III.] INFORMATION BROUGHT FROM THE COLONIES. 45

information about remote countries. The Greeks established
themselves in these in the character of traders, and

therefore it was to their interest to maintain friendly cation with
... . . . . x , ^ -the Natives.
communication with the inhabitants. Not unfre-
quently they intermarried with them, and thus a mixed race
was formed, who were able to act as an intermediate agency
between the two. The influence of Hellenic civilisation, also,
gradually pervaded in some degree the neighbouring tribes, and
broke down the barriers which fear and jealousy had at first
interposed between them and the strangers. By this means the
spirit of enquiry, which was never wanting to the Greeks, found
constant opportunities of satisfying itself by collecting information
concerning the tribes beyond, with whom they were only ac-
quainted by hearsay. And the knowledge thus information
obtained was again transmitted to Greece. For, transmitted to
however much at a later period the colonies might
be disposed to rebel against any dictation on the part of the
mother city, at first, and for a long time, the bond of union
between the two was very strong : the custom of taking the sacred
fire from the hearth of the parent state, which was observed on
the sending out of a colony, was emblematical of the close
connexion which was afterwards maintained, and consequently
there was frequent communication between the emigrants and
those whom they left behind. We can picture to ourselves what
happened, when a vessel returned home from one of these newly
founded cities, bringing news of those who had gone forth to seek
their fortunes; — on the one side, anxious enquiries by relations
about their kindred, and eager questions about the prospects of
trade or the need of despatching additional bands of settlers;
and, on the other, narratives of dangers experienced on the
voyage, and descriptions of the coasts and cities visited on the
way; above all, elaborate accounts of the strange peoples and
curious objects, which were peculiar to those regions. Reports
such as these could not fail to awaken a keen interest on the
part of the auditors, and to obtain a wide circulation. Moreover,
all the Greek tribes had their share in collecting them, for all took
part in the work of colonisation. Though the lonians led the
van, and sent forth the earliest expeditions both towards the east