George Long, Penny Cyclopedia — Massagetæ
“ The Massagetæ are described by Herodotus as a numerous and powerful nomadic people, who resembled the Scythians in their dress and mode of life. Gold and silver were plentiful among them; but no iron nor silver was found in their country, They were however in a very low state of civilization even for a nomadic people. They had a community of wives; and their aged people were killed and eaten by their relations. (Compare Rennell's Geography of Herodotus, sect x.; and as to the custom of eating their parents, the article Battas, and Moore's Notices on the Indian Archipelago, Singapore, 1837.) ”
