Geography

​Of the islands lying off Iberia, it happens that the two Pityussae and the two Gymnesiae (which they also call the Baliarides) lie off the coast between Tarraco and Sucro, on which Saguntum is situated. They are also in the open sea, the Pityussae being more so and situated more to the west than the Gymnesiae. And one of them is called Ebusus, having a city of the same name; and the circumference of the island is four hundred stadia, being nearly equal in breadth and length. And the other, Ophiussa, is deserted and much smaller than this one, lying near it. Of the Gymnesiae, the larger has two cities, Palma and Pollentia, Pollentia being situated towards the east, and the other towards the west. And the length of the island is a little less than six hundred stadia, and the breadth two hundred; but Artemidorus has stated both the breadth and the length to be double this. And the smaller island is about seventy stadia distant from Pollentia; in size, therefore, it falls far short of the larger, but in quality of soil it is in no way inferior to it. For both are fertile and possess good harbors, but are reefy at their entrances, so that those sailing in have need of caution. And because of the fertility of these places, the inhabitants also are peaceable, just like those of Ebusus. But because a few evil-doers formed alliances with the pirates on the high seas, all of them were brought into disrepute; and Metellus, who was surnamed Baliaricus, crossed over against them, who also founded the cities. But though they were peaceable, yet, because they were plotted against on account of this same fertility of their land, they are nevertheless said to be the best of slingers. And they practiced this art, as they say, to an exceptional degree ever since the Phoenicians occupied the islands. And these are also said to have been the first to clothe the people in broad-bordered tunics. And they used to go out to battles ungirded, having a goat-skin shield about their hand, or a burnt-tipped javelin, and rarely also one headed with a small iron point. And they wore three slings wound round their heads, made of black-rush, or hair, or sinew; the long-stringed one for long-distance casts, the short-stringed for close casts, and the medium one for medium casts. And they were so trained in the use of slings from childhood that they would not even give bread to their children unless they hit it with the sling. Therefore, Metellus, when sailing towards the islands, stretched leather skins over the decks as a protection against the slings. And he introduced three thousand colonists from among the Romans in Iberia.

​In addition to the fertility of the land, there is also the advantage that none of the destructive wild beasts are easily found there. For they say that even the rabbits are not native, but that their offspring originated from a male and a female brought from the opposite coast by someone; and this offspring was at first so numerous that they even overturned houses and trees by undermining them, and the inhabitants were compelled, as I have said, to flee to the Romans for help. Now, however, the ease of hunting them does not allow the damage to prevail, but the owners of the land enjoy its fruits profitably.