10.

Ombrica lies along the eastern boundary of Tyrrhenia, and commencing from the Apennines, or rather beyond those mountains, [extends] as far as the Adriatic. For commencing from Ravenna, the Ombrici inhabit the neighbouring country together with the cities of Sarsina, Ariminum,1765 Sena,1766 †and Marinum.†1767 To their country likewise belongs the river Esino,1768 Mount Cingulum, [the city of] Sentinum,1769 the river Metaurus, and the Fanum Fortunæ;1770 for about these parts are the boundaries which separate ancient Italy and [Cisalpine] Keltica on the side next the Adriatic, although the boundary has frequently been changed by the chief men of the state. First they made the Esino the boundary; afterwards the river Rubicon: the Esino being between Ancona and Sena, and the Rubicon between Ariminum and Ravenna, both of them falling into the Adriatic. At the present day, however, since Italy comprehends the whole country as far as the Alps, we need take no further notice of these limits. All allow that Ombrica1771 extends as far as Ravenna, as the inhabitants are Ombrici. From Ravenna to Ariminum they say is about 300 stadia. Going from Ariminum to Rome by the Via Flaminia, the whole journey lies through Ombrica as far as the city of Ocricli1772 and the Tiber, a distance of 1350 stadia. This, consequently, is the length [of Ombrica]; its breadth varies. The cities of considerable magnitude situated on this side the Apennines along the Via Flaminia, are Ocricli on the Tiber, Laroloni,1773 and Narnia,1774 through which the Nera1775 flows. This river discharges itself into the Tiber a little above Ocricli; it is not navigable for large vessels. After these are Carsuli and Mevania,1776 past which latter the Teneas1777 flows, by which river the merchandise of the plain is transported in small vessels to the Tiber. There are also other cities well populated, rather on account of the route along which they lie, than for their political importance. Such are Forum Flaminium,1778 Nuceria1779 where wooden vases are manufactured, and Forum Sempronium.1780 Going from Ocricli to Ariminum, on the right of the [Pg 338]
[CAS. 228] way are Interamna,1781 Spoletium,1782 Asisium,1783 and Camerta, situated in the mountains which bound Picenum. On the other side1784 are Ameria,1785 Tuder,1786 a well-fortified city, Hispellum,1787 and Iguvium,1788 near to the passes of the mountain. The whole of this country is fertile, but rather too mountainous, and producing more rye1789 than wheat for the food of the inhabitants. The next district, Sabina, is mountainous, and borders on Tyrrhenia in like manner. The parts of Latium which border on these districts and the Apennines are very rugged. These two nations1790 commence from the Tiber and Tyrrhenia, and extend as far as the Apennines which advance obliquely towards the Adriatic: Ombrica extends, as we have said, beyond as far as the sea. We have now sufficiently described the Ombrici.