[Footnote 59:  This passage was evidently intended as an improvement on that immediately preceding it.  The purport of both is essentially the same, but the first is pitched in a key of ill-disguised annoyance which is absent from the second.  I do not see how these two versions can be reconciled with the romance-theory held by Prof.  Govi.] Do not be aggrieved, O Devatdar, by my delay in responding to your pressing request, for those things which you require of me are of such a nature that they cannot be well expressed without some lapse of time; particularly because, in order to explain the cause of so great an effect, it is necessary to describe with accuracy the nature of the place; and by this means I can afterwards easily satisfy your above-mentioned request. [Footnote 62:  This passage was evidently intended as an improvement on that immediately preceding it.  The purport of both is essentially the same, but the first is pitched in a key of ill-disguised annoyance which is absent from the second.  I do not see how these two versions can be reconciled with the romance-theory held by Prof.  Govi.]

I will pass over any description of the form of Asia Minor, or as to what seas or lands form the limits of its outline and extent, because I know that by your own diligence and carefulness in your studies you have not remained in ignorance of these matters [65]; and I will go on to describe the true form of the Taurus Mountain which is the cause of this stupendous and harmful marvel, and which will serve to advance us in our purpose [66].  This Taurus is that mountain which, with many others is said to be the ridge of Mount Caucasus; but wishing to be very clear about it, I desired to speak to some of the inhabitants of the shores of the Caspian sea, who give evidence that this must be the true Caucasus, and that though their mountains bear the same name, yet these are higher; and to confirm this in the Scythian tongue Caucasus means a very high [Footnote 68:  Caucasus; Herodot Kaoxaais; Armen.  Kaukaz.] peak, and in fact we have no information of there being, in the East or in the West, any mountain so high.  And the proof of this is that the inhabitants of the countries to the West see the rays of the sun illuminating a great part of its summit for as much as a quarter of the longest night.  And in the same way, in those countries which lie to the East.

OF THE STRUCTURE AND SIZE OF MOUNT TAURUS.

[Footnote 73:  The statements are of course founded on those of the ‘inhabitants’ spoken of in 1. 67.] The shadow of this ridge of the Taurus is of such a height that when, in the middle of June, the Sun is at its meridian, its shadow extends as far as the borders of Sarmatia, twelve days off; and in the middle of December it extends as far as the Hyperborean mountains, which are at a month’s journey to the North [75].  And the side which faces the wind is always free from clouds and mists, because the wind which is parted in beating on the