378 flint's natural HISTOET, [Book Y. 



up ; it is tlien the scene of tlie gambols of the JEgipans' and 

 the Satyr crew, while it re-echoes with the notes of the flute 

 and the pipe, and the clash of drums and cymbals. All this 

 is what authors of high character have stated, in addition to 

 the labours which Hercules and Perseus there experienced. 

 The space which intervenes before you arrive at this moun- 

 tain is immense, and the country quite unknowTi. 



There formerly existed some Commentaries vtritten by 

 Hanno^, a Carthaginian general, who was commanded, in 

 the most flourishing times of the Punic state, to explore 

 the sea-coast of Africa. The greater part of the Greek 

 and E/oman writers have followed him, and have related, 

 among other fabulous stories, that many cities there were 

 founded by him, of which no remembrance, nor yet the 

 slightest vestige, now exists. 



While Scipio JEmilianus held the command in Sicily, 

 Polybius the historian received a fleet from him for the 

 purpose of proceeding on a voyage of discovery in this part 

 of the world. He relates, that beyond^ Mount Atlas, pro- 



^ Or " Groat-Pens ;" probably another name for the Fauni, or Fauns. 

 More usually, there is but one -^gipan mentioned, — the son, according 

 to Hyginus, of Zeus or Jupiter, and a goat, — or of Zeus and .^ga, the 

 wife of Pan. As a foundation for one part of the stories here men- 

 tioned, Brotier suggests the fact, that as the Kabyles, or moimtain tribes, 

 are in the habit of retiring to their dweUings and reposing during the 

 heat of the day, it would not, consequently, be improbable that they 

 would devote the night to their amusements, Hghting up fires, and 

 dancing to the music of drums and cymbals. 



2 Under his name we still possess a " Periplus," or account of a 

 voyage round a part of Libya. The work was originally written iu 

 Punic, but what has come down to us is a Greek translation. We fail, 

 however, to discover any means by wliich to identify him with any one 

 of the many Carthaginians of the same name. Some writers caH 

 him king, and others dux, or imperaior of the Carthaginians ; from 

 which wo may infer, that he held the office of suffeies. This expedition 

 has by some been placed as far back as the time of the Trojan war, or of 

 Hesiod, while others again place it as late as the reign of Agathocles. 

 Falconer, Bougainville, and Gail, place the time of Hanno at about 

 B.C. 570, while other critics identify him with Hanno, the father or son 

 of Ilamilcar, who was killed at Himera, B.C. 480. Pliny often makes 

 mention of him ; more particularly see B. viii. c. 21. 



' 2 M. Gossehn thinks that tlie spot here indicated was at the south- 

 western extremity of the Atlas range, and upon the northern frontier of 

 the Desert of Zahara. 



