ABSTRACT
1BECAUSE of the violent roar made by the sun when it is about to rise and the terrifying noise which occurs when hidden vapours are stirred up from the bowels of the earth, the eastern peoples who 197live in the Caspian mountains resort to caves in order to preserve their lives, and stop up both their ears to give themselves greater protection at that oppressive hour. 1 In the same way those who are placed on the farthest coasts of the Norwegian Ocean, because of the violent wind Circius, which I spoke of in Bk I, and the depth of the snows which are heaped on the lofty mountains, have underground caves, where they live on fish and the meat of wild animals. 2 These folk shrink from meeting men who have sailed from other countries, as though they were robbers, fearing they may perhaps be led away into captivity. Nevertheless, any fugitives who have been oppressed by the cruelty of a tyrant they allow in as comrades for their protection and their own, and teach them how to lay a trap in order to intercept or kill pirates who put in to their shores. They can do this by pretending to be runaways themselves or by offering their services to those who are ignorant of the harbours, as if to enable them to escape the hazards, though all they wish to do is to put a ring of dangers round them.
Caves as a refuge
Wind Circius Caves
Trap
