nature has made it inaccessible. And even to-day one
may hear in that neighborhood the lowing of cattle and
may find traces of men, if we are to believe the stories
of travellers, although we must grant that they hear these
things from afar.

This part of the Goths, which is said to have crossed 28
the river and entered with Filimer into the country of
Oium, came into possession of the desired land, and there
they soon came upon the race of the Spali, joined battle
with them and won the victory. Thence the victors hastened
to the farthest part of Scythia, which is near the sea
of Pontus; for so the story is generally told in their early
songs, in almost historic fashion. Ablabius also, a famous
chronicler of the Gothic race, confirms this in his
most trustworthy account. Some of the ancient writers 29
also agree with the tale. Among these we may mention
Josephus, a most reliable relator of annals, who everywhere
follows the rule of truth and unravels from the
beginning the origin of causes;--but why he has omitted
the beginnings of the race of the Goths, of which I have
spoken, I do not know. He barely mentions Magog
of that stock, and says they were Scythians by race and
were called so by name.

Before we enter on our history, we must describe the
boundaries of this land, as it lies.

[Sidenote: SCYTHIA]