4^8 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



trees ; while finds of magnificent courfers, pafture 

 at all feafons in the ever- green vallies. We coafted 

 along the fliores of Syrtis, where the delicious fruit 

 of the Lotos is produced, which, as we are told, 

 make ftrangers who eat it to forget their Country. 

 We foon came in fight of the fands of Libya, in 

 the midfl: of which are fituated the enchanted gar- 

 dens of the Hefperides ; as if Nature took delight 

 in making Countries the moft unprodudive to ex- 

 hibit a contrail with the moft fertile. We heard, 

 by night, the roaring of tygers and lions, which 

 came to bathe themfelves in the Sea; and by the 

 dawning light of Aurora^ we could perceive them 

 retiring toward the mountains. 



But the ferocity of thofe animals comes not up 

 to that of the men who inhabit that region of the 

 Globe. Some of them immolate their children to 

 Saturn; others bury their women alive in the 

 tombs of their huibands. There are fome who, 

 on the death of their Kings, cut the throats of all 

 who ferved them when alive. Others endeavour 

 to allure flrangers to their fliores, that they may 

 devour them. We had, one day, nearly fallen a 

 prey to thofe abominable men-eaters ; for while we 

 were alhore, and peaceably exchanging with them 

 fome tin and iron, for different forts of the excel- 

 lent fruits which their Country produces, they had 

 contrived an ambufh to intercept our getting on 



board. 



