The history of the warres of the Emperour Justinian in eight books : of the Persian, II, Vandall, II, Gothicke, IV / written in Greek by Procopivs of Caesarea ; and Englished by Henry Holcroft, Knight.

CHAP. XV.

THe Emperour Justinian then bethought himself of associating the Home∣rites, and Ethiopians against the Persians: Who, where they inhabite, and wherein the Emperour thought them usefull to the Romans, I will tell you. The Homerites are to the East of Palestina, upon the red sea, which beginning from India, ends in that part of the Roman Empire; having upon the coast where it ends, in a narrow straight, the City AElas, and the mountains of E∣gypt to the South, and a desart country, reaching far to the North. As you sayl in, the land from both fides is seen, till the Iland of Jotabeé, which is from Aelas some hundred and five and twenty miles; where are seated the Hebrews, anciently free, but in Justinians reign made subject to the Romans. From hence a large sea opening, no land is to be seen to the right hand, as you sayl in, but at night you cast anchor on the left hand shore, the sea being full of shelfes, and in the dark not to be meddled with. There are many harbours made by the nature of the places, and safe to put in at. The coast from Palestina the Saracens possese, who are anciently seated in the country of Palm-trees, being in the midland, spacious, and having no∣thing growing but Date-trees. Which Abocharabus, Governour of the Saracens there, gave to Justinian, who made him Chieftain of the Saracens in Palestina, thereby preserving that Province from spoyl, Abocharabus being terrible to his subjects and enemies; and very valiant. This country of Palm-trees being desert, and in the middle without water, for ten dayes journey, is of no use to us. Abocharabus gave us the name of a present only, which the Emperour knowing well, yet took it of him. Next to the Sara∣cens in Palestina, are other upon the same coast, called Maadeni, subject to the Homerites. Upon the coast nextbeyond are the Homerites, and beyond them many other nations are seated, to the Man-eating Saracens. Beyond whom are the Indians. Opposite to the Homerites on the other shore are Ethiopians; called Auxomites, of the City of Auxomis, where is their Kings court. The sea between them is five dayes and nights sayl over, with a reasonable wind, keeping there the sea all night, by reason there are no slielves. This some call the Red sea; and the rest as you sail out to AElas, the Arabian gulf. For all the country from thence to Gaza was formerly called Arabia, and their King held his Court at Petra. The Homerites haven from whence they sayl into Ethiopia is called Boulicas, and they land at a haven of the Adulites, from whence, the City of Adulis is onely two miles and a half, and from Auxomis twelve dayes journey. The vassels of India, and on these seas, are not built like other ships, nor trimmed with pitch or such like, nor are the planks fastned with iron through them, but tyed together with cords. Not because of Iron-drawing Rocks (as is vulgarly thought) the Romans ships upon that sea coming from AElas, though built with Iron, finding no such matter; but be∣cause neither Indians, nor Ethiopians have. Iron, nor other materials for that use: Nor can they buy any of the Romans; who forbid it upon pain of death. From Auxomis aforesaid, to the Roman Frontiers in Egypt, is thirty dayes journey; where are the Blemmyes, and Nobates, and other numerous people. The Blemmyes are seated in the midland, but the Nobates upon the Nile. This was not formerly the Roman frontier, which was seven dayes journey beyond. But Dioclesian finding their tribute a trifle, and their country nar∣row, being most taken up with the rocks of Nile; and the garrisons in it (being many) burdening his Treasury with the charge: And considering how these Nobates then dwelling about the City of Oäsis, spoyled the Towns near them, he drew them to rise from that place, that they might no more trouble the country about Oästs, by giving them fair Roman Cities, and a large country, all from Elephantina on both sides the Nile, which he thought they would now guard, and beat off the Blemmyes (as being their own land) and other barbarous Nations. He gave them also, and to the Blemmyes, a pension in Gold, not to prey upon the Roman territories; which they still receive, yet over-run the Provinces. So impossible it is for Barbarians to keep,

faith with Romans, but for feare of the Souldier. Yet the said Emperour, in an Iland of the Nile neer Elephantina, built a strong Castle, with Temples, and Altars for the Romans, and these people; appointing Priests of each Nation, and thinking by a participation in the same devotions, to make a sure amity be∣tween them. And upon this he called the place Philae, Both the Blemmyes, and the Nobates worship the Gods esteemed by the Graecians, and Isis and Osiris and Priapus too; and the Blemmyes sacrifice men to the Sunne. The Temples in Philae these Barbarians held to my time, but by direction of the Emperour Justinian, Narses the Persarmenian, who revolted to the Romans, (as I said) commanding the forces in those parts, demolished them, keeping the Priests in restraint, and sending the Images to Constantinople.