an inland district in the heart of Pe- loponnesus (Strabo). It is mountainous, and fitted for pasture than corn; and therefore chiefly celebrated by bucolic or pastoral poets, who feign Pan the god of shepherds, to be the guardian of it (Virgil). It has to the north Achaia, to the east Argos and Laconia, Messenia to the south, and Elis to the west. Accord- ing to Pliny, the wine of this country cured barren- ness in women, and inspired the men with rage; and the berries of the yew gathered there were so strong a poison, that whoever slept or took refreshment under that tree was sure to die. In Strabo's time there were few cities remaining in it, most of them being destroyed in the Grecian wars. Eutathius says, that the country was anciently called Pelaugia, from Pelag- gos, who brought the people, from roots, herbs, and leaves of trees, to feed on acorns, especially beech mast; as Artemidorus observes, that the Arcadians usually lived on acorns. It was also called Lyconia, Gigantia, and Parrhasia (Stephanus). The Arcadi- ans are greatly commended for their love of, and skill in, music (Virgil, Polybius). To imitate the Arcadi- ans, is to labour and toil for the benefit of others, never conquering their own, but the enemies of others (Hesychius). This probably took its rise from the an- cient Arcadians being accustomed to hire themselves out as mercenaries to foreign nations. Homer com- mends their martial prowess, their pastures, their sheep, and their country well watered. The gentilis name is Arcades; who boasted of their great antiqui- ty, and that they were older than the sun and moon (Apollonius Rhodius, Nonnus, Plutarch, Ovid, Sta- tius). They were the first who had a year of three months, and therefore called Proceli, because their year was prior to that adjusted in Greece to the course of the moon (Censorinus).