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CHAP. VIII. [unspec G]
¶ Of Sicilie.
BVt Sicilie excelleth all other of these Islands, named by Thucydides Sicania; by many, Tri∣nacria, or Triquetra of the triangle forme. It is in circuit (as Agrippa saith) 198 miles. In time past it grew to the Brutians countrey, but soone after by the gushing of the sea be∣tween, it was plucked from it, and left a Firth of 12 miles in length, and one & a half in bredth, neere vnto the columne Rhegium. Vpon this occasion of opening and cleauing in twaine, the Greekes gaue name to the town Rhegium, scituat in the edge of Italy. In this narrow sea there is a rocke called Scylla, and likewise another named Carybdis: the sea is full of whirle-pits, and both those rocks are notorious for their rage and mischiefe. The vtmost Cape or fore-land of [unspec H] this Island Triquetra (as we haue said) is called Pilorus, bending against Scylla toward Italy. As for Pachynum, it lieth toward Graecia, and from it is Peloponnesus distant 144 miles. Lili∣baeum butteth vpon Africke, and between it and the cape of Mercury there be 180 miles: and from the said Lilybaeum to the cape of Caraleis in Sardinia 120. Now these points & promon∣tories lye asunder one from the other in this distance. By land from Pelorus to Pachynum, 166 miles: from thence to Lilibaeum 200 miles: so forward to Pelorum 170 In it, of colonies, towns, and cities, there be 72. From Pelorum side, which looketh toward the Ionian sea, yee haue the [unspec I] towne Messana, inhabited by enfranchised Roman citizens, and they be called Mamertini. Also the cape Drepanum, the colony Taurominium, called before-time Naxos: the riuer A sines, the mountaine Aetna, miraculous for the fires there in the night season; the hole or open chinke in the top of it is in compasse two miles and a halfe; the imbers and sparkling ashes thereof, fly hot as far as to Taurominium and Catana: but the cracking noise therof may be heard as far as to Maron, and the hils Gemellis. In this island there be also the three rocks of the Cyclops, the port of Vlysses, the colonie Catanae, the riuers Symethum and Terias: within the Isle by the plains and champian fields, Laestrigonij. The towns are these, Leontini, and Megaris: and in it is the riuer Pantagies: also the colonie Syracusae, together with the fountain Arethusa. Albe it there be other springs also in the territory of Syracusa, that yeeld water for drinke, to wit, Te∣menitis, [unspec K] Archidemia, Magaea, Cyane, and Milichre. Moreouer, the hauen Naustathmos, the riuer Elorum, the promontorie Pachynum: and on this front of Sicily, the riuer Hirminium, the towne Camarina, the riuer Helas, and town Acragas, which our countreymen haue named Agrigentum. The colony Thermae: riuers, Atys and Hypsa, the town Selinus: and next to it the cape Lilybaeum, Drepana, the hill Eryx. Townes there be, Panhormum, Solus, Hymetta with the riuer, Cephaloedis, Aluntium, Agathirium, Tyndaris a colony, the town Mysae, and whence we began Pelorus: within-forth, of Latin condition and Burgeosie, the Centuripines, Netines, and Segestines. Tributaries, Assarines, Aetnenses, Agyrines, Acestaei, and Acrenses: Bidini, Ci∣tarij, Caciritani, Drepanitani, Ergetini, Ecestienses, Erycini, Eutellini, Etini, Euguini, Gelani, [unspec L] Galatani, Halesines, Ennenses, Hyblenses, Herbitenses, Herbessenses, Herbulonses, Halicyen∣ses, Hadranitani, Imacarenses, Ichancnses, Ietenses, Mutustratini, Magelini, Murgentini, Muty∣enses, Menanini, Naxij, Nooeni, Pelini, Paropini, Phinthienses, Semellitani, Stherrini, Selinun∣tij, Symetij, Talarenses, Tissinenses, Triocalini, Tiracienses, Zanchei belonging to the Messe∣nians in the streights of Sicilie. Islands there be bending to Africk, Gaulos, Melita, from Ca∣merina 84 miles, and from Lilybeum 113: Cosyra, Hieronesus, Caene, Galata, Lopadusa, Aethu∣sa which others haue written Aegusa, Bucina, and 75 miles from Solus, Osteodes: and against the P'aropini, Vstica. But on this side Sicilie ouer-against the riuer Metaurus, 12 miles wel-neare from Italy, 7 others called Aeolae. These very same islands belonged sometimes to the Lipa∣raeans, and of the Greeks were called Hephaestiades, and of our men Vulcaniae, likewise Aeoliae, because Aeolus reigned there in the time that Illium flourished, and about the Troian war.