.

Nor is there any temple or shrine seen in their country, nor even any
cabin thatched with straw, their only idea of religion being to plunge a
naked sword into the ground with barbaric ceremonies, and they worship
that with great respect, as Mars, the presiding deity of the regions
over which they wander.

They presage the future in a most remarkable manner, for they collect a
number of great twigs of osier, then with certain secret incantations
they separate them from one another on particular days; and from them
they learn clearly what is about to happen.

They have no idea of slavery, inasmuch as they themselves are all born
of noble families; and those whom even now they appoint to be judges are
always men of proved experience and skill in war. But now let us return
to the subject which we proposed to ourselves.

The Huns, after having traversed the territories of the Alani, and
especially of that tribe of them who border on the Gruthungi, and who
are called Tanaitae, and having slain many of them and acquired much
plunder they made a treaty of friendship and alliance with those who
remained. And when they had united them to themselves, with increased
boldness they made a sudden incursion into the extensive and fertile
districts of Ermenrichus, a very warlike prince, and one whom his
numerous gallant actions of every kind had rendered formidable to all
the neighboring nations.

He was astonished at the violence of this sudden tempest, and although,
like a prince whose power was well established, he long attempted to
hold his ground, he was at last overpowered by a dread of the evils
impending over his country, which were exaggerated by common report,
till he terminated his fear of great danger by a voluntary death.

After his death Vithimiris was made king. He for some time maintained a
resistance to the Alani, relying on the aid of other tribes of the Huns
whom by large promises of pay he had won over to his party; but, after
having suffered many losses, he was defeated by superior numbers and
slain in battle. He left an infant son named Viderichus, of whom
Alatheus and Saphrax undertook the guardianship, both generals of great
experience and proved courage. And when they, yielding to the
difficulties of the crisis, had given up all hope of being able to make
an effectual resistance, they retired with caution till they came to the
river Dniester, which lies between the Danube and the Dnieper, and flows
th