Diodorus Siculus tells us, that the antient inhabitants of this
country usually lived under ground. "Ligures in terra cubant ut
plurimum; plures ad cava, saxa speluncasque ab natura factas ubi
tegantur corpora divertunt," "The Ligurians mostly lie on the
bare ground; many of them lodge in bare Caves and Caverns where
they are sheltered from the inclemency of the weather." This was
likewise the custom of the Troglodytae, a people bordering upon
Aethiopia who, according to Aelian, lived in subterranean
caverns; from whence, indeed they took their name trogli,
signifying a cavern; and Virgil, in his Georgics, thus describes
the Sarmatae,
Ipsi in defossis specubus, secura sub alta
Ocia agunt terra. -
In Subterranean Caves secure they lie
Nor heed the transient seasons as they fly.
These are dry subjects; but such as the country affords. If we
have not white paper, we must snow with brown. Even that which I
am now scrawling may be useful, if, not entertaining: it is
therefore the more confidently offered by - Dear Sir, Yours
affectionately.
LETTER XVII
NICE, July 2, 1764.
DEAR SIR, - Nice was originally a colony from Marseilles. You know
the Phocians (if we may believe Justin and Polybius) settled in
Gaul, and built Marseilles, during the reign of Tarquinius
Priscus at Rome. This city flourished to such a degree, that long
before the Romans were in a condition to extend their dominion,
it sent forth colonies, and established them along the coast of
Liguria.
