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Towards Africa there is a certain large island a considerable distance 

 out at sea, and in the direction of the west, many days' sail from 

 Libya. The soil there is fruitful, principally mountainous ; it pre- 

 sents, however, no small extent of plain, and this excels in richness, 

 being watered by navigable rivers, which on every side pervade it. 

 In this island there are numerous gardens, thickly set with a variety 

 of trees, and orchards intersected with delicious rivulets ; towns also 

 adorned with fine buildings, and houses of entertainment are found 

 in the midst of the gardens. Here they enjoy the summer months, 

 as the land offers every convenience for pleasure and luxury. The 

 mountainy district has frequent and large woods and various kinds of 

 fruit trees, while on every side glens and fountains present themselves 

 to refresh the natives in their mountain recreations. In a word, this 

 whole island is moistened with streamlets of living water * * * * 

 There is hunting of all kinds of beasts there, so that the plenty of 

 game leaves nothing w anting to the delicacy and choiceness of their 

 feasts; the sea also, which washes this island, abounds with fish. For- 

 merly it was unknown, on account of its remoteness from the rest of 

 the world, but it was at length discovei-ed by an accidental circum- 

 stance. The Phoenicians, from the very remotest times, made repeated 

 voyages thither, for purposes of commerce * * * * * 

 When the Phoenicians, having examined the immediate shores be- 

 yond the pillars, would have continued their discoveries along the 

 coasts of Africa, they were carried out a great way to sea by a tem- 

 pest. After maiiy days'' tossing, however, they put in at the island 

 above mentioned, and thus led others into that knowledge of its 

 quality and goodness whictj they had so first ascertained by their own 

 experience." 



Diodorus has his value as an author of undoubtedly high anti- 



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