stians or Christianity.

His History, which he divided into thirty-one books (of which the first
thirteen are lost, while the text of those which remain is in some
places imperfect), began with the accession of Nerva, A.D. 96, where
Tacitus and Suetonius end, and was continued to the death of Valens,
A.D. 378, a period of 282 years. And there is probably no work as to the
intrinsic value of which there is so little difference of opinion.
Gibbon bears repeated testimony to his accuracy, fidelity, and
impartiality, and quotes him extensively. In losing his aid after A.D.
378, he says, "It is not without sincere regret that I must now take
leave of an accurate and faithful guide, who has composed the history of
his own times without indulging the prejudices and passions which
usually affect the mind of a contemporary." Professor Ramsay (in Smith's
Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography) says, "We are indebted to him
for a knowledge of many important facts not elsewhere recorded, and for
much valuable insight into the modes of thought and the general tone of
public feeling prevalent in his day. Nearly all the statements admitted
appear to be founded upon his own observations, or upon the information
derived from trustworthy eye-witnesses. A considerable number of
dissertations and digressions are introduced, many of them highly
interesting and valuable. Such are his notices of the institutions and
manners of the Saracens (xiv. 4), of the Scythians and Sarmatians (xvii.
12), of the Huns and Alani (xxxi. 2), of the Egyptians and their country
(xxii. 6, 14-16), and his geographical discussions upon Gaul (xv. 9),
the Pontus (xxii. 8), and Thrace (xxvii. 4). Less legitimate and less
judicious are his geological speculations upon earthquakes (xvii. 7),
his astronomical inquiries into eclipses (xx. 3), comets (xxv. 10), and
the regulation of the calendar (xxvi. 1); his medical researches into
the origin of epidemics (xix. 4); his zoological theory on the
destruction of lions by mosquitos (xviii. 7), and his horticultural
essay on the impregnation of palms (xxiv. 3). In addition to industry in
research and honesty of purpose, he was gifted with a large measure of
strong common sense, which enabled him in many points to rise superior
to the prejudices of his day, and with a clear-sighted independence of
spirit which prevented him from being dazzled or over-awed by the
brilliancy and the terrors which enveloped the imperial throne. B