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The Nasamonians, a numerous people, are the western neighbours of
the Auschisae. In summer they leave their flocks and herds upon the
sea-shore, and go up the country to a place called Augila, where
they gather the dates from the palms, which in those parts grow
thickly, and are of great size, all of them being of the
fruit-bearing kind. They also chase the locusts, and, when caught,
dry them in the sun, after which they grind them to powder, and,
sprinkling this upon their milk, so drink it. Each man among them has
several wives, in their intercourse with whom they resemble the
Massagetae. The following are their customs in the swearing of oaths
and the practice of augury. The man, as he swears, lays his hand
upon the tomb of some one considered to have been pre-eminently just
and good, and so doing swears by his name. For divination they betake
themselves to the sepulchres of their own ancestors, and, after
praying, lie down to sleep upon their graves; by the dreams which then
come to them they guide their conduct. When they pledge their faith to
one another, each gives the other to drink out of his hand; if there
be no liquid to be had, they take up dust from the ground, and put
their tongues to it.
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