2. Strabo (1. xvi. p. 780), Pliny the elder (Hist. Natur. 1
vi. c 28, 29), and Dion Cassius (1. liii. p. 723 and 1. Iiv.
p. 734), have left us very curious details concerning these
wars. The Romans made themselves masters of Mariaba, a city
of Arabia Felix, well known to the Orientals (see Abulfeda
and the Nubian geography, p. 5). They were arrived within
three days' journey of the Spice country, the rich object of
their invasion.