis. The Sagalasseis occupy
the parts within the Taurus towards Milyas.
[
2]
Artemidorus says that Selge, Sagalassus, Petnelissus,
Adada, Tymbrias, Cremna, Pityassus, (Tityassus?) Amblada,
Anabura, Sinda, Aarassus, Tarbassus, Termessus, are cities of
the Pisidians. Of these some are entirely among the mountains, others extend on each side even as far as the country at
the foot of the mountains, and reach to Pamphylia and Milyas,
and border on Phrygians, Lydians, and Carians, all of whom
are disposed to peace, although situated to the north.
3
The Pamphylians, who partake much of the character of
the Cilician nation, do not altogether abstain from predatory
enterprises, nor permit the people on the confines to live in
peace, although they occupy the southern parts of the country
at the foot of Taurus.
On the confines of Phrygia and Caria, are Tabæ,
4 Sinda,
and Amblada, whence is procured the Amblada wine, which
is used in diet prescribed for the sick.
[
3]
All the rest of the mountain tribes of the Pisidians
whom I have spoken of are divided into states governed by
tyrants, and follow like the Cilicians a predatory mode of
life. It is said that anciently some of the Leleges, a wandering people, were intermixed with them, and from the similarity of their habits and manners settled there.
Selge
5 had the rank of a city from the first when founded by
tle Lacedæmonians, but at a still earlier period by Calchas.
Latterly it has maintained its condition and flourished in consequence of its excellent constitution and government, so that
at one time it had a population of 20,000 persons. The place
deserves admiration from the advantages which nature has
bestowed upon it. Among the summits of Taurus is a very
fertile tract capable of maintaining many thousand inhabitants. Many spots produce the olive and excellent vines, and
afford abundant pasture for animals of all kinds. Above and
all around are forests containing trees of various sorts. The
styrax is found here in great abundance, a tree not large but
straight in its growth. Javelins, similar to those of the
cornel tree, are made of the wood of this tree. There is bred
in the trunk of the styrax tree, a worm, which eats through
the timber to the surface, and throws out raspings like bran, or
saw-dust, a heap of which is collected at the root. Afterwards a liquid distils which readily concretes into a mass
like gum. A part of this liquid descends upon and mixes
with the raspings at the root of the tree, and with earth; a
portion of it acquires consistence on the surface of the mass,
and remains pure. That portion which flows along the surface of the trunk of the tree, and concretes, is also pure. A
mixture is made of the impure part, which is a combination of
wood-dust and earth; this has more odour than the pure styrax,
but is inferior to it in its other properties. This is not commonly known. It is used for incense in large quantities by
superstitious worshippers of the gods.
The Selgic iris
6 also, and the unguent which is made from
it, are in great esteem. There are few approaches about the
city, and the mountainous country of the Selgeis, which
abounds with precipices and ravines, formed among other
rivers by the Eurymedon
7 and the Cestrus,
8 which descend from the Selgic mountains, and discharge themselves
into the Pamphylian Sea. There are bridges on the roads.
From the strength and security of their position the Selgeis were never at any time, nor on any single occasion, subject to any other people, but enjoyed unmolested the produce
of their country, with the exception of that part situated below them in Pamphylia, and that within the Taurus, for which
they were carrying on a continual warfare with the kings.
Their position with respect to the Romans was that they
possessed this tract on certain conditions. They sent ambassadors to Alexander and offered to receive his commands in the
character of friends, but at present they are altogether subject
to the Romans, and are included in what was formerly the
kingdom of Amyntas.
