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Nothing mortal travels so fast as these Persian messengers. The
entire plan is a Persian invention; and this is the method of it.
Along the whole line of road there are men (they say) stationed with
horses, in number equal to the number of days which the journey takes,
allowing a man and horse to each day; and these men will not be
hindered from accomplishing at their best speed the distance which they
have to go, either by snow, or rain, or heat, or by the darkness of
night. The first rider delivers his despatch to the second and the
second passes it to the third; and so it is borne from hand to hand
along the whole line, like the light in the torch-race, which the
Greeks celebrate to Vulcan. The Persians give the riding post in
this manner, the name of "Angarum."
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