§5.22.1πλεῖστον εἰρηνικῶς διακεῖσθαι.
for the most part they are peacefully disposed towards one another.
ἀλλὰ περὶ μὲν τῶν κατʼ αὐτὴν νομίμων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἰδιωμάτων τὰ κατὰ μέρος ἀναγράψομεν ὅταν ἐπὶ τὴν Καίσαρος γενομένην στρατείαν εἰς Βρεττανίαν παραγενηθῶμεν, νῦν δὲ περὶ τοῦ κατʼ αὐτὴν φυομένου καττιτέρου διέξιμεν.
However, concerning the customs and other peculiarities of the island, we shall record the details when we come to Caesar’s campaign against Britain; but for now we shall discuss the tin produced there.
τῆς γὰρ Βρεττανικῆς κατὰ τὸ ἀκρωτήριον τὸ καλούμενον Βελέριον οἱ κατοικοῦντες φιλόξενοί τε διαφερόντως εἰσὶ καὶ διὰ τὴν τῶν ξένων ἐμπόρων ἐπιμιξίαν ἐξημερωμένοι τὰς ἀγωγάς.
For the inhabitants of Britain near the promontory called Belerion are exceptionally hospitable, and through their intercourse with foreign merchants, they have become civilized in their way of life.
οὗτοι τὸν καττίτερον κατασκευάζουσι φιλοτέχνως ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν φέρουσαν αὐτὸν γῆν.
These people prepare the tin, working with great skill the earth that bears it.
§5.22.2αὕτη δὲ πετρώδης οὖσα διαφυὰς ἔχει γεώδεις, ἐν αἷς τὸν πόρον κατεργαζόμενοι καὶ τήξαντες καθαίρουσιν.
This earth, being stony, has earthy veins, in which they work the vein, melt it down, and purify it.
ἀποτυποῦντες δʼ εἰς ἀστραγάλων ῥυθμοὺς κομίζουσιν εἴς τινα νῆσον προκειμένην μὲν τῆς Βρεττανικῆς, ὀνομαζομένην δὲ Ἴκτιν· κατὰ γὰρ τὰς ἀμπώτεις ἀναξηραινομένου τοῦ μεταξὺ τόπου ταῖς ἁμάξαις εἰς ταύτην κομίζουσι δαψιλῆ τὸν καττίτερον.
Having cast it into the shape of knucklebones, they carry it to a certain island lying off Britain, called Iktis; for at low tide, as the intervening space becomes dry, they carry the tin in abundance to this island in wagons.
§5.22.3ἴδιον δέ τι συμβαίνει περὶ τὰς πλησίον νήσους τὰς μεταξὺ κειμένας τῆς τε Εὐρώπης καὶ τῆς Βρεττανικῆς· κατὰ μὲν γὰρ τὰς πλημυρίδας τοῦ μεταξὺ πόρου πληρουμένου νῆσοι φαίνονται, κατὰ δὲ τὰς ἀμπώτεις ἀπορρεούσης τῆς θαλάττης καὶ πολὺν τόπον ἀναξηραινούσης θεωροῦνται χερρόνησοι.
A peculiar thing happens concerning the neighboring islands lying between Europe and Britain; for at high tide, when the intervening channel is filled, they appear as islands, but at low tide, when the sea recedes and dries up a large space, they are seen as peninsulas.
§5.22.4ἐντεῦθεν δʼ οἱ ἔμποροι παρὰ τῶν ἐγχωρίων ὠνοῦνται καὶ διακομίζουσιν εἰς τὴν Γαλατίαν· τὸ δὲ τελευταῖον πεζῇ διὰ τῆς Γαλατίας πορευθέντες ἡμέρας ὡς τριάκοντα κατάγουσιν ἐπὶ τῶν ἵππων τὰ φορτία πρὸς τὴν ἐκβολὴν τοῦ Ῥοδανοῦ ποταμοῦ.
From this place, the merchants purchase the tin from the natives and transport it to Galatia; and finally, traveling on foot through Galatia for about thirty days, they bring down their cargoes on horses to the mouth of the river Rhone.
περὶ μὲν οὖν τοῦ καττιτέρου τοῖς ῥηθεῖσιν ἀρκεσθησόμεθα,
Concerning the tin, then, we shall be satisfied with what has been said.