Philippides being sent on a message from the Athenians to the republic
of Sparta, to gain their assistance against their enemies the Persians,
ran within the compass of two days an hundred and fifty Roman miles and
an half.
Under the emperor Leo, the same that succeeded Marcian, there was a
Greek named Indacus, a man of extraordinary courage, and of wonderful
nimbleness of foot. He was to be seen at parting, but vanished in the
twinkling of an eye; he rather seemed to fly than run over mountains and
dangerous precipices, and would run farther in a day than any post could
ride, though he staid not a minute to change his horse, and having
performed his journey, would return back the next day, though there was
no occasion for making so much haste, merely because he took delight in
running, and never complained of being weary.
In Peru they have Casquis, or foot posts, to carry letters or messages
from place to place, who have houses about a league and an half asunder,
they running each man to the next, will run fifty leagues in a day and a
night.
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_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
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