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4. Having passed the Caucasus our travellers say they saw men four cubits high, and they were already black, and that when they passed over the river Indus they saw others five cubits high. But on their way to this river our wayfarers found the following incidents worth of notice. For they were travelling by bright moonlight, when the figure of an empusa or hobgoblin appeared to them, that changed from one form into another, and sometimes vanished into nothing. And Apollonius realized what it was, and himself heaped abuse on the hobgoblin and instructed his party to do the same, saying that this was the right remedy for such a visitation. And the phantasm fled away shrieking even as ghosts do.
5. And as they were passing over the summit of the mountain, going on foot, for it was very steep, Apollonius asked of Damis the following question. "Tell me," he said, "where we were yesterday."
And he replied: "On the plain."
"And today, O Damis, where are we?"
"In the Caucasus," said he, "if wholly I mistake not."
"Then when were you lower down than you are now?" he asked again, and Damis replied: "That's a question hardly worth asking. For yesterday we were travelling through the valley below, while today we are close up to heaven."
"Then you think," said the other, "O Damis, that our road yesterday lay low down, whereas our road today lies high up?"
"Yes, by Zeus," he replied, "unless at least I'm mad."
"In what respect then," said Apollonius, "do you suppose that our roads differ from one another, and what advantage has today's path for you over that of yesterday?"
"Because," said Damis, "yesterday I was walking along where a great many people go, but today, where are very few."
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