The source of this river is in the district of Laminium[814], in the Nearer Spain. It first spreads out into a number of small lakes, and then again contracts itself into a narrow channel, or entirely disappears under ground[815], and after frequently disappearing and again coming to light, finally discharges itself into the Atlantic Ocean. Tarraconensian Spain lies on one side, contiguous to the Pyrenees, running downwards along the sides of that chain, and, stretching across from the Iberian Sea to the Gallic ocean[816], is separated from Bætica and Lusitania by Mount Solorius[817], the chains of the Oretani[818] and the Carpetani[819], and that of the Astures[820].
CHAP. 3.—OF BÆTICA.
Bætica, so called from the river which divides it in the middle, excels all the other provinces in the richness of its cultivation and the peculiar fertility and beauty of its vegetation.
It consists of four jurisdictions, those of Gades[821], of Corduba[822], of Astigi[823], and of Hispalis[824]. The total number of its towns is 175; of these nine are colonies[825], and eight municipal towns[826]; twenty-nine have been long since presented with the old Latin rights[827]; six are free towns[828], three federate[829], and 120 tributary.
In this district, the things that more especially deserve notice, or are more easily explained in the Latin tongue, are the following, beginning at the river Ana, along the line of the sea-shore; the town of Onoba, surnamed Æstuaria[830]; the rivers Luxia and Urium[831], flowing through this territory between the Ana and the Bætis; the Marian[832] Mountains; the river Bætis; the coast of Corum[833], with its winding bay; opposite to which is Gades, of which we shall have occasion to speak among the islands[834]. Next comes the Promontory of Juno[835], and the port of Bæsippo[836]; the towns of Bœlo[837] and Mellaria[838], at which latter begin the Straits of the Atlantic; Carteia[839], called by the Greeks Tartessos[840]; and the mountain of Calpe.
Along the coast of the inland sea[841] is the town of Barbesula[842] with its river; also Salduba[843]; the town of Suel[844]; and then Malaca[845], with its river, one of the federate towns. Next to this comes Mænoba[846], with its river; then Sexifirmum[847], surnamed Julium; Selambina[848]; Abdera[849]; and Murci[850], which is at the boundary of Bætica. M. Agrippa supposed that all this coast was peopled by colonists of Punic origin. Beyond the Anas, and facing the Atlantic, is the country of the Bastuli[851] and the Turditani. M. Varro informs us, that the Iberians, the Persians, the Phœnicians, the Celts, and the Carthaginians spread themselves over the whole of Spain; that the name “Lusitania” is derived from the games (lusus) of Father Bacchus, or the fury (lyssa[852]) of his frantic attendants, and that Pan[853] was the governor of the whole of it. But the traditions respecting Hercules[854] and Pyrene, as well as Saturn, I conceive to be fabulous in the highest degree.
The Bætis does not rise, as some writers have asserted, near the town of Mentisa[855], in the province of Tarraco, but in the Tugiensian Forest[856]; and near it rises the river Tader[857], which waters the territory of Carthage[858]. At Ilorcum[859] it turns away from the Funeral Pile[860] of Scipio; then taking a sweep to the left, it falls into the Atlantic Ocean, giving its name to this province: at its source it is but small, though during its course it receives many other streams, which it deprives as well of their waters as their renown. It first enters Bætica in Ossigitania[861], and glides gently, with a smooth current, past many towns situate on either side of its banks.
Between this river and the sea-shore the most celebrated places inland are Segida[862], also surnamed Augurina; Julia[863], called Fidentia; Urgao[864] or Alba, Ebora[865] or Cerealis, Iliberri[866] or Liberini, Ilipula[867] or Laus, Artigi[868] or Julienses, Vesci[869] or Faventia, Singili[870], Attegua[871], Arialdunum, Agla Minor[872], Bæbro[873], Castra Vinaria[874], Cisimbrium[875], Hippo Nova or New Hippo[876], Ilurco[877], Osca[878], Escua[879], Sucubo[880], Nuditanum, Old Tuati[881]; all which towns are in that part of Bastitania which extends towards the sea, but in the jurisdiction[882] of Corduba. In the neighbourhood of the river itself is Ossigi[883], also surnamed Laconicum, Iliturgi[884] or Forum Julium, Ipasturgi[885] or Triumphale, Setia, and, fourteen miles inland, Obulco[886], which is also called Pontificense.
Next to these comes Epora[887], a federate town, Sacili[888] Martialium, and Onoba[889]. On the right bank is Corduba, a Roman colony, surnamed Patricia[890]; here the Bætis first becomes navigable. There are also the towns of Carbula and Detunda[891], and the river Singulis[892], which falls into the Bætis on the same side.
The towns in the jurisdiction of Hispalis are the following: Celti, Arua[893], Canama[894], Evia, Ilipa[895], surnamed Illa, and Italica[896]. On the left of the river is the colony of Hispalis[897] named Romuliensis, and, on the opposite side[898], the town of Osset[899], surnamed Julia Constantia, Vergentum, or Julî Genius[900], Orippo, Caura[901], Siarum, and the river Menoba[902], which enters the Bætis on its right bank. Between the æstuaries of the Bætis lie the towns of Nebrissa[903], surnamed Veneria, and of Colobona[904]. The colonies are, Asta[905], which is also called Regia, and, more inland, that of Asido[906], surnamed Cæsariana.