Ch. 215
Sir H. Rawlinson thinks the σάγαρις = the khanjar of modern
Persia, a short curved double-edged dagger; but in vii. 64. 2 it is
explained by ἀξίνη; it must therefore be a weapon for hacking, not
thrusting, probably like the Gurkha kukri. Gold is abundant
both in the Ural and the Altai Mountains (cf. iv. 26 n.). The Massagetae
were still in the Bronze Age.
Ch. 216
[sect. 1]
gunai=ka. Strabo (513) simply repeats H.; for a similar custom
among the Agathyrsi cf. iv. 104; among the Nasamones, iv. 172.
2 n.; M. Polo (ii. 47; ii. 54, 56) found it in Caindu (i.e. Yunnan),
where a hat was hung up as a sign that a stranger was in possession.
For its bearing on the theory of communal marriage cf. Westermarck,
p. 72 seq. There is clear evidence for a system of marriage among
the Massagetae, but they were polyandrous, ib. 454 seq. Myres
(A. and C. p. 155) says: It can hardly be accident that every one of
the strange marriage customs which H. mentions happens to be
typical of a widespread type.
